worried...biting

[gbdb_kcb]

Hi All,

 

Well my baby is definitely changing. One week she likes eggs the next week she wont go near them., ha. One week she gives me easy and soft kisses and this week she has almost given me a nose piercing (that was my fault though, I introduced her to a new window and she was scared" now the change is when she goes to kiss me, she bites my lips really hard, she drew blood on my husbands lip.... not sure what to do, also she used to sit on my shoulder and play with my hair, but now she bites my face and tugs on it, yesterday I was a bit concerned when she bit about a mm of my eye.

 

I will tell you what I have tried and if anyone could give me any other suggestions that would be great. I tried distracting her with a treat, but right now she doesnt seem to favor any one particular thing ( I have tried everything from sweet potatoes - pistachios, peanuts, peppers, carackers, noodles, eggs, every nut, every fruit, every veggie that I can get here and I am kind of at a loss) Now the person that hand fed her said she was VERY picky as a baby, so maybe that is just how she is, which I am fine with, I will keep trying!!! Ha. She gets fed better than my husband! Anyway, needless to say she doesnt respond to that. I did however this morning put a nontoxic, brand new thouroughly cleaned infant toy on my shoulder when she went to bite me, and that worked tremendously, should I continue with that? Also, I dont know if this is correct or not, but we have a senior dog, who is in need of a lot of attention, whenever I call Nittles, our dog Barley comes running over, so I am forever going back and forth with giving my attention. My point is, this morning I was giving Barley attention and then getting him water with Nittles Bird on my shoulder (without the toy) and she (nittles) started biting my face again.... almost like tugging at it... I then, put her back on her cage. I read somewhere to do that. Any advice? Do you think she is jealous? Do you think she is not stimulated? She has many foraging toys, many chains, loves to sit on her back perch and look out the window.

 

I love my little bird. This sounds weird but if I could feed her the way she is used to as a Mama Bird I would.... I was thinking maybe that is what she is thinking when she bites my lip. Dunno.

 

Oh sorry and one more thing, normally when she bites, I have been putting a my finger up (in the way of the big fingers at sports games like #1) and I say "No". I have a high voice, so I say it deep, and when I do that, she stretches her neck up, just stares at it, and stops whatever bad behavior she was doing. However, I keep reading everything, one site says it is ok, that they learn NO and some people say not to do it, that is why I just put her back on her perch. But she loves her perch, so I dont know how she will learn that biting the face is not appropriate.

 

Help! This little birdie owns my heart! My chest xray will have her face. Ha....

 

I know I am a little wacky. I just love animals as we all do here!!!!

 

Any suggestions would be greatly greatly appreciated.

 

Bird Mommy in the Keys

 

-Leigh:)

[LisaM]

Hi Leigh! My father lives down in the Keys also (Big Pine). I love it down there.

 

As far as the biting, particularly face/ears, you may want to keep Nittles off your shoulders for awhile to not even give the opportunity. I have three parrots and only one of them has regular "shoulder priviledges". I don't trust my Grey to not bite if she startles (and she's such a nervous nellie that it happens often). So she sits on my hand, my arm, my knee, my leg, etc..but not my shoulder.

 

As she's so young she may just be testing out the boundaries and getting a feel for the "rules". I think the best way to stop a behavior is to prevent the possibility of its occurrence in the first place, whenever that is possible. If Nittles is off your shoulder for a few days/week, she may forget about what it is getting her. Any reaction to it may be reinforcing it at this point.

 

Just one idea...i'm sure others will chime in with many, many more! Good luck!

 

Lisa

[gbdb_kcb]

Thanks Lisa for the advice!!! Yeah, I feel like something must have happened as she never did it before. Good idea! Yes, we are down in Marathon, not far from Big Pine at all!!! If you ever come down you should let me know! Thank you again!

[watchout]

I think the advice given is the right answer. You don't want your bird drawing blood from your face. They can do some real damage even not meaning too. BTW, my grandparrents spend the winters in their motorhome at the Jolly Roger park on Grassy Key. I have spent lot's of iime down there fishing with my Grandpa off the Marathon Lady. It's beutiful down there especially in the winter time. Makes me want a Herby burger with some conch fridders just thinking about it. LOL.

[gbdb_kcb]

Awww. I am loving all of these responses. Thank you so much. I think maybe we should have a Grey Forum down here in the Keys!!!!