Bloody Fingers from a Devil Bird

[cfulhage]

Well, as much as I tried to kid myself that Ollie would stay sweet forever...things are slowly but surely changing. She's given me about 3 good bites now. All 3 times have been when she is on her hoopball, and I go to take her off. They have also all happened in the evening, when she knows she is getting taken off to go to bed. It's more than a bite- she will just attack my hand, and break the skin in several different places. I grit my teeth and don't pull my hand back, and make her step up. Once she does, I tell her "NO" and "NAUGHTY" in a very firm voice, that usually comes out as a yell even though I try not to (because my feelings are hurt, and I'm often in pain!). She then goes promtly into her cage and gets covered without another word from me.

Is this how I should be dealing with it? I don't want to teach her any bad habits....I remember reading that you shouldn't put them directly back into their cage, because then they will start to bite you whenever they want to go back in there. However, Ollie never wants to go in her cage- so I don't think that would ever be an issue.

Any suggestions, opinions, personal experiences, critiques???

[Monica]

Sounds like the issue is of her going back to the cage, and not wanting it. Maybe, before bedtime, have her sitting else-where? And when it's time to go back, get her favorite treat, show it to her, but not let her have it, get her to step up, place treat into cage and then her in? That way she has something to look forward to when she goes back???

Otherwise, sounds like you are handling it correctly.

[bb100]

She's only biting you on the hoop ball and from your post your hands are taking a beating. Frankly, If this is the only instance she is biting than she sounds like a smart birdie gal who doesn't want to go to bed. If it were me I would get her to step-up on a perch. Works well for my husband and it avoids any association between hands & biting.

[radiogirl995]

Yes, that was going to be my suggestion too.
I wrote just the other day that Tuki was doing something similar when he is on the kitchen floor and doesn't want to go anywhere else.

I've just started using the perch step-up for those times and for the times I need to put him back in the cage.

Sorry bout your bloody fingers Camille.

[Doubleyolk]

JMO You might want to put the hoopball away for a while and see if it stops. I think it could lead to her biting more often especially if biting is something she never does. Again JMO

[Graehstone]

Originally Posted by Doubleyolk

JMO You might want to put the hoopball away for a while and see if it stops. I think it could lead to her biting more often especially if biting is something she never does. Again JMO

That's a good thought, I too would see if that changes things or if she is still adamant about not going to bed. When any of mine (for the most part Gracie {Tag}) try to get nippy when they are supposed to step up I use my left hand and raise if quickly in front and above their heads snapping my fingers while my right hand simultaniously goes for their feet as I say a real loud "Step up!" She is so worried about my left hand that she ignores what my right is doing.
The "step up" command is so ingrained in them that they do it without thinking and once I have control of their feet I have control of the bird for the most part.
This too is just what I do and not everyones cup of tea.

[cfulhage]

All good ideas. I'll try doing the treat thing first. She will readily bolt off the ball if I'm holding an almond. Next time she goes in for the bite I'm going to try what you do, Mike. That sounds like a great distraction.

I'd like to avoid putting the ball away. I think her behavior just needs a little modification, and instead of just avoiding the situation completely, I'd like to work on it with her. She just needs to learn who is boss! (...that's me!)

Ollie will step up onto a perch, but I also like to avoid that if at all possible. I taught her that so if she was ever being looked after by somebody, they would have a way to get her- but being that I'm her momma, I want her to politely step up onto my hand, and behave once she's there! I'd hate to perch train her, then have her decide that is the only way she wants to step up!

[tamaran2]

Sorry to here about our hands.

I know my day is coming with my BFA, it is only a matter of time. So here is what I did, I like you wanted to be able to pick her up on my hand and have her behave AND remain hand trained. But I also use the perch for the days to come. So I use them with random times. Some times hand, sometimes perch. She will do either one and I hope it stays that way.

[Kristi]

I can sympathize, Camille. Marley will strike at me like a snake on occasion when he doesn't want to come off of his gym. He usually only does it when I've put new toys on it and he doesn't want to go to bed. I'm going to try some of the suggestions you got also. Let's keep each other posted on what's working!

[bekfreak]

And sweet little Bella is starting to test my limits. I had for a bit at least while getting ready for work allowed her to hang out on her cage top that stands taller than I am, and lately either it's just the testing phase or it has to do with the height issue. No good bites, but I want to keep things nice and cool between us. I'm going to keep her off the cage top to see if that cools my gal off, and she's been ignoring some step-ups these past two days...