Senegal bites clothes, ear, hair

[Lifegod]

Hey all. I'm new here. I've kind of been looking around to see if anyone has the same problem. I just got a Senegal 3 weeks ago. He seriously hates my BF & actually attacked him! Biting him on his fingers & ears. So, now I'm a little afraid of him. He steps up onto my hand & then likes to crawl up my arm, if I block him he just flies over my hand. It wouldn't be a problem but he bites my hair, ear & clothing. Then I have a REALLY hard time getting him off my shoulder.
Should I not even let him step up until he's better trained? He loves attention & I'd love to give it to him but this biting thing freaks me out.

Help!

[Michael]

Is it a baby or rehome?

In either case better training is a good requisite prior to allowing shoulder time.

[Lifegod]

Thanks Micheal, Do you make house calls? lol! I really want this relationship with Jack to work but I'm having my moments...

The store I bought him from claimed he was about 6 months old. I think the people who handled him there must have let him on their shoulders.

Deborah

[Michael]

Ok, so he's an older baby but not fully matured yet. I'm not sure if he's really biting or exploring but there is an obvious difference. Nipping/exploring may be ticklish or uncomfortable but biting HURTS. If it's the latter, you gotta keep him off your shoulder but if it's the former, you just gotta let him get it out of his system and learn what ears and things are like so he isn't as fascinated with them anymore.

This may look like a bite but it isn't. It's just Truman playing around with my ear (more like head bobbing trying to drink bird throw up out of it but yeah):


So it's important to distinguish between the two. Biting should be prevented whereas exploratory beaking should just be ignored and let them get it over with.

[pchela]

My Senegal definitely went through a nippy stage beginning around 6 months old. It's not a real bite, but it does hurt. You'll just have to train him... with time and patience you'll have a well behaved little Sennie.

[Lifegod]

Hey, Thanks for the feedback. I found out a couple things about him on the weekend when I went back to the store to get some more food. Apparently he's at LEAST 2!!! I was told he was 6 months old. (what a store will do to make a sale, huh?) He also came in "bad shape". So, sounds like a rescue where someone didn't take very good care of him. He LOVES me, tolerates my daughter & lunges at my boyfriend. I'm learning more & more every day & I'm confident things will turn out fine. It'll just take time & trust.

I truly appreciate your help

Deborah

[Lifegod]

Well... my bird has successfully bitten everyone in the family... That in it's self isn't a big deal but it freaks me out that he is malicious about it... He offers his head to pet then he turns & bites or he'll climb down his cage to take a treat then bite the little fingers that hold it I thought birds bit out of fear & mistrust?!! Shouldn't he run away if this is the case?

[Ariahna]

I would love to hear the answer to that question as well because my daughter's is the same way. No one wants to interact with him anymore because he bites so unpredictably. I was reading an article earlier that I am going to share with my daughter to make sure this isn't part of the issue.

http://www.rationalparrot.com/tease.html

[Michael]

Oh, I have a pretty easy solution for the bossy kind of nippiness that looks so innocent. I just hold the beak while petting.

I've definitely seen the same behavior from Kili. She'll scratch her head and bend it down for petting and then snap at whoever goes to pet her. It's like she's asking for it and then changes her mind. But I taught both my birds to let their beak be held while petting so there is none of that. They like petting so they allow it. That way there's none of that bossy "pet me here but don't pet me there" biting.