Starting to bite...

[jew1187]

Ok, So I thought I had Skyler out of the biting when the first couple days he started to bite I used a technique which I know worked... But he has begun to bite again. This time I couldn't help but react cause it hurt. And now he has come to find it a game I guess... I can't tell if he is threatened by my hand or if he is playing... Either way, the technique I used is not something I am going to stop using, but is there anything else I can do? Right now I was able to use my fist and distract him and for a while he saw my fist and would immediately stop trying to bite. Help!!! The only time I can hold him now is when he flys away from his cage and ends up on the ground and wants someone to pick him up off the ground. Otherwise, I am going to lose a finger.

 

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Sounds like he may be a little cage territorial. What worked for me was getting my caique out of its comfort zone and out of sight of its cage to work on training, otherwise I would've gotten bit. After a month of that we really built up our trust and now I can put my hand in her cage and tell her to step up, I haven't gotten bit in like 4 or 5 months. Previous to that biting phase she had been a sweet girl, I think it had to do with hormones but anyway that may help since you said he will let you pick him up off the floor.

 

[suebee]

oh an oww gettin bit hurts, and i scream like a baby (when it does)

your not saying when skyler bites?

i'm a coward and it works for me, avoid the situations when your skyler is biting you or pop a treat into his mouth before doing anything with him, but thats not to say he won't eat treat an bite later like nut does lol

i've tried the push finger into the beak etc without sucess, my avoid tactics worked better for me and with less blood lol

also how are your stress levels?? skyler might be reacting to them???

 

[jew1187]

You know, I am going to start getting him away from his cage entirely. I'll bring him upstairs from now on. This way he won't even be able to see his cage to fly back to it. Once I have him away from his cage he is fine.

I did introduce him to Grace (my mom's Boxer) tonight and he was wound up real quick. He bit Grace on the nose. hehe. But I took him away the moment this happened.

He might be noticing my stress level... It has been rather high with school, work, and the newly found out information to my parents. So he might be getting a hint of that. I try really hard not to bring any stress when I am playing with or talking to him though.

Ill let you know any updates on his biting in the next two or three days. I am only working on the weekends now so I get to spend a whole lot more time with him then I was getting to.

 

[MikeyTN]

During training, it is best to have them clipped. Its harder to train when they can fly. You know I mentioned this enough times on how I hate clipping, but I highly suggest it during training so the bird knows he is dependant on you to carry him to places. Try to get him perch trained so he will step up to a perch then use it to get him away from his cage. I perch train my cockatoo cause she will bite when she's in her cage, but once she's away from it she is just fine. So instead of my finger, it would be the perch getting bit. Eventually he will get the hint. Then you can finger train him again. But when he does bite, make sure your stern with him and tell him no. A little tap on the beak works too when you tell him no biting.

 

[jew1187]

He is perch trained. So I can get him out of the cage with a perch... I just don't like to have to force him out. Granted I feel like I am spoiling him a lot more than what I should be. Lilly had his wings clipped short enough to where he is not supposed to be able to fly but he can still fly... So I was thinking about getting the other three she left unclipped clipped for the time being because he can easily get air. I don't like it so much right now he knows he doesn't need me to get from one place to the other.

 

[MikeyTN]

When I grab the perch, my Cockatoo Dixie knows it's time to come out. She's used to it. I've never clipped her since day one, but she's been pretty good through her training so I never clipped them. Once Skyler is used to the routine with the perch, he'll learn the moment he see the perch. You have to give him tough love sometimes otherwise they think they can dominate over you and have you trained instead....lol.... Birds like all other animals, they all do the same if you don't train them properly.