african grey bitting

[africangrey]

I have a african grey, who will bite most of the time when i try to pet it and when i pick him up.

What would you suggest

[birdgirl]

first of all welcome to the forum :D we love new people.
how old is your grey? ok well if he/she bits every time you try to pick him/her up you might want to try using a hand held perch and try the towel game but don't put your face under the towel with the bird also talk to the bird when he/she is in his/her cage and try to give him/her treats though the cage bars (find a food he/she really likes) and sing to him/her birds love it when people sing. so glad you and your grey are here what type of grey is he/she?
good luck

[Redstorm1721]

Is your Grey a new baby? This coulld be why. Or is he another member in the familys bird? You see they tend to go to one person and love them. not that they won't love all of you. I guess it all depends on how they are brought up? Greys are known to be "one person birds. they can be trained to love all,but the tend to be with only the one they chose to love the most. Try talking to him and singing and getting to know him. Try keeping him in his cage for a bit to have him get used to you? Then slowley take one step at a time. I have no idea if he is a new bird or a new baby? Good Luck!

[JSimko]

Sometimes all it takes is for the bird to learn what the word ouch means. Now I am not saying that you should hurt your bird. What I did with my blue and gold is whenever he went to bite me, I stuck his foot in his beak. When he bit down on his own foot, I said ouch. After just one day of doing this, he stopped biting and now when he sees something happen that he thinks would hurt he says "ouch" and laughs.

[Redstorm1721]

So funny! What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!

[birdygirl]

That is a good idea. Smart creatures like parrots need to be taught what to do and sometimes reinforcing what they aleady know is important.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Jsmko,

My birds don't bite but do you have any advice on how I can get Marcel, my Pionus to warm up to my daughter. He doesn't know her too long because she just came home for the summer from College. I only have him 1.5 months and he likes the rest of the family just fine.

She tried to give him treats, sits next to him, sings to him, etc., but he raises all his feathers and fans his tail and tries to attack her. What a dilemma.

I would value your opinion.

Roseanne

[Jenny]

Mrs. Birdy, I'm sure that after your daughter's been home awhile and Marcel sees that she's safe he'll warm up to her. It just takes time, and right now I'd guess that he's just being cautious because he doesn't really trust her yet. That's great that she's been sitting by him and giving him treats and things, and if she just keeps doing that and being friendly, I'm sure it'll make a big difference!

[Mrs.Birdy]

Thanks Jenny,

We will certainly keep on trying.

P.S. I value everyone's opinion......

I have gotten so much from this board.

Thanks again

Roseanne:)

[birdygirl]

Sophie doesn't like my brother and tries to attack him all the time. He has gotten used to it and turned it into a game for Sophie. Now Sophie learned he was fun and will step up for him but she will still attack him.

[Redstorm1721]

Roseanne,does your daughter fear him? I ask because my son is so scared of Sunni,and Sunni knows this,so she will do the same thing to him. My son will put his finger near her and she will just bite it off if she had the chance. he wanted to pet her. She just doesn't like him. I know its because he fears her. I feel bad,and he just will not take a few moments to sit with her he is just so afraid of her. She sences this!