aw64 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Has anyone ever counted how many times they get bitten in a day? Iv had horrible afternoon with Alfie today and wish I had of counted the bites I'v had not drawing blood but dam painful, he flew to me just to bite me, landed on my head so many times when I lift arm to remove him he kinda swings down to bite what ever he can get first, in the end I returned him to the cage and left the room then let him out again but used a perch and managed (after a while) to get him up stairs to my room where we had some one to one which was ok his now back in cage finding his hidden treats, will he ever stop biting me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Thats a tough spot to try and use an arm or hand to get a step up. They are in control from that position and know it. So if they do not wish to move they will bite. The most important thing a parrot owner needs to learn, is to avoid situations where you know a bite is going to happen. The head roosting parrot is a perfect example. The first thing to do if you can, is to stop a parrot from landing there by simply ducking before they can land on your head. If they do land on your head because you did not react quick enough. The easiest way yo get them off, is to just lean forward quickly in a direction you know they will not hit anything and can just safely flap down to the floor or if fully flighted fly and land somewhere else. Just don't use your arm. The those multiple bites a day will not happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aw64 Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 I really do try to avoid him being on my head by nodding him off but if i dont move fast enough he swings down and goes for my face my arm was more to protect me but he got hold of it! the one time he even flew down to me and sat on my knee then started biting my hand, and he was biting, i really dont think he likes me, I'm his only carerer the only one who does anything with him, the only other person in the house is my adult son but apart from the odd whistle and hello he has nothing to do with Alfie, I am starting to worry as I do get alot of bites on a daily basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Ok, I understand you worry and you should be. First, If he does happen to land on your head, immediately bend forward and fast so it throws him off, rather than putting your hand or arm up there. He will soon learn the head is no longer a stable landing spot. I would also suggest keeping your hands away from him when he fly's over and lands on your knee for example. In other words, you do not let the bite to take place by not having your hands in a strike zone. Just talk to him and compliment him in a calm and friendly voice like "Good Flying!" when he lands on your knee. Secondly, when a bite occurs, return him immediately the the cage and tell him in a stern voice "No Bite!". Leave him in there for a 5 minute time out, then let him back out again. What you need to do, with help from this forum , is get this under control by lessenly the bites he is inflicting. If it just keeps escalating, it means he is not getting the feedback necessary to let him know it is not a game and is not acceptable behavior. Another thing you can do to keep him and his beak happy, is keep a foot toy he likes with you when you sit down and you know he is going to come. Lay it on your lap when he lands or have it already sitting there so he can get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 (edited) Has anyone ever counted how many times they get bitten in a day?Iv had horrible afternoon with Alfie today and wish I had of counted the bites I'v had not drawing blood but dam painful, he flew to me just to bite me, landed on my head so many times when I lift arm to remove him he kinda swings down to bite what ever he can get first, in the end I returned him to the cage and left the room then let him out again but used a perch and managed (after a while) to get him up stairs to my room where we had some one to one which was ok his now back in cage finding his hidden treats, will he ever stop biting me? It's not important to count how many times a bird has done this in one day. Once is enough. Simply put, you need to be much more assertive and be quick and watchful. You may have heard about not showing fear or not reacting but you have to do these things in order to lessen this problem. It won't hurt him. It'll just make him very uncomfortable. If your bird lands on your head, you need to swat him off QUICKLY!. That mans you need to use your hand. Using your arm isn't as fast as using your hand. You shouldn't wait until he bites before swatting him off. If he bites your head that means you can't trust him EVER!! You should swat him off every time he lands on your head even if he has no intentions of biting. You can't possibly know what his intentions really are. Letting a bird land on your head isn't natural. Do this frequently on a steady basis and he'll eventually realize what's ahead. Your bird isn't a head person and he's proving that to you over and over. You should do the swatting on a good day and a bad day. Some people may call this cruelty but they're not the ones getting bitten. You never know, maybe the next time your earlobe will be easier to get to. We can't tell you if he'll ever stop biting but we can tell you how to protect yourself against being bitten so frequently. Edited February 18, 2013 by Dave007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aw64 Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 Thanks for the advice guys will try back in cage for 5 mins thats if i can get him in! And I dont allow him on my head but he does keep landing on it or my shoulder which he bites, I put my arm up for him to step up if I'm sat down but if I'm stood do tend to nod head so he has to fly off, he will bite when ever I try to remove him from places its not safe for him to be or not aloud to be such as TV ect. dave by swat do you mean knock him off with my hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Thanks for the advice guys will try back in cage for 5 mins thats if i can get him in! And I dont allow him on my head but he does keep landing on it or my shoulder which he bites, I put my arm up for him to step up if I'm sat down but if I'm stood do tend to nod head so he has to fly off, he will bite when ever I try to remove him from places its not safe for him to be or not aloud to be such as TV ect.dave by swat do you mean knock him off with my hand? Yes, that's what I mean. A light swatting will not allow him to grip you very well. It will make him leave. Repeat this even though he may not do anything concerning biting. He doesn't belong on your head. No bird should be allowed to stay on someone's head. if he lands on your head, lightly swatting him away should take about 5 seconds or less. This isn't a new problem. Loads of people here have had this problem and loads of people will tell you that it's a quick way to get a bird off your head. He'll either fly away or fly to the floor or fly to the cage or fly to a piece of furniture etc. None of these places he'll fly to won't be suffering pain or bleed nor will they complain. . Your head or other body parts will. Many of these same types of methods are used for what's called *shoulder birds*. Abird lands on a shoulder and begins to bite a neck, a cheek, an earlobe, a piece of lewelry, a piece of clothing, eyeglass frames etc. Those types of birds will eventually be known as *no shoulder birds*. The person has to quickly get the bird off the shoulder or else there's trouble ahead. That bird will never be allowed on the shoulder again because a shoulder bird and a head bird can never be trusted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeys Mom Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 So true, Dave. It is always easier to tell someone what you "think" or heard of that may help with a problem, untill youre actually the one being bitten or in a sticky situation. I think youre advice was verry helpfull and truly hope that she could find some sort of solution to the biting soon. I was wondering if it was possible and she had availlable finces, if she could perhaps try taking him to a behavioural specialist to try and work and that biting if it is not normal. - Just a thought. I also found that Barbara Heidrich writes excellent articles on this kind of behaviour, maybe for a start you could read (Google) some of her work, she might have a solution for you. It's not important to count how many times a bird has done this in one day. Once is enough. Simply put, you need to be much more assertive and be quick and watchful. You may have heard about not showing fear or not reacting but you have to do these things in order to lessen this problem. It won't hurt him. It'll just make him very uncomfortable. If your bird lands on your head, you need to swat him off QUICKLY!. That mans you need to use your hand. Using your arm isn't as fast as using your hand. You shouldn't wait until he bites before swatting him off. If he bites your head that means you can't trust him EVER!! You should swat him off every time he lands on your head even if he has no intentions of biting. You can't possibly know what his intentions really are. Letting a bird land on your head isn't natural. Do this frequently on a steady basis and he'll eventually realize what's ahead. Your bird isn't a head person and he's proving that to you over and over. You should do the swatting on a good day and a bad day. Some people may call this cruelty but they're not the ones getting bitten. You never know, maybe the next time your earlobe will be easier to get to. We can't tell you if he'll ever stop biting but we can tell you how to protect yourself against being bitten so frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aw64 Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Thanks for replys Im in the uk and dont think we have them here as much but will look into it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aw64 Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 had a much better afternoon using perch for step ups put cuddly toy on lap top which stopped me having to remove him from it, had time indoors then time in sun in his smaller cage which will be used to travel in. Did try spraying him in the kitchen which has got harder lately and gave up pretty quick as he just kept flying off which led me to wonder if this is some of the problem, I no its important to spray/ bath but would it do much harm to leave off for a while, he wont go in water in shallow bowl ect, have been working with our shower he will now sit on top of shower screen but got no where near water yet just watches me. He has got his first vet check Friday, what sort of things do you think I should be getting vet to look at in ref to behaviour, he seems ok to me eats well ect. And yes Iv been head bobbing through out, used lots of treats to get him to come onto my lower arm and the perch but mostly the perch, also used perch when removing him from kitchen cupboards ect this was when I was making a coffee needless to say the perch got a few bites but I'm in tact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Sounds like you are making progress. Hang in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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