Bite Pressure Training...huh?

MomtoPercy · Dec 7, 2013

Whilst reading a thread last night, I saw members referring to bite pressure training. In all my research since getting Percy, I've never come across this concept.

Please enlighten me - what is it and how does one do it?

skylala · Dec 7, 2013

Bite pressure training is allowing your bird to bite (Because that's natural thing for birdies to do!) but teaching them what pressure is OK and what hurts.

Ideally, this means the bird understands that biting hard is not OK, so if you ever do get bitten one day for some reason, it should be less severe then from a bird who has not been taught how to control itself.

GaryBV · Dec 7, 2013

It would be like training your puppy not to bite too hard, that 'mouthing' is ok, but biting is not, and like training your cat not to scratch you, but that pawing you is ok. I've heard people when training their birds about biting yell "OWWWW" when too hard, or "NO", etc., it's really the same thing.

noblemacaw · Dec 8, 2013

How about some tongue probing training? Sometimes I get tired of Valentino's need to poke his tongue in my eye, ears and mouth. Is the Red Fronted Macaw part French? Really? What is his need to do this to me?

To keep post on track. I play with Valentino's break and during the play if he clamps down at a certain pressure I say OW! or NO! and he stops and checks himself. I say OW when it does not actually hurt so he thinks he is hurting me and learns that that pressure is unacceptable. Yes, part of parrot ownership is you will get bit. I have rarely had blood drawn but for me and my small hands it more the pressure that takes out a finger bruising it enough for it to have to heal.

The only time Valentino gets me with too much pressure is he is afraid, angry or is being a klutz and in a fall.

MomtoPercy · Dec 16, 2013

OK, I've been practicing bite pressure training with my green slasher and thus far we've been able to learn that :-

* A bite with a wide open mouth gets a "ouch, you're hurting mommy!" And so we *try* not to do that, IF we feel like it and the weather is ok and the moon is in the right phase...
* So, then, in an effort to be gentler, we bite with a small mouth...meaning now, instead of being cut by the bottom mandible, I get pierced with the top one! LOL!!

He's definately trying but I think the gutt reaction of "I have to bite this woman" is hard to shake, apparently

But we are making progress with beak play - he's learned that an open beak with no biting is ok (and earns treats) but if he bites, I walk away and with that, the pumpkin seeds vanish too

Baby steps baby steps...:rollingba:rollingba:rollingba:

Birdman666 · Dec 16, 2013

Amazons are more excitable and play rougher, in many respects, than macaws do. So, it's harder to accomplish with an amazon, but still possible.

Mine pinch me when they are upset, rather than bite.

FieryPhoenix · Mar 1, 2023

I hear all about beak pressure training but no one out there seems to explain how you do it.

Any kind of reaction out of me will just encourage the bird so what do I do just ignore and when she gets to acceptable pressure let out a hurray?

I am being serious

SailBoat · Mar 2, 2023

It is well explained and is worthy of your search. This Thread occurred in 2013, ten years ago.
I work with older Amazons, commonly abused, ill and no want to interact with another human and I am able to vastly reduce bitting pressure.

wrench13 · Mar 2, 2023

Bite pressure training goes hand in hand with bite training, Look up Shunning on here. Basically when the bite is too hard, tell the parrot "Easy there" or other words, place him on a nearby handy chairback or neutral place (NOT his cage) and turn your back to him for 1 minute, no longer , no less. No peeking no eye contact, no talking about him or the bite. After 1 minute you can re-engage. THis has to be done EVERY time the bite occurs or the pressure is too much. And all must do it. It does work, may take time, but it will do it.
This is how parrots in the wild chastise unruly youngsters.

Bite Pressure Training...huh?

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