The fear of getting bit?

[sunshinemama91]

How do I overcome the fear of getting bit? I have a beautiful BFA that wont come off of her cage unless an object frightens her, then she will step up from wherever she flies off to and sit with us no problem. She gets frightened when I'm cleaning around her cage, but I have small kids so I cant just leave it be until shes comfortable. She gives kisses and everything but half the time when I go to pet her beak while holding her (working on getting to to allow me to pet her) I cant tell if shes trying to bite me, or if shes like testing my finger or trying to use it to help her step up higher. Her and I both are working on trust. I'm fairly certain she was abused in her previous home to some degree and I'm afraid of pain, unless it's like childbirth lol! Any tips for training mom to not be so scared as well as recognizing the difference from "I'm going to bit the hell out of you" and "let me use my beak as a hand"?

 

[texsize]

The tail and eyes are the 2 things that will give the best indication if your bird wants to bite you or is just testing.

If your bird is fanning his tail and or eyes are pinning he's ready to bite.
The hardest thing to do (in my opinion) is to act normal when picking up your bird after he has given you a nasty bite the last time.

 

[sunshinemama91]

The tail and eyes are the 2 things that will give the best indication if your bird wants to bite you or is just testing.

If your bird is fanning his tail and or eyes are pinning he's ready to bite.
The hardest thing to do (in my opinion) is to act normal when picking up your bird after he has given you a nasty bite the last time.

I have yet to get bit, and shes never fanned and pinned at me, so it appears shes just testing. BUT when she comes at me, her feathers are flat against her and her pupils are fully dilated. If I try to reach for anywhere but her face, she growls, backs away, and opens for beak.

 

[Laurasea]

These are great links
Also read I love Amazon and an on going journey by Sailboat it's at the top of the Amazon forum as a blue stiky thread. Take the time read e ery page, I did and found lots of helpful info for my rescue Quaker Penny. I may have posted these links for you before, but it's well worth your time to read them. There are no easy fixes you have to put in the time, keep educating yourself
http://go.skimresources.com/?id=162...tz=300&xuuid=4d320fa1682e3705b6dde34ef2b3e7e8

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2018/06/19/teaching-a-fearful-parrot-to-step-up/

https://birdtricksstore.com/blogs/birdtricks-blog/parrot-and-human-bonding

 

[SailBoat]

Thank you to my good friend above for the mention in her Post.

Fear of being bitten is a hardwired reaction /avoidance tool that exists in our mind. It exists in every Human that I have ever met and is likely in near all Humans. Liking being bitten would not be a great survival mechanism.

A couple of points, not all Parrots like being petted. It requires a great amount of TRUST for a Parrot to be touched, petted, or held by a Human that is several magnitudes larger than they.

You fear being bitten, where as, your Parrot fears being crushed.

The reality is that at some point, you will be bitten, whether by error or with malus, and they both will hurt as equally. Yes, Parrots use their bill to act as a third gripper and as a result, by accident, they may loose their balance and find themselves hanging from your finger, arm, earlobe, etc... And, it will hurt!

It will still hurt, but excepting that the likelihood of being bitten is fairly high, excepting it as a reality may just easy your concern.

The more you learn to understand what your Amazon is telling you the likelihood of being bitten reduces.

 

[wrench13]

So as a matter of practicality, take your index finger, and slam it into a draw a few times. AnAmazon bite will not hurt as much as that, but almost. If you have done your homework really well, it shouldn't happen all that often, and your BFA;s proclivity to bite you will likely change as you become more astute at reading body language, and your BFA becomes more and more settled in, but it might happen again during mating season or during a molt. Or if you withdraw a favorite toy, or have some new bit of clothing or new mipstick. Or how bonded your baby is to you ( yeah parrots that are really bonded to you might see a new thingy, and bite you to warn you to fly away "escape" the nasty new thing.) The more you know your parrot, the easier it is to predict these chomping events. All kidding aside,chomps are not an everyday occurence with some one who really knows your business. Sailboats sticky on Amazon body language is ESSENTIAL and should be read over and over until you have most of it memorized - read it aloud to your BFA many times (helps with the bonding).

Pics of your baby will help too ( just kidding, but we do love pics here)>

 

[sunshinemama91]

Haha all great advice. Thank you! I am still twiddling away at the why I love Amazons post! Slow and steady. But I have read the body language one, I will read it again and to her this time

And as for pics, ignore my existence, I tried to get a pic of her giving kisses ♡ she gives them every time I ask now. Day 7 today.
I so love her.

 

[SailBoat]

Thank you my Good Friend regarding Understanding Amazon Body Language link, a Thread that I Love and Highly Endorse. But, sadly its not mine as it was written by Birdman666.
I fully agree with re-reading it over and over again. I still read it a couple times a year and I'm a long time confirmed Amazon Snob...

 

[wrench13]

I interupt this regularly scheduled thread:

Birdman666 - another long time member, whose advice is worth much more than many a certified avian vet;s. Both you guys are responsible for many and many a new or even experienced parront coming closer to a perfect understanding of thier parrots. I will always bow to your advice in all situations! Thanks so much Steven.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.