Petey the Parrotlet

[vcasamento]

I just got a male baby parrotlet - 7 weeks old. He's very sweet and he's already hand trained. He's active and comes out of the cage on his own. This is the 2nd day I've had him and he seems to know me. When he's on my hand or on my shoulder, he bites. It's only a pinch right now but I'm afraid that when he gets older, he will bite down harder. Any ideas how to stop the biting at this stage. I tried the step up ladder method and it works for a while but shortly after, the biting continues. Is ths common for a baby?
Vincent

 

[parrotqueen]

If he's seven weeks old, understand that there's a certain amount that you can expect to occur naturally. Baby birds do this at that age because they are exploring.

However, it does become a worry whether or not it will get worse. If it does, just ever so gently nudge him away and say 'No' in a serious tone. The nudges should get just a tad stronger each time if he persists.

 

[vcasamento]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that!

 

[_Cass_]

Congrats on the P-let!!
Baby birds want to test EVERYTHING! It's like how baby's want to put everything in their mouths- so do parrots. Parrots just don't know the extent of how gentle/how hard they should be. Continue the step up method and if the biting persists then consult a training book

Good luck!!

 

[Bobby34231]

Welcome to the forum vcasamento and congrats on your new fid (Fid=Feathered kid)

 

[antoinette]

Great to have you joining our awesome forum.

Congrat's on your baby parrotlet Petey.
I hand reared my AG Mishka from 6 weeks old. From the word go, whenever she tried to "nip" me I made a fist, placed it near her beak, and sternly said no no, say sorry. When she get very excited and nips I continue doing exactly the same thing still today. Mishka knows she has done wrong, and sees the fist, she lowers her head and says sorry.
As mentioned above, Petey is still so young, just like a toddler, they have to "touch and explore" they use their beaks.
Keep us posted with Petey's progress.

 

[vcasamento]

Thanks so much for for your insights. I'll keep plugging away at the training. I've noticed he does expore and bites everything he sees.
I'll keep you postd on his progress.
Vincent

 

[wildheart]

How about some photos.

Petey is a very nice name.

 

[brookysmom]

Parrotlets are great. i started with one i have 4 now LOL
they are lilke tater chips

Seriously I use the Gentle beak method with my babies (I have one pair i breed 1 to 2 times a year depending on many things)
A lady on one of my Parrotlet Groups (Parrotlet Plus) shared it with us and it has really helped

It is below
I have found mine boite less if I wear stuff for them to explore I have q necklace with beads and stuff on it and a bracelet and they LOVE exploring it instead of ME

Gentle Beak techniqueThe first thing you have to do is get the bird to associate the words "Gentle Beak" with a gentle touch to (or from) the beak. How I did this was to very slowly and gently reach out and touch their beaks, all the while saying "Gentle Beak" in a very soft, sing-song voice, almost a whisper sometimes. Ever so gentle, ever so soft and slow. If you can do this while playing or giving skritchies, all the better as it is a positive reinforcement of the term "Gentle Beak" which they will very quickly begin to associate with gentle touches and strokes to their beak. That's just the reinforcement part to help drive home the meaning of the term and what's expected from it. Then, you also use it as reinforcement when they bite. So for instance, if the bird bites you, you immediately try and touch their beak gently and say "Gentle Beak". I would do this immediately after the bite. So instead of pulling back, and maybe taking the bird to a 'time out' cage, or whatever else you'd do, instead you sort of stop. Just freeze (after extricating your finger from the beak, or course). Just kind of hover your finger there in front of them, and stop, just freeze, and begin to softly chant "Gentle Beak". Begin to move the finger closer .... very slowly .... to their beak. If you go too fast, they may strike out and bite again. So you start over. Sometimes even if you go slow, they still try and bite again. But I've found that usually if you calm right down, just stop everything, and start VERY softly chanting "Gentle Beak", they calm down too. Your aim is to get the finger in to gently touch the beak and say the phrase. Now if you've been working with them when they were not biting, they will begin to recognize this chant, and see the incoming finger, and know that it is going to touch them gently. They calm right down. It is a diversion of sorts. Offer much praise if you can get a touch to their beak without them striking at you. No matter even if for just a split second. Now after a while, you will find that you can use it as a reprimand. They will get so used to the phrase, and the motions that go with it (the ever so gentle touch to the beak), that if they are in the midst of attacking you, you can very sternly and gruffly say "!!GENTLE BEAK!!" and as they become more familiar with what's expected, they suddenly will do an about face, calm right down, and touch your finger gently when just a minute ago they were biting (or were about to bite). Or they may gently touch your finger INSTEAD of biting. I've had my Cleo in attack mode .... I've yelled "!!GENTLE BEAK!!" at her like I was most displeased ..... and she will suddenly reach over and very gently touch the finger she just bit. It's freaky in that it almost appears to be an apology of sorts. Then of course, you give TONS of praise each and every time you are able to touch their beaks without them biting (or each time you yell it at them and they respond by gently touching your finger, instead of biting or immediately after biting). Even when doing reinforcement training during the fun times, always praise them when you are able to touch and they don't bite. It has worked wonders for me. Annette

Hope this helps Just constant consistant every day work can make a HUGE difference