my parrot loves to cuddle and loves to bite!

[willowwow]

So I have an 8 month old military macaw who won't stop biting me all the time the people I got him from would tap his beak and tell him no! I don't want to do this plus it didn't work for them. He loves to cuddle and play on his back with blankets. He is sweet but all the sudden he bites. he sleeps on a branch outside of his cage he dose not like being in his cage at all I put him near it he bites. He steps up great stands on you acts happy then bites. He flies on to me he is great at recalling but after a little bit he bites he dose target great gets his treat grabs me and won't let go then he bites I really feel like I have no Idea what I'm doing I've read books nothing is working it seems like it might be getting worse any advice helps I have blood and bruise I've tried the wobble the floor not making a sound Putting him down talking to him telling him gentle after a while I put him in his cage for a couple minutes please help !thank you

[RedDragon1288]

I've had the same problem with Malachite but tapping their beak and than saying no has never help anyone that I know who used to do that. It just makes them bite even hard or terrifies them. When Malachite gets to excited I would just put him in his cage and leave him alone for a few minutes. The best thing to try is avoid moments that overly stimulate them.

[willowwow]

I do put him in his cage for a couple minutes then when he gets out he's allows alot more upset.I try to avoid overstimulating him but if he's not in his cage he flies or follows me every where somtimes I feel he does just to bite me but I will keep trying thank you for your input

[RedDragon1288]

You could try to give him a bath to calm him down, which works for Ruby but Malachite seem to protest and talk more after his showers, Also you can use these opportunities to do training, like towel training or playing under the covers.

[willowwow]

I haven't figured how to get him to to take a shower or a bath.he does love to lay on his back and play under the covers though. the toweling, I haven't tried before. thank you so much for all your excellent advice I look forward to not being bitten by my baby!

[Shelby]

he sleeps on a branch outside of his cage he dose not like being in his cage at all I put him near it he bites.

I suggest only feeding him his meals in the cage and putting lots of toys and things for him to chew in it. Then he will also associate being in his cage as fun. Maybe he bites because he feels a need to chew that isn't being satisfied. (Unless you already provide lots of chew toys. Then I'm not sure why he would "randomly" bite you.) Pay super close attention to his body language and try to figure out if he does something before he bites. (Feathers smoothing down, opening the beak, leaning forward slightly, etc...) Once you figure out what to watch for, you'll be able to avoid the bites better. You may be doing something that makes him uncomfortable and you don't know. It could also be his mood. My deceased aunt used to have a cockatoo and who was only taken out of her cage or handled when she was calm. Nobody was ever bitten.

[willowwow]

I tried the shower he loved being in there afterwards he refused to get down and bit me really hard every time I tried to get him to step up I guess he didn't want to be bothered while wet at least I got him clean! I give him his meals only in his cage He has lots have of toys for him in and around I have a phone book on top he loves to rip up. he shows no sign of biting until when he does it not before his feathers are never tight he's always relaxed. he is super intelligent I started teaching some tricks by his first training session he's got it so I know he understands the not biting concept . The vet told me to grab the tip of his beak and tell him don't bite I don't know if that's right. any input would be great thank you

[spiral]

Hello
I was under the impression fom one of micheals video's that he has taught trueman, his cape parrot to let his beak be heald to help micheal ensure he does not bite strangers when they try to pet him.

I try to train my parrot to let me touch her upper mandible to discourage her from biting. if she has been socalised enough she will allow it and sometimes even enjoy it.

Take things calmy and gradually and you'll be fine good luck.

[RedDragon1288]

Things will get better as she gets older also. Ruby used to bite the hell out of my hand the first 6 months of getting him but I tough him to make a popping sound when he doesn't want me to pet him or doing anything that he didn't like. The same popping noise followed by tiny kiss is him showing affection. Body language is every and eyes pining. They always remind me of T-Rex.

[willowwow]

He loves to have his lower and and upper mandible touched while cuddling half the time when he's not. So what is a calm way to teach him biting isn't acceptable since it sounds like grabbing the tip and saying don’t probably isn't the best since I want to able to hold his beak right? So time patience and love and maybe he'll stop. So how do you teach them to pop when they don't want to be bothered? He pinns his eyes then moves his head all around the same way when I say good boy I thought this meant he was happy like dancing doesn't it ? But I do see the t rex look sometimes then I stay clear of him thank you everybody you all have been very helpful I appreciate the time you have taken to help me and I will not be defeated I know eventually I'll find something that works to stop the biting even if it is just time I really would like to learn how to teach him a signal to tell me when he doesn't want to be bothered what if they seem like they dont want to bothered but they keep getting on you?