Reply With QuoteExcept for the sudden nipping he's acting regular? The only think I can think of would be if something's bothering/hurting him...
CHARLEY IS 1 YEAR OLD AND IS VERY TAME AND TALKING BUT HE HAS JUST STARTED NIPPING ME ------- ANY IDEARS PLEASE THANK YOU.
Except for the sudden nipping he's acting regular? The only think I can think of would be if something's bothering/hurting him...
When does he nip you? Is it when you go to remove him from his cage? Or is it when you are holding him? Is he on your shoulder or on your arm? Lots of questions, but I need more information if you want some suggestions.)
My CAG (Tanner) bites too. He is also tame, he is a big talker, he know's the step up command, he loves to sit on my shoulder, but he also bites. When on my shoulder he will sometime's nip at my ear, when he does that I look at him and say (NO!), he'll stop it then but alittle later he'll do it again, until I finally have to put him back on his perch. I have no idea why he wants to bite. He can be sitting on his perch, I"ll walk by and I"ll say do you want a head scratch, he will usually nod his head up and down, but as soon as I put my hand towards him he'll start to bite.... as far as the trust goes, I know that he trust me but it's just this biting thing... I am hoping that he will out grow it, he is 18 months old right now... I am constantly reading on how to break him from biting but nothing is working...
Open to any suggestions.
Thanks,
Jackie
There is such a thing as an automatic, instinctive movement?
To Jackie with Tanner: I don't think I would let Tanner sit on my shoulder. Sometimes they get to feeling a bit higher than you on the totem pole in that position. I have always read to interact with them at chest level or lower. Also, when you ask Tanner if he wants a head scratch, maybe he bobs his head up and down because that's what he has been taught. He might not know it means "Yes" in our language. Example: My CAG asks me lots of questions, but he isn't specifically looking for an answer. It's just what he has learned to say.
Try not to be intimidated by bites. If your bird learns that he gets his way when he bites, he will continue to bite. Take the bite "like a man," don't make a peep, and have the bird step up onto your arm as if nothing happened.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Jen
Greys are extremely intelligent.. They can sense if you are intimadated.. If mine bites me.. I say nothing.. she gets NOTHING no response no sudden movement. Maybe a look.. They do it for attention.
Thanks Jen. I don't think I need to let him shoulder either...in order to save my ear...LOL. Even though he was better last night, he sat on my shoulder for over an hour watching TV and didn't offer to play with my ear at all.... But still, I don't think I'll let him sit there anymore just in case....
Thanks,
Jackie
DaffyToons wrote:
To Jackie with Tanner: I don't think I would let Tanner sit on my shoulder. Sometimes they get to feeling a bit higher than you on the totem pole in that position. I have always read to interact with them at chest level or lower. Also, when you ask Tanner if he wants a head scratch, maybe he bobs his head up and down because that's what he has been taught. He might not know it means "Yes" in our language. Example: My CAG asks me lots of questions, but he isn't specifically looking for an answer. It's just what he has learned to say.
Try not to be intimidated by bites. If your bird learns that he gets his way when he bites, he will continue to bite. Take the bite "like a man," don't make a peep, and have the bird step up onto your arm as if nothing happened.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Jen
I am going to have to second that. It is NEVER a good idea to let Greys or any parrots for that matter sit on your shoulder. There is a reason pirates wear eye patches…
Seriously, though, your sweet little Grey friend has the ability to exert enough pressure with his beak to exceed the weight of an elephant. Greys don’t really have the “dominance” problems of some other parrot species like Amazons but even so…do not allow them to sit on your shoulder. In one second they could scar you for life or worse they could damage your eye.
:PThere is a reason pirates wear eye patches…
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