Shouldn't have let my guard down!

[GraciesMom]

Ouch! So sorry you got tagged, Jules. Sounds painful. Especially the cauterization part! You're hard core! Lol!

Yeah, Raven's following the lead of your resident bad boy, Griffin. Crazy thing is, it can seem as though birds can be mean-spirited sometimes. But the truth is, I think we exasperate them sometimes. They rely on body language so much more than we do, which means they're also far more perceptive to it. Ever notice how two birds will just look at one another and will instantly know whether the other is receptive to them? Without a squawk or a single sound? Because they're communicating on levels we simply can't match.

Which is where their exasperation comes in. We only begin to scratch the surface when it comes to understanding their body language. At least, compared to their fellow avians. So I think sometimes their bites spring from exasperation. "I KNOW you see how I'm standing! And the follow up warning twitch I just gave you! Why are you just ignoring what I'm telling you?!?"

And then, one heedless attempt at a head rub later... "Gah! I SAID I'm not in the mood! Okay, you asked for it!" Aaaaaaaaaaand CHOMP!

Some are quicker to bite, but I think that's because of their individual personalities. Like people, some just have more patience than others.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

That makes so much sense & I don't think I've ever thought of it from that perspective.

 

[Scott]

Oh Julie, so sorry Raven was a bad boy. I too sometimes engage closer than my fids are willing to accept at times. Seems biting is their only outlet at times. Hope your finger heals quickly and without complications!!

 

[RavensGryf]

Thank you all . To clarify, I didn't mean "cauterize" with a hot instrument lol. They have other techniques to stop bleeding and close wounds which I believe can be called that too? I thought they'd simply use silver nitrate, but it was quite an interesting method they used to stop bleeding. They put this 'mesh-like' material which has clotting agents on the affected part, for about 20 minutes. Then applied surgical glue, which dried the texture of thick calloused skin. This was a laceration, a 1/2" long clean slice like a knife cut which is why this gluing method worked well in this case. I saw a page titled "cauterizing a wound at home" hahaha get out your iron!

Stephen, good observation. It makes a lot of sense seeing it from that angle. The part cracked me up about the "warning twitch" haha sometimes that is all we get, and it is just not obvious enough for us humans who often times need it spelled out lol. This time it was clearly my fault though. He had an open beak ready to snap.

Beatrice, I think that does happen too, where they 'change their mind' after inviting your finger into their space. Even though Amazons and Pionus are said to have very clear body language. The African species I can definitely see them doing it just because!

 

[Kiwibird]

Bad Raven So sorry you got bit Julie! Hopefully Mrs. Vicious pants has been extra accepting of petting since

 

[RavensGryf]

Bad Raven So sorry you got bit Julie! Hopefully Mrs. Vicious pants has been extra accepting of petting since

Mr. Vicious . He is so extremely tolerant and patient around Don. He can do anything with Raven and never got bit. No fair, he's 'my' bird! I'm a bit gun-shy today, but I'm not letting Raven know. That's the hard part, not letting them know you're scared haha.

 

[BeatriceC]

Yeah, MrC has stolen my birds twice, and I only have two! Though I managed to steal Charlotte back, at least for now. Leo, however, is still all his, even though he's mine. *sigh*