Biting/"Preening" me too hard!

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Biting/"Preening" me too hard!
Topic Started: Jul 10 2010, 03:21 PM (1,076 Views)
Crystal	Jul 10 2010, 03:21 PM Post #1
Canadian Eh. Posts: 31 Group: Full Members Member #3,179 Joined: December 31, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Celestial What colours Green/blue I live in Ontario, Canada! My name is Crystal	I've had Jade since May and she has been great. I got her from a lady who breeds and hand raises so she has been very tame, friendly, social, interactive... all the way along. She is at about the 4 month mark and from reading various other posts I see its about time for a molt. She doesn't seem to be going through a bad one, or it isn't that bad yet. She isn't overly moody but she has become very clingy to me! She won't even sit on her play gym half a foot from my lap top while I do emails. She doesn't like her head scritches right now but there are a few pins here and there so I get that it probably hurts a little but she has been preening me like crazy. She isn't gentle about it either. I first thought that all of a sudden she was nippy but read on the various posts (thanks guys!) that she isn't actually nipping, she is preening me but she is being very rough about it. She starts off gentle and will nibble an ear lobe or the little hairs on my arm and then she gets more aggressive with it. I don't let her on my head any more because she heads straight for my ear lobe and CHOMP and today I have 3 raised welts on my arm where the preening got a little out of hand! Ack what do I do?! It's hard to play with her because she is always looking to preen and I appreciate the gesture and I understand it's a sign of birdie affection but how do I get her to stick to the gentle preening?



dellald	Jul 11 2010, 10:40 PM Post #2
Member Posts: 123 Group: Full Members Member #3,131 Joined: August 26, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have three What types celestial What colours 2 green 1 blue I live in Derbyshire My name is Donna	I just say ouch I don't like that in a stern voice and Pickle seems to understand because he goes all sheepish then carries on a bit more gently, then I talk nicely and tell him he's a good boy. I think they are smarter than we think they are :)



kevinp	Jul 12 2010, 06:32 AM Post #3
Administrator Posts: 6,893 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: October 7, 2006 How many Parrotlets do you have I have one Parrotlet What types Celestials What colours One green Other Birds ? Budgeries four off I live in a mess of my own making !!! My name is I'll give you a clue	You are going to have to teach him the NO word Quote: Biting: Before we address what to do about bting let us think a moment why your parrot is biting. Biting is a reaction to something. Is she afraid, ill, playing to get your attention, hormonal? Is your parrot actually biting or just nipping in fun. Is your parrot just trying to groom you and remove that unslghtly mold which does not belong there. Before taking any firm steps be sure to acess the situation first. Remember to that parrots use there beak as a third foot. They will feel that perch (your finger) first to be sure it is safe. They need to learn to do this gently but it should be remembered this is a natural instinct. If your parrot is really biting them of course we must stop this behaviour and the sooner the better. All of us like to ealk around with our parrot on our shoulder. This is not a good idea until you have the biting under control and can expect that your parrot will step off when asked. If your parrot bites you say NO Bites in a firm voice while at the same time giving your hand a litle rocking motion to distract her.At he same time hand them something that is allowable to bite. Paper, toy, anything that you can safely allow them to chew on so you can say good girl chew your toy. If you receive a second bite repeat this procedure and in a very said voice say you bite meeeeeeeee that hurrrrrrrrrts me..Bad bird.If you get a third bite then immediatley take your parrot and put them in therir cage without another word. Close the door and say Bad Bird No Bites..Walk right out of the room. In another room turn on the radio, clicnk some glasses talk to yourself. Do anything to let the bird know you are having a fine time and she is missing out.In 5 minutes return to the cage and before opening girl ask are you a good Kiwi now. Remember no bites. Open door and ask bird to step up.If this goes well PRAISE< PRAISE PRAISE. Go back to what you were doing in the first place and tell them how very goooooooooood they are. If you get another nip right away close door and walk away again. If it takes awhile then start back at beginning. It will take a few days for your parrot to realize that biting is not acceptable and will land them back in theoir cage while the rest of the flock is playing. He/she will not like this and will realize the biting is hat is causing the problem.



scooby	Jul 12 2010, 02:45 PM Post #4
Admin Posts: 4,471 Group: Admin Member #1,461 Joined: December 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 7 What types celestial What colours 3 green, 1 blue, 1 pastel blue,1 yellow, 1 albino Other Birds ? Meyers parrot, Gcc ,blue fischer lovebird,2 fischer lovebirds,2 mountain parakeet,2 budgies I live in York My name is Jacqueline ( jackie for short)	I agree a firm NO and he will get the meesage that biting hard is unacceptable :)



Crystal	Jul 12 2010, 03:57 PM Post #5
Canadian Eh. Posts: 31 Group: Full Members Member #3,179 Joined: December 31, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Celestial What colours Green/blue I live in Ontario, Canada! My name is Crystal	Sorry I guess I should have said what I have tried :oP I have tried the firm NO, No Bites... NO with rocking motion to distract... She knows no but she will stop for a moment then continue the same thing...gentle then chomp. I've tried also what the breeder suggested which was a firm NO, then NO and rocking motion and if she continues place her on the floor for a few moments "no bites" and pick her up. I guess that is the same sort of idea as the walking out of the room. I just don't put her on the floor often because I read the postings on here that say that isn't a good idea at all? I guess I will put her on the floor more often as soon as she bites too hard and ignores NO and I'll try the walking out of the room. PS I did do a search on the board and read most of the posts regarding the biting, from the post regarding determining why they are biting I learned that it is preening rather then actual aggressive biting. Thanks for the input :)



schmatalie	Jul 13 2010, 08:27 AM Post #6
Member Posts: 213 Group: Full Members Member #2,790 Joined: June 8, 2008 How many Parrotlets do you have 2 What types 1 Spectacled boy called Naboo, 1 pied celestal male,called Digby Other Birds ? 2 Cockatiels - Rocky and Lola I live in Hampshire, Uk	My one has a nasty habit of putting tiny little holes into my t-shirts, so i have been holding a toy with lots of preening bits (fronds of rope and paper) up to him whenever he's on my shoulder. I think you're right, she's preening you and is getting carried away. If she did it to another bird she'd get a peck and learn not to do it, obviously you can't do that though! I would try distraction techniques - does she have a favourite toy or food that you could tempt her away with? The putting her on the floor thing is quite a good idea to teach her that you don't like to be preened so hard - it's not recommended to let parrotlets walk around on the floor because they can so easily be stepped on, however if you were using it as a 'time-out' for only a few minutes and watching her, i think it would be fine (you could try putting her back in her cage instead?)



kevinp	Jul 13 2010, 09:32 AM Post #7
Administrator Posts: 6,893 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: October 7, 2006 How many Parrotlets do you have I have one Parrotlet What types Celestials What colours One green Other Birds ? Budgeries four off I live in a mess of my own making !!! My name is I'll give you a clue	I wouldn't recommend putting her on the floor at all, We have had three members who have stepped on their Parrotlets with their death being the only outcome, Please don't do this tuttut



Gardengail	Jul 13 2010, 11:58 AM Post #8
Staff Member Posts: 13,943 Group: Staff Member #25 Joined: January 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Other Birds ? Severe Macaw and 2 Timneth Greys I live in Upstate New York, USA My name is Gail	Well if you can break her of this let me know how you did it! LOL! I can't put Cricket anywhere near my shoulder any longer. I've tried the firm no and the time out in the cage routine. Didn't work for me! I agree with Kev. The floor, especially for Parrotlets can be extremely dangerous!



scooby	Jul 13 2010, 06:09 PM Post #9
Admin Posts: 4,471 Group: Admin Member #1,461 Joined: December 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 7 What types celestial What colours 3 green, 1 blue, 1 pastel blue,1 yellow, 1 albino Other Birds ? Meyers parrot, Gcc ,blue fischer lovebird,2 fischer lovebirds,2 mountain parakeet,2 budgies I live in York My name is Jacqueline ( jackie for short)	The thought of a little parrotlet under a shoe makes me shudder.



LauraR	Jul 13 2010, 11:52 PM Post #10
Staff Member Posts: 6,297 Group: Staff Member #78 Joined: April 7, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures I live in California, USA	I think distracting them is a good idea, like Schmatalie says. Hold something they like to chew on or pick at and then when they preen you, say "no bite" or whatever and then direct them to the chew thing. Once they start picking at that, then praise them. Parrotlets are notorious for making little holes in your clothes, especially the females, I think.



theexbrit	Jul 14 2010, 01:08 AM Post #11
Co Admin Posts: 4,144 Group: Co Admin Member #74 Joined: March 20, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Pacifics What colours Green, pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures - Crimson Bellied & Green Cheeked I live in So. California My name is Andy	P'lets are getting very "randy" at this time of year, so some rough behavior is going to happen, even a "yung 'un" like yours may get "stirrings" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: drats My 2 preen for a while then one will get a bit overzealous & the other will screech & peck the other :question: eek eek I agree with Scmalt & Laura about distraction, but as the others said it's reallyscary when a tiny p'let is on the floor :scared: :scared: eek eek eek eek eek Even if you're there watching it's easy for an accident to happen. A seconds distraction & ......................... crying crying crying crying crying



Jan	Jul 14 2010, 08:24 AM Post #12
staff member Posts: 3,531 Group: Staff Member #1,157 Joined: November 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Celestial What colours Blue & Green+Green Dominant Pied, Other Birds ? Zippi & Drummer Cockatiels I live in Wales uk My name is Jan	Holes in clothes! Mine make holes in my fingers :question:



scooby	Jul 14 2010, 03:30 PM Post #13
Admin Posts: 4,471 Group: Admin Member #1,461 Joined: December 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 7 What types celestial What colours 3 green, 1 blue, 1 pastel blue,1 yellow, 1 albino Other Birds ? Meyers parrot, Gcc ,blue fischer lovebird,2 fischer lovebirds,2 mountain parakeet,2 budgies I live in York My name is Jacqueline ( jackie for short)	Jan Jul 14 2010, 08:24 AM Holes in clothes! Mine make holes in my fingers :question: :lol: :lol: :lol: poor Jan you love them really, you know there only love bites



Gardengail	Jul 14 2010, 06:37 PM Post #14
Staff Member Posts: 13,943 Group: Staff Member #25 Joined: January 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Other Birds ? Severe Macaw and 2 Timneth Greys I live in Upstate New York, USA My name is Gail	Jan! LOL! While we are on the subject of Parrotlets and floors, please don't forget about the dangers of ceiling fans and open toilet seats!



Jan	Jul 15 2010, 07:02 AM Post #15
staff member Posts: 3,531 Group: Staff Member #1,157 Joined: November 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Celestial What colours Blue & Green+Green Dominant Pied, Other Birds ? Zippi & Drummer Cockatiels I live in Wales uk My name is Jan	OHHHHHHHHHHHH YES... Sky had a swim down the loo took her a month or so to recover.. drats Oh life would be so peaceful with out birds..... But so boring too 2.gif



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