Pepito is suddenly bitey

[flyingsowm]

We have been travelling a lot this summer. I think the girl who feeds him must be scared and he knows it because he attacks and bites hard when I try to change food or water sometimes when I have him out if the cage. I know it must be puberty . He is a year and 3 months old. I am ignoring the bites and holding him when he is being good. It is very Jeckyl and Hyde ish. Help would be appreciated if you have been through this. I did pet him day before yesterday and he liked it after he calmed down.

 

[Dona]

Gigi is nearly 7 months old so I've not experienced the puberty issue yet. She was a little bitey a few months ago and I think that could have to do with her baby molt. But I did have some trouble with changing out/cleaning perches and the boing. She would lunge and maybe nip. That has stopped for the most part. Oddly I have a little trick I figured out. I say to her "Can I touch your beak? Can I touch your cheek?" She stops what she's doing and faces me for me to touch her. So now I use that line when I'm working inside her cage. If she seems potentially nippy, I say that, touch her, and she seems to settle down. I guess it reminds her how I am not dangerous. Outside the cage, she is happy to step and hang out with me on my shoulder, finger, lap, etc.

 

[flyingsowm]

thanks Dona! good advice! I also removed toys that hormonal urges.

 

[Dona]

Oh yes, good idea, I forgot that! Gigi's disco ball is long gone! I think she was definitely getting hormonal with it.

 

[flyingsowm]

He has totally settled down!!!! Back to his loving self. Removing those toys really helped!

 

[Dona]

Aww great news. My girl is sweet as can be right now too. Lucky Linnie parents.