Need Help With Biting & Molting

[My Kiwi]

I have a new parrotlet I am assuming maybe 4-5 months old but not positive for about 3 weeks now. She is molting ALOT on her head and neck. At first she was very sweet but has started biting and it gets worse every day. At first nipped a little playfully, then started to bite a little harder when trying to get her to do somthing she didn't want like go to her cage. Now I get her out of the cage tonite and she hops on my shoulder like normal then bites me hard right near my eye, then my ear and pulled at my hair.....Very mean, basically attacked me. Funny to be scared of such a 'lil thing ! I am wondering and hoping maybe it is because of the molting. could it be possible she is ill or anything ? She was giving me kisses last week ? Now she is on the lampshade and can't go near her. I tell her "NO" and she just lunges with her beak open. I hope I just don't have a mean bird

[Stasia]

It might not have as much to do with molting as it does that you have a parrotlet! :)

I had my parrotlet for almost exactly 3 weeks when he started almost the exact same behaviour. He was a vicous little sucker for a few weeks there, but one we both set our boundaries with eachother, things went up from there and he went one to become our little cuddle bug.

My advice is to be firm with the rules, don't reward him with attention (even negative attention) when he bites you. Make it clear you are not scared of him (even though you may be!) but don't be mean to him in return either of course. Be patient, you are still new to him and it sounds like he is a juvenile which this is typical of. He will come around sooner than you think, it might feel like a long time, but it's more than worth it!! Good luck!!

Stasia

[My Kiwi]

Thank you Stacia. It makes me feel better to know yours acted the same way. Maybe I am just being a bit too much of a worrier as she is my first bird.

[felisdomesticus]

I had a very rough transition time with my ekkie. She bit the hell out of me for about a month. The good news in the story for you, though, is that she was 2 years old when I got her and came from a home where she was never handled. She spent 6 months in a foster home prior to coming here but she regressed pretty quickly in a new environment with a first-time bird owner.

I cried, I bled, I swore (silently so she couldn't learn the words), and I kept taking her out of her cage and handling her. I learned that she wasn't as fresh with me when she was in a new environment--so I would sit outside on the back steps a lot with her and she and I would pick vegetables together from my garden. (obviously, she's clipped) Inside, if she was trying to bite, I'd just put on a gardening glove and let her try to bite through that. She learned quickly that biting got her nowhere. I also spent a lot of time just talking to her while she swung around on her boing in the kitchen.

It took about a month for her to stop trying to slice and dice me. During that time I thought that I had made the biggest mistake ever adopting a bird. I persevered, though, and now I love my redhead more than I ever imagined I could.

[My Kiwi]

Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I did try the glove but she flies away scared of it. That is another issue....I am not sure if I should have her wings clipped but more and more as I am considering it. It is hard to train her when she can just fly away from me. I have to get a chair to reach her from blinds, etc. I make sure fans off, blinds shut etc. before opening her cage to be sure all is safe. The reason I do not want to have her wings clipped is because I have 3 dogs that seemed a bit intrigued by her at first. Now that she has been here a while they seem to pay no attention but I feel safer knowing she can fly away quickly and stays up high while set free. Clip wings or no ????

[Bear_t]

Hey new parrotlet owner too. mine is 12 weeks old now and I know the feeling of being frustrated about the nippyness or naughty behavior as i am going through it too.

Regarding the wing cliping I am not an expert! But when I first got mine well i saw her a few times before she came home but she wasn't cliped and would fly right out of the cage and around the room if you opend the door one time went into a window I almost had a heartatach from the thud i thought she was a goner. With wings cliped she can't fly away and is more dependent on me for protection from other fears. So for saftey in my mind I had to and if you must, put the dogs or her in another room if she is out of the cage. The wings will grow back so you could have her cliped while you are getting to know eachother and later let them grow in.

oh ya and from what I have read parrotlets go through their first molt at around 4 months so maybe its a little stressed out right now cus its all new.

[Freedomoflight]

I too have a bird that when I got him bit the living snot outta me. First time I saw the little devil, he lunged for my throat, then took a nice hunk out of my arm. He was three years old at that time, and I am his second home. People nicknamed him "Lucifer" because of his Dr.Jekyll Mr. Hyde behavior.
All it takes, (easier said then done tho) is setting boundries. Do not let the bird on your shoulder if she is going to bite you when she is there. If she is on the lampshade and you cannot get her, she is lunging at you, gently towel her and put her back in her cage. You need to convey the message to her that biting is not an OK activity. Your honeymoon period is over, and now the testing period has begun. Once you sruvive the testing period, you two will be the best of buds. But she will push your limits, you just have to keep your cool. Sometimes its hard, espcially when you have a little bird turning your hands to mincemeat.

[My Kiwi]

Thanks so much everyone ! She seems better today. She is on me and not biting. I did notice my hubby is not here. I wonder if she is going to start biting again once he is. May be a jealous issue as well. I like the towel idea, my hands look like I have a new kitten or somthing.I have decided to start clicker training. OK now she is biting....like she knows what I am typing here. What a booger !!! LOL

[Freedomoflight]

Ohhh clicker training!!! I am a big fan of clicker training!!!!!! Get the book by Melinda Johnson, called Clicker Training For Birds (Getting Started) and another book, called The Click that Does the Trick by Robin Deutsch. I have the first one, it is an easy read, and full of info. I have 2 birds that are secondhand fids with behavioral problems. My most recent a DYH zon with a biting issue, and have started clicker training with him. The first couple sessions were awesome, its amazing how it helped him come out of his shell. He really likes the clicker too, thinks its some kind of toy....
Anyways, keep us updated on how it goes!!!!!
Another book that would help with overall behavioral things is a book by Mattie Sue Athan called Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior- she is an awesome author and an awesome person, and her books are WONDERFUL! I have that one, and many others of hers. They show toweling games, etc that you can play, that might help you.....

[My Kiwi]

Wow...isn't that funny....I have been watching a book by her on Ebay

*Clicker Training for Birds, the 150 page book of complete training and care
*A mini CD that fits in your computer; holds over 100 pictures of clicker-trainged birds, and video clips, PLUS online resources
*The i-Click clicker
*A target stick
*A treat sample bag of millets.

I was not sure about it but now I will go ahead and get that one !

Thanks !