My Senegal insists on sitting on me but bites me

[Alexis123]

I got a young Senegal parrot about a week ago, and he finally let me touch him and he steps onto my arms but he won't get on my finger yet. He insists on sitting on my shoulder at all times and he loves to bite all of my clothes which drives me crazy, but when he has the chance he bites my ears or neck. Then I make him get off but he climbs my shirt and goes right back. It seems like he likes me and feels safe with me, but I don't know why he bites.
And another issue I have is when he is in or on his cage he gets very aggressive and I have to grab him with something to get out. I love him already but his bites are very painful!

[Pajarita]

How old is your sennie and how long have you had him? How many hours is he out of his cage and when, exactly, during the day -like after breakfast or at night? Have you tried making him step on a stick?

[Alexis123]

He was born in April and I've had him a little over a week.. I keep him out for a while but not always the same time.. Hes usually out 3 or 4 hours whenever I have time. And yes, I've tried to get him to get on a stick but he just bites it.

[Pajarita]

It's way too soon for you to expect him to trust you or for you to even be handling him. Parrots are not dogs, they are not domesticated and have not been bred for hundreds of generations to depend or even like humans so you need to gain his trust and love as well as allow him to feel secure and comfortable in his new home - would you be nice to a giant alien that took you from everything you know and then insisted on playing with you from day one? No, of course not! You would try to get away from him and, if he forced you, you would hit/scratch/kick/bite him! Parrots usually need about two weeks to begin to feel comfortable in their new home so leave him alone, open his cage and allow him to come out on his own, don't ask him to step up on you or a stick, just keep him company -you can sit at the computer, watch TV, clean, read, etc, just keep on talking to him, offer him a treat every now and then, etc. Also, he needs to be on a routine so he should come out pretty much at the same time every day (always better right after they finish their breakfast which should be served when the sun is rising) and always allow him to rest at noon, a bit more interaction in the afternoon, dinner with sunset and then to bed. This schedule is the one wild birds follow and it's always easiest on them as well as healthiest in the long term.

Then, once you see he is comfortable (he will try to get closer to you, follow you with his eyes, pay attention to what you are saying, etc), you can start training him. Don't rush things, it's counterproductive in the long run.

[Graeme]

He is young and is exploring, he only has his beak so this is what he feels with.

Our Sun Conure is also young and has only been with us for about 5 weeks, he is the same, loves shoulders and nibbles on everything including glasses, ears, neck and buttons. But it's all new to him and over time he will be taught where he can and can't go. The nibbling will diminish over time as he becomes familiar with various things.

I am not a fan of birds perching on shoulders, too many things can get wrong very quickly. So I am teaching Bailey to land on my hand or arm only and so far he is doing really well. He will still land on my shoulder from time to time, but will then climb down onto my arm most times.

Just take things easy, you have plenty of time to teach your new friend whats what, so just let him get used to you and all the things around him first.