Why is my Grey biting me now?

[The Hills]

We got Popeye (app. 15 yr. Timneh) about 3-4 months ago and he's one of the most well behaved, good natured birds that I've ever come across, and very sweet. He's never bitten either one of us, if he's uncomfortable, he'll let you know by just softly touching his beak to you. He's never even tried to bite either one of us.

Last night I had him on my hand and everything was just fine until I went to put him back on his cage. He just dug into my hand for no appearant reason. After I got him off, my wife put him up and we went to bed. Just now I came home from work and decided to make friends with him again. He stepped up just fine, and we sat in the living room for awhile then went outside for a few minutes. He seemed happy, even giving me kisses as he often does. But when I went to put him up again, he just latched on to my hand again. In the same place too. Right between my thumb and index finger. It was extremely painfull the first time, not to mention when he did it again.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why he's doing this. No surroundings have changed around his cage. I was wearing normal clothes that I wear, nothing has changed about me. I was doing everything exactly like the normal routine.

Sorry for the long post, but I just want Popeye to be sweet again. I'm very tempted just to not ever try to pick him up again, but my wife insists that is the wrong thing to do. I just want him back to normal.
Thanks

[2horse]

Is it only when you put him back that he bites? Has out of cage time decreased?

[tripper]

Oh I know how that must hurt but do not give up on Popeye. I cannot give you too much advice about a Grey but my Amazons are just now feeling the "spring fever" and they do get alot more aggressive, totally out of their norm.
Popeye is still your sweet bird--- if he is healthy. a bite he is trying to tell you something which is multitide. No expert here but until someone comes along, patience, slow and more patience.

[janejacinto]

Sounds like he doesn't want to go back to the cage.
Jane

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by The Hills

We got Popeye (app. 15 yr. Timneh) about 3-4 months ago and he's one of the most well behaved, good natured birds that I've ever come across, and very sweet. He's never bitten either one of us, if he's uncomfortable, he'll let you know by just softly touching his beak to you. He's never even tried to bite either one of us.

Last night I had him on my hand and everything was just fine until I went to put him back on his cage. He just dug into my hand for no appearant reason. After I got him off, my wife put him up and we went to bed. Just now I came home from work and decided to make friends with him again. He stepped up just fine, and we sat in the living room for awhile then went outside for a few minutes. He seemed happy, even giving me kisses as he often does. But when I went to put him up again, he just latched on to my hand again. In the same place too. Right between my thumb and index finger. It was extremely painfull the first time, not to mention when he did it again.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why he's doing this. No surroundings have changed around his cage. I was wearing normal clothes that I wear, nothing has changed about me. I was doing everything exactly like the normal routine.

Sorry for the long post, but I just want Popeye to be sweet again. I'm very tempted just to not ever try to pick him up again, but my wife insists that is the wrong thing to do. I just want him back to normal.
Thanks

He probably could use more sleep. It's also breeding season in the Northern Hemisphere. Everything changes with breeding season for all birds. It's a difficult time for them physically and psychologically.

Read post number six on the thread I'm going to cross post here from the Amazon forum about how to give a strict natural daylight schedule that will calm everyone down.

The longest day of the year is July 15 then the days start getting shorter so he will get calmer as we get away from breeding season. Provided you give the "right" amount and type of sleep. (dark in a room without human disruptions and following a strict natural daylight schedule)

For now I'd use a perch and he should have a destination, a play area not always be on you. I'd be putting him IN the cage or on his play area not up ON the cage. I'd be explaining what you want him to do and where he's going and what time it is (time for bed or whatever). He has the iq of a two year old kid at least but also the emotional equivalent too, so he's going to understand alot of what you say with repetition.

And the kissing isn't a great idea with parrots especially larger ones and in breeding season. Remember he is an undomesticated wild animal versus a dog, for example, and unpredictable. You need to learn his body language and analyze his "timing" for example nighttime is always iffy. I'm sure if you follow the items in this post, he'll show alot of improvement. (and yeah, I HATE that area between the index finger and thumb...they seem to KNOW about it !!)


Discouraging Mating Behaviors

[bb100]

Sounds like Popeye is comfortable in his new home & is more confident that's the brightside. He probably didn't want to go back to his cage or didn't want to stop what he was doing. Either way he got his point across..ie bite.

With my Hubby my CAG Max is not so agreeable all the time. This means I do the bad stuff like putting him in his cage, trimming his nails or bath time etc. I have my CAG stick trained & if I'm away I don't have to worry about coming back to a husband with one less digit.

My husband has to work on the relationship with Max. He offers him treats, speaks to him softly and plays with him. However, the relationship is better than it was but I have a sneaky suspicion my CAG is secretly planning a way to bump him off...

[The Hills]

Thanks for all the replies. I think we may be keeping him up too much, but I didn't realize it until I read some of this stuff. We put them (him and the conure) to bed earlier tonight and we'll try that for a while. Thanks

[kensbuns]

Geeeeez Dad, He didnt want to go to bed!!! LOLOL!!!!

[featherduster]

Both of my TAG's, my Severe Macaw (male) and a CAG I had, do this when they don't want to go back to their cage.
With my Severe, I have to "hang him up" by his beak on his water dish. It's not as mean as it sounds. He loves it and gets a good back rub while I peel his toes from my finger.
The TAG's are a bit trickier. I have to un-balance them on my finger first, by tilting my hand towards the perch. Then I let them stable themselves on the perch in front of them. (I did this with the CAG too)
They just don't want to quit hanging out and having fun.

Good luck!