|
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
| Bad habbit |
 |
|
Hey guys
My CAG, Bunny, has recently developed a bad habbit. Everytime he steps up on my hand, and while I'm carrying him from place to place on my hand he starts biting my fingers as if they were a perch. He never bites when he's not on my hand and is the most gentle bird. He loves cuddles and kisses and head scratches. But as soon as he steps up he goes for my fingers. I've tried distracting him with a toy, or a treat while he's on my hand, but he'll actually work around the object of distraction and again go straight for my fingers. Usually I'll just put him down when he does that, I don't want to reinforce the behaviour, but I don't want to not be able to pick him up either. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem? Could it be just a hormonal thing as he's maturing? He's about 7 months now.
Shirin |
Sunday May 29, 2005 1:48 pm |
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
| Re: Bad habbit |
|
|
Hmmm is it really biting, or is it chewing?
Did you do anything to reinforce this? (Unintentionally, sp?)
Like saying 'no' or giving him any kind of verbal 'reward'? Act strange? (Make funny faces etc)
Could you have him trained to step onto a perch?
Then, after some time, try your hand again and reward for good behavior? I will ask this on the Dutch forum, as they might have an answer?
Or anyone here? |
|
Monday May 30, 2005 8:53 am |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
He'll start off with just testing the skin, and then he bites really hard. I've never freaked out or made a face or even said No, because I had read in training books that I shouldn't. I usually say "Be a good bird", and put him down and walk away and ignore him for a while. I think when he's on my hand he might not associate it as a part of me. Because he NEVER bites otherwise, even if my hand is in his beak.
I guess I'll try picking him up with a hand held perch for a while 
Shirin |
|
Monday May 30, 2005 10:47 am |
|
|
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
I can't think of anything that has caused this behavior really.. 
I will think it over and post it on the Dutch board, if I get an answer, I'll post it here.
In the meantime, someone else here might have a clue? (What it caused & what to do about it?) |
|
Monday May 30, 2005 11:32 am |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Thanks sue, I'll keep researching the topic too and let you know of any improvement 
Shirin |
|
Monday May 30, 2005 12:00 pm |
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
Hi Shirin..
I just asked on the Dutch forum & got these replies: (I translate them litterally)
Tommy says:
Could it be that he WANTS to step down? And that having him stepping down just works purl?
Personally, I'd have him step up onto my sleeve. And if that works well, on your hand again.
Heijtje says:
Let him step up onto a perch or piece of (special) rope.
En truely don't respond to him! Looking at him can be seen as a reward. Further I can tell that parrots bite because they are not sure of themselves.
Let her approach the parrot differently.
Let her not go straight to the parrot, but with a curve (Without looking at him!) and then draw his attention.
If the parrot looks at her, she tells him how lovely he is, then have him touch something & then she tells him how well he does that. (praise)
Have him step up after that.
I hope these posts can help you.. |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 7:45 am |
|
|
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Hi Sue,
Thanks for asking around for me 
As far as what Tommy said, he doesn't bite because he wants to step down, because he begs me to pick him up. I could just be with him scratching his head or something and he keeps lifting he leg and trying to step on my hand for me to pick him up. And after he bites, when I try putting him down at first he refuses.
I will try Heijtje's advice, hopefully it'll work.
This Friday I have a vet appointment for Bunny. Maybe the vet can help, or refer me to a behaviour specialist, although I doubt there is any in Toronto, as bird ownership is still considered somewhat exotic and not very common.
I'll keep you posted
Shirin |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 10:46 am |
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
Hi Shirin..
I was just wondering: Does he go for your fingers when you keep him on your hand and not move yourself? Perhaps he doesn't like the 'moving' part.
Can you find out? Or do you know the answer already?
Hmmm, perhaps Liz Wilson? You can call her, I think. She follows the same 'rules' as my avian vet.
She is in the US but consults are mainly by phone I think? |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 12:19 pm |
|
|
Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
|
|
|
Hi Shirin,
Something just crossed my mind as I'm reading this thread. Could Bunny be seeing your fingers as toys? My boy Apollo chew on my fingers. Sometimes my corella find that my finger is a better toy than the one I've given him to distract him, so he'll come after the finger ignoring the toys. He is one of the gentlest too I've met (not including during his playtime of course, then he goes for the kill when he gets hyped up). Sometimes when I scratch him, he lifts his leg up as well just like Bunny, like he wants to step up. Once he gets a hold on my finger, he'll pull himself up to my hand, and proceeds to 'play' with my fingers. Just a thought. Sorry I don't really have a solution as such. I can offer what I usually do thought....When it happens to me, I just ignore it and put him back down or not give him the hand to start off with. Then I'll pick him when I'm ready to pick him up, not when he's demanding for it. This has helped to certain degree, but Apollo stills find it very interesting to play with my fingers especially when I'm giving him a head scratch!!
Cheers
Bih |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 1:46 pm |
|
|
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
Hi Bih,
does he chew hard on your fingers then? Or is he gentle with you? |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 2:49 pm |
|
|
Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Hey Sue,
That's a very good question. I guess it really depends on his mood. When he's tired, he goes after the finger with quite a force, but usually not hard enough to break the skin. However usually he starts off with little licks, then it'll get harder and harder and harder as he goes. I've tried to discourage that now. I hadn't done from the start, which is probably contribute to why it's still an on going thing with Apollo. I'm in the process of retraining him not to bite fingers, or at least fingers aren't toys anyway. Not really working yet, guess I've got a long way to go with that!!  |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 2:56 pm |
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
[quote="Cheeta"]When he's tired, he goes after the finger with quite a force, but usually not hard enough to break the skin. However usually he starts off with little licks, then it'll get harder and harder and harder as he goes. [quote]
Iago does the very same! He'll eventually really hurt my fingers. Though all he wants to be is friendly.
He is just too enthusiastic with grooming.. |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 2:59 pm |
|
|
|
|
Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
He he, birds just don't know they own brute strength! Talking about overgrooming, Apollo has manage to pull quite a few hair from my hubby's head while preening him! It was very hilarious when Apollo came up triumph over a little bundle of hair he thought needed removing. Hubby didn't think it was funny at all!! |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 3:03 pm |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Administrator
I was just wondering: Does he go for your fingers when you keep him on your hand and not move yourself? Perhaps he doesn't like the 'moving' part.
It's every time. As soon as he steps up, he'll start off by rubbing his beak on my hand, you know, like they do when they're grooming their beak, then he'll take a little nip, then harder and harder! Never drawn blood, but it hurts a lot. The wierd thing is, even when he's really excited and playfully nips at my fingers, he knows were to draw the line when he's not on my fingers. But if he's up, there are no limits to how hard he can bite.
quote:
Originally posted by cheeta
Could Bunny be seeing your fingers as toys? My boy Apollo chew on my fingers. Sometimes my corella find that my finger is a better toy than the one I've given him to distract him, so he'll come after the finger ignoring the toys.
It sounds like Apollo and Bunny are doing the same thing. I have read in training books that usually when birds do this, it's because they're not percieving your fingers as a part of you, but a perch, or a toy as you mentioned. but the only solution they offer is to distract them with a treat or a toy to take their attention away from your fingers. As I mentioned before this hasn't worked for me. My next option is to just start picking him up with a hand held perch for a while.
Another thing I noticed just now as I picked him up, is that he gives me kisses on my lips, and doesn't bite my lips hard at all as if he knows it would hurt me, but my fingers...
Anyway...like you Bih, I have to start retraining him not to bite.
Shirin |
|
Tuesday May 31, 2005 5:28 pm |
|
|
Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
|
Hi.. I think he does it just as Iago..
He is enthusiastic at times too. But I can imagine it hurts more from a larger bird!
Can you reward him when he doesn't do it? |
|
Wednesday June 1, 2005 8:27 am |
|
|
|
|
Goto page 1, 2 Next
All times are GMT. The time now is Wednesday August 20, 2008 7:02 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
