She has started biting

[manuelcalavera]

Hello everyone,

It has been 3 days that Kido, my 4 months old African Grey companion, has started biting!

There is no changes in our behavior or hers (Although she has become extremely vocal these days - screams included) but today, it was very obvious she aims for body parts to bite and tear off. Well I'll list the possible changes that might help:

• More strawberries in diet (everything else is same)
  
• A blanket for the nights and the times she can't stop screaming
  
• She's now being fed by syringe (previously she wouldn't eat her formula with spoon or syringe and I needed to feed her with crop tube)
  
• She flies more than before - mostly to sit on my shoulder or hand.

Only I can mention these. Anyhow, me and my girlfriend (who sometimes feed her) got painful bites today, although Kido loves me a lot and has never bite me.

What I want to know is how should I cope with the situation and prevent Kido from getting worse.

P.S: maybe this thread would help, I don't know:
New strange behavior after giving Kido her formula | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum

Thanks in advance

 

[manuelcalavera]

I have to add, today, she didn't let go of our hands and took 3-4 seconds to let go. She plays with the fingers a lot and we're kinda scared because we might be miliseconds to be pierced again.
P.S. She's very bonded to me, and whenever she is scared, she flies and reaches to me somehow. Whenever I am in my room, she comes and find me in bed and sits on my chest. Also she always wants me to stroke her head/neck and sleeps there. But to see her biting like that and not letting go, is so scary.

 

[sunnysmom]

 

[Mimi75]

So my daughter ( human) goes completely off the wall nuts when she has anything with red food colouring. They will sometimes put it in strawberries and watermelon. She is fine with Straberries from our garden. Maybe it’s the strawberries?

 

[manuelcalavera]

There is another situation that she does not pierce her beak into my hand, but gosh the pressure is horrifying. What does that mean?

 

[Nighthawk0123]

Sorry don't know a whole bunch about this, this is the only possible explanation I can give you.

Since she is so young and probably is still exploring and learning the way of the world, she doesn't realise the pressure that she is delivering. Does it seem as if she goes out of her way JUST to bite you? If not, it's just her way of learning. Since we don't want to reinforce this behaviour, yell out a sharp cry (even if it doesn't hurt), move your hand away and end the interaction with her. Seeing as she's very bonded with you, she'll quickly come to realise the reason for you leaving and will (hopefully) not bite again.

Another quick question: How do you stroke her?

 

[manuelcalavera]

Sorry don't know a whole bunch about this, this is the only possible explanation I can give you.

Since she is so young and probably is still exploring and learning the way of the world, she doesn't realise the pressure that she is delivering. Does it seem as if she goes out of her way JUST to bite you? If not, it's just her way of learning. Since we don't want to reinforce this behaviour, yell out a sharp cry (even if it doesn't hurt), move your hand away and end the interaction with her. Seeing as she's very bonded with you, she'll quickly come to realise the reason for you leaving and will (hopefully) not bite again.

Another quick question: How do you stroke her?

Thanks for the reply. Happened very few times that she went for the bite only. (Although it seems to me that when she's around me, if someone tries to touch her, she shows that she WILL bite.)
About the stroke question; mostly her neck and head, but some times she shows that she wants me to stroke her back too.
P.S. sometimes when I'm stroking her head, or neck, she suddenly turns her head and hold my finger firmly and then goes back to her previous position to relax again

 

[Nighthawk0123]

From what I hear, it really doesn't seem as she is aggressive. I wouldn't really recommend stroking her back though, it tends to get birds hormonal and hence the biting.

(Although it seems to me that when she's around me, if someone tries to touch her, she shows that she WILL bite.)

She's a one person bird basically. Some birds only cling to one person and don't want anyone else - but since she's so young - I think you could attempt to socialise her a bit more. Let your girlfriend do more of the interactions. As hard as it may seem, let her do everything. Change the dishes, water, put in new toys etc. Let her get used to both of you. The end goal is to get Kido to get used to both of you, if this isn't controlled now - the biting towards other people will get worse.

Try the 'yelping technique' - hopefully that will help. Good luck

 

[manuelcalavera]

From what I hear, it really doesn't seem as she is aggressive. I wouldn't really recommend stroking her back though, it tends to get birds hormonal and hence the biting.

I've heard that since year one that they become a little more adult, it is ok to stroke their back. Isn't that right?

 

[Nighthawk0123]

I've heard that since year one that they become a little more adult, it is ok to stroke their back. Isn't that right?

Not sure where you heard that but I'm certain that the back is a big 'behavioural/hormonal' trigger. Not sure what they becoming an adult has to do with it... infact as an adult it's probably even worse because then they'll be able to lay eggs which can lead to egg binding.

Here is a quote from this article: Bird Sexuality - Bird Behavior Problems - birdparadise.biz

"Petting, the ways we pet, where we pet, and how long we pet are other factors in the sexual messages we may be communicating to our birds. One would think that stroking the bird on the back of the head and all the way down their backs and ending with their tail would be an amicable form of communication to their birds. Unfortunately, this is not so.
Most birds will find this form of petting as sexually arousing and this may bring about other misunderstood forms of communication from your bird. If I were to pet my cockatoos in this way they would be very accepting of it. They would lean in under my chin for a cuddle and lift their wing for me to continue petting under their wings and along their body. Does this sound familiar? To some people, I’m sure it does because I see it so often when talking to people as I watch them hold their birds. It can be easy to do because the birds are so accepting of it and they seem so content with it and it keeps them very quiet. Over time this can lead to many problems not only behaviorally but also medically. If I were to prolong this type of petting with my birds, I am not able nor wanting to carry out what would come next…..the mating."

 

[manuelcalavera]

Guys, she was bite-less(!) for a month, but today, we can't go near her. She's so cool in general, flies to me, sits on my shoulder but I CANNOT have my hand around her. She acts like a snake!
How can I decode this change of behavior?