Biting

[Percival]

Hello. I recently brought home my first bird, Percival. He is a black capped conure, and seems to be adjusting well. Except for the biting. When he first came home there was little biting, only an occasional nip, and he learnt to step up before he came home. I've only had him for a week, but in that time his nipping has turned to rather aggressive biting. I've tried "beaking" him (gently waggling his beak), I've tried being completely indifferent when he bites no matter the pain, but neither seems to work.

This is mostly a problem when trying to bring him out of his cage. He exhibits both aggressive lunges, and more fearful biting. I know he is not afraid of my hands because he will accept treats directly from my fingers and palms, as well as let me pet him inside the cage, and step up once he is out of his cage. I understand birds can become cage territorial, but I really don't want to have to wrangle him every time it's his playtime/training.

He also doesn't dislike me as a person, once out of the cage he is more than happy to ride around on my arm or shoulder, preen my hair, and chirp happily. I don't think he is afraid of being outside of his cage as he is entirely curious and wants to be anywhere I am.

I've read many conflicting things about dealing with biting, and am worried about choosing the wrong strategy, resulting in reinforcement of poor behaviors.

I have also tried using a hand perch, which he is entirely afraid of and scrambles away every time.

I also worry about the influence of the other people in my house. My room mate is thrilled that I own a bird, and wants to be an active part of his life. I worry that having two people trying to teach him things might get confusing, and send conflicting signals.

Thanks so much for any advice.

-Sian & Percy

[Polarn]

Due to the conflicting theories on how to handle biting I won't give ya any real tips there. I've only so far been bit once by each bird, well twice by the galah. I've just let em clamp down and hold for as long as they wanted. And they seemed to get the idea that there's no point. However I've always given them the option to back off or fly away and then I won't push. So basically my method has beeing avoid getting bit. And all of the times I've been bit is when grabbing them out of carriers. Polarn only bit first time. But Gila tried it twice first when she got here then at the vet the day after.

About multiple persons. I can't really see any harm in it to be honest (not for the bird atleast) the normal is though that you try with a spouse, the good thig there is that your ment to live together for the rest of your life, the bird is however likely to pick a favorite person wich can cause problem in a married couple couse the husband might have been the bird pushing person while the bird decides to bond with the wife. Here's where it might cause you trouble if your bird decides to bond with your roommate. Where it is your bird but it might want to hang out with your roommate when both of you are around. Personally I've tried incorporate as many others into the training as possible. But that's different people's all the time and their not around 24/7 as I am. However when my lil brother comes by Polarn gets overly excited pretty much as when I get home if I've been away for the day.

[marie83]

Two or more people training will add to the parrots socialization which can only ever be a good thing if it is done right. Tell your friend that your willing to let him help as long as he respects what you say. Basicly if he is doing anything wrong then he must stop doing it if you ask.
Get him to read Michaels articles (and read them yourself).

Your right in that birds are territorial, I tend to accept that the cage is their space and lure them out with treats if they dont want to come out. I ask them to step up at the door (or off of a perch attatched to the outside of the cage) and dont ever stick my hand in unless I absolutely have to.
Some people on here open the door and walk away but I prefer for the bird to know I let them come out.

[Eurycerus]

Based on what I've read and experienced you should not allow your parrot to just wander in and out of his cage at will. My Senegal is definitely cage territorial (like when I go to change her water or food dish she attacks it unless she's distracted) but she knows that if she wants to come out she better come to the front perch and be charming. I fostered this behavior by targeting her right to that spot for the first week and then having her come out so it became a positive fun experience. She got a treat and got to come out if she came right to that area. Now I don't need to target her, she comes by herself. She caught on quickly. We never have any issues having her come out, but I never reach into her back perch to grab her or have her step up. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate that because if she's back there that means she doesn't want to come out.

[Percival]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll try target training him with a clicker. He seems to be a pretty intelligent bird so hopefully it won't take too long for him to get the idea. I think I will set up a perch in front of the door to target him to just like you have, Eurycerus, as I also don't like the idea of him coming out of the cage on his own.

However I would like some suggestions on how to stop the biting. I've tried just letting him bite me until he realizes it does nothing, but that point never comes. He just keeps biting progressively harder!

I will also give Michael's articles a read through.

[marie83]

Can you figure out what is triggering the bites? You've said he is territorial so you can avoid those bites by not going into his cage.

Watch him closely and learn his body language so you can recognise his warnings (this will take time so the bites may keep coming for a while) and avoid the bite.

Does he bite when you try to get him to do something he doesn't want to do? The bites should fade out as you learn what gives him the best incentive to do something/allow something, remember its early days still.

Has a previous owner taught him that biting get him a reaction? You didn't mention his age so I don't know about previous homes or if he is a baby or if anyone else in your household is reacting to his bites when your not in the room (this may mean he keeps testing and testing for a while but will eventually fade out when he keeps getting met with nothing) you will need perserverance for this one.

Is he biting when your not giving him a cuddle and he wants one? Sometimes just ignoring doesn't work and you will actually need to put them down somewhere and ignore them for a short time, then get him again and fuss him. If he flies after you when you put him down, keep putting him down. Stay firm.


If your going to do any other method other than ignoring him then you must know the exact reason for the bite otherwise you risk rewarding him for it. It is no good setting him down when he bites because you think he is doing it for attention when in actual fact it's because he wanted to be left alone, that way he has got exactly what he wanted and he will start repeating the behaviour.


If your conure is a baby then I'm afraid babies do test things out with their beaks, it is likely to be a phase unless you teach him the behaviour is rewarding. Never show fear and never react.

[Percival]

He is still a baby, only about 10 weeks. I'll keep persevering with this, as I'm entirely committed to my little guy. =)

I'm thinking the biting is definitely a testing behaviour, to see what he can get away with. It doesn't appear that the act of stepping up is something he is opposed to. He will do it quite willingly when the mood strikes him. I think maybe I need to up the reward with something that he ONLY gets when training.

Presently he is not flighted as when he was brought home his wings were clipped, however I think I will let the feathers grow back in so he can learn to fly, maybe this will ease him a bit.

EDIT: I will also mention that he has lots of pin feathers at the moment, I'm also wondering if those are bothering him quite a bit. This could make him quite cranky, no? I've been offering him baths and gentle head rubs which he seems to enjoy most of the time.

[Eurycerus]

I'm thinking the biting is definitely a testing behaviour, to see what he can get away with.

I can't be sure but some of the bites my Senegal did (when it's obviously not territorial) seem like exactly that. They hurt like heck though.

[marie83]

Yes the pin feathers are quite itchy for them. Unfortunately there is little we can do other than offer baths, feed a good diet and help break them up when they are ready. Your bird will let you know if they are too sore to touch so gentle head rubbing is fine.

[Percival]

Today we had two successful training sessions where step-up was accomplished with minimal biting. However I have noticed that he seeks out my fingers/skin to bite. I offered him the back of my hand with my sweater pulled over it, he put one foot up, caught sight of my fingers and went over to bite them.

After several painful, skin-breaking bites I covered my fingers with bandaids. He fingered that out quick and targeted only the spaces between the bandaids. But it's only my fingers and hands. He doesn't bite arms, my neck or ears.

Eventually he did step off the door of his cage twice into my hand, it seems apples are his best incentive. Once he's out of the cage, he'll step up from hand to hand quite willingly, but almost NEVER from my shoulder. Once he's up there he doesn't want to come down. Now, I'm thrilled that he likes to snuggle and preen up there, but I would like to be able to bring him down at will.