Pinching!!!

[katie_fleming]

Jasper has been a little booger for awhile, he loves to pinch. I have no idea why it started but I'm pretty frustrated lately.

He'll grab just the tiniest little piece of skin and pinch, and it HURTS. One spot turned into a bruise from it. Today he's been particularly bad.

I know for sure when he doesn't want back on his cage that's when he pinches. He's obviously saying he doesn't want to. But the other times it's like for no reason. I don't know why he does it.

I've tried a few things:

• Firm "No, that hurts" and I glare at him (lol. sometimes I can see in his eyes he knows he's been bad but does it again anyway)
• The earthquake method where I shake him slightly until he lets go
• Grab his beak and play fight with him (which he loves, I figure it's a distraction)

Anyway if you have any advice it would be greatly appreciated. My poor arms have had enough!

 

[Dinosrawr]

Perhaps removing yourself entirely from the situation could help, too. It might help to teach him that pinching = removal of your presence, assuming that he wants to be with you and that you being around him is a perceived reward.

You could also reward him intermittently every 10 minutes (or however often it happens) that he doesn't pinch, and then if he does simply walk away after telling him "no pinching". He may make the association that sitting there nicely means yummy things, while pinching means no treats and no you.

I'm not sure if they'll help, but it's something to try!

 

[Anansi]

Chantal voiced quite well my immediate thoughts upon reading your question.

At this point he knows what is unacceptable beak pressure-wise, so he is apparently unimpressed with the current consequences. (Like any child, he'll test boundaries.)

The approach Chantal outlined seems an appropriate "escalation" to me.

 

[katie_fleming]

Thanks guys! So when he's on me and pinches it can be very difficult to put him down. Most of the time he doesn't want down, hence the pinching.

I will try to leave the room for a few minutes when he does it and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[Hawk]

Ohhhh I can relate, having very same issue with my Senegal....the closer to his perch or cage you get, the more he pinches. Back away and he stops, move toward cage and pinch. They are just showing they are not done being with you. I then usually go into the bathroom and open the vanity mirrors where he sees a 100 Senegals of himself. Gets all goofy, and head bobbing then after a sec, I can take him to cage. Other times a treat works too.