Positive reinforcement to stop biting?

[ct92404]

I love my parakeet Chipper, but he's really driving me crazy right now.

As some of you know, he was sick and I took him to the vet and the doctor prescribed oral antibiotics. He got really mad at me when I tried to give it to him, so I've been taking him back to the vet everyday so they could give him the medicine. Everything is going well, and he's getting better.

But now, he still bites me. When he's in his cage, and I try to pet him, I never know if he's going to let me or if he's going to bite me. He doesn't give warning nips...he bites HARD. Sometimes, he'll bite me and then he'll climb up to perch on my finger. I don't know what that is about! Usually, once I get him out of his cage he is calm and gentle. I can hold him in my hands and pet him. But there have been a few times recently where he'll climb up on my shoulder, and then if I try to get him to perch on my finger, he'll bite me. I don't know what's going on. I think he's molting. I've been seeing some down feathers in his cage lately. And maybe he's still not completely over the sickness, so he might not be feeling well. But he sure gets into some really cranky and aggressive moods sometimes, and he wasn't like that when I first got him. I guess it's also possible that he might be stressed out from having to go to the vet every day to get the medicine.

I know I can't compare...but Buddy NEVER bit me like this. It's making me miss him even more.

I was wondering, how well do parakeets respond to positive reinforcement? When Chipper bites me, I say "No bite!" firmly, but that doesn't seem to do anything. So I was thinking what if when he lets me pet him and he stays calm and doesn't bite, I gave him a treat? Would that work?

 

[SandyBee]

Positive reinforcement is always a good idea!
Also they say the best way is to not get bitten in the first place, our african brown head will always try and bite if I reach in the cage, so I bought her a T-perch and take her out that way, she is sweet when she is out.

 

[MeganMango]

He probably just stressed, Mango gets like this for a day or two after we clip his nails. Ive tried everything to do it without towelling him, we have spend hours trying to convince him to let us do it. We give treats and take our time, but we have found its easier to just do it really quick and get it over with. Depending on how much your birdy fights when he gets medicated he could just be anxious about being physically forced to do it. He may perceive it as being pretty traumatic, and he may be nervous of hands now. Mango wont let us touch him for some time after we clip his nails, he can really hold a grudge. I suspect if you keep working with him, once he no longer has the stressful vet trips and forced antibiotics he will stop being so cranky. Dont give up, just keep being calm and patient, he will come around.