Nose Biter!

[Irish]

I love my crazy U2 lady, Gracie. She's sassy and has typical cockatoo attitude. It doesn't bother me, and I handle her naughtiness well. She may sass or offer to bite, but I'm persistent, and she always decides to be a good girl in the end.

But today, as my spouse walked by the perch she was on, she jumped off of it and on to spouse's shoulder, whereupon she quickly reached around and bit the nose hard enough to make it bleed. Spouse is a bit of a "drama queen", and screeched--I went over and removed Gracie and put her in her cage.

Keep in mind that we don't allow Gracie on shoulders--this was something she took advantage of FAST, as my spouse walked by. She has a history of biting faces, which is why she came to me gratis--she attacked someone pretty badly in the store she was on consignment in. Literally pierced the guy's nose. Now, of course, my spouse is even more nervous around her than before, and I'm sure it'll scare my daughter when she hears about it.

Any advice on what to do, now? I don't know if the screeching from my spouse will encourage her to repeat her actions (not that I blame spouse--it had to have hurt pretty badly!). I'm inclined to treat her as I always do--cautiously, respectfully, but with love and trust (excluding the bit about keeping her off shoulders and away from faces) within the limits set by her personality and species. She moves fast, will chase toes/shoes on the floor, will hop fast and come when called--but sometimes biting when she arrives. She plays hard, is a total clown, and trusts me more than anyone in the house. I don't know that she loves me as much as my spouse or daughter, but at least I can handle her with minimal damage. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Graehstone]

HA!!! I have the answer to this one!!!











































sorry, I couldn't resist

[Captain Jack]

Sorry to hear about Gracie's behavior...I think you are doing the right thing keeping her away from faces and off the shoulder...

[MandysBlackRoses]

I don't think Jason Vorhese is the anwser (nice mask though, Im a BIG horror fan.)

Irish,

If it was me and my bird, I would cut the wheels or whatever off her play stands and keep her as low to the ground as safly possible. That way she won't be able to reach people as they walk past her play area. This also makes them feel a bit submissive. Though, I'm not sure it is the greatest thing in the world to have to do, but It would work. Are there young children in the house? Or any cats or dogs? Does she attact just your spouse? Maybe try redirecting her attention with a treat as you walk by. And praise her for staying on her stand. When she gets off without being invited put her back in her cage for a bit. And try it again. I assume she is flying to your spouse as they pass by? Are her wings clipped as short as they could be? Just some Ideas...

[jimpierce7]

I'm afraid I have a warped since of humor and I now have a case of the giggles due to the visual I got. I know its a bad thing but boy is it funny.


My Ekkie likes to do that too. But she learns quickly not everything Daddy finds funny is ok to do.

[birdsnthings]

Oh my! Funny solution!
Tiffie does pinch my nose. He thinks it is funny and will laugh but he knows he is not supposed to do it. This is why I say he has a sense of humor.
The best thing is no shoulder for this bird. Discipline and it could be the bird doesn't know how hard she is bitting on the nose. Sometimes they don't understand the strength they have in those beaks. You do get to know the "I'm going to bite a nose" attitude though. You need to be more cautious at these times.
Alice

[The Outlaw]

I'm afraid what you are describing is very common in maturing U2's. That's one of the reasons the rescues are full of them. It will get worse in all likelihood. I would HIGHLY recommend that you post in the Ask the Experts, Cockatoo forum. Kim Bear will help you.

[MandysBlackRoses]

LMAO, I'm just now getting the "mask" joke. I did'nt know what the heck he was meaning by posting it, I thought you were saying the bird was a killer or something.

[Irish]

Thanks for the advice, Nancy. Will do...

Graestone--LOL! Even spouse laughed :-).

Ok, here goes--Gracie is NOT allowed on shoulders for that very reason. She literally leapt off the perch and onto spouse's shoulder, then aimed right for the nose. The perch is about 5' high. Sorry, but I'm not cutting it down--I paid $249 for a BIG perch for Bob et. al. and it's going to stay that way. I move it all over the house, so the wheels need to stay on. Spouse will just have to take the long way around the rocking chair to get to the aquarium from now on.

Yes, we have dogs (11 to be exact). One cat that is outdoors only. No small children--the youngest is 17, and the older two don't live here. Gracie would love to get up on my 21 y/old daughter and my spouse any chance she gets. Daughter won't hold her, spouse is very very nervous of her, and my youngest and eldest sons run screaming in panic if she gets anywhere near them (almost literally!).

Her wings are clipped short. She didn't fly--she hopped about a foot from perch to shoulder. She's very good at hopping, and takes soujourns all over the house (under my close supervision). She doesn't pull any shoulder-climbing, biting crapola with me, 'cause she seems to recognize me as boss. Sometimes she'll threaten to bite if I'm trying to make her do what she's not supposed to, and occasionally she'll nip if she gets too excited while doing her acrobatics from the safety of my hand, but that's about it with me.

Know that Gracie is here to stay unless she shows signs of being very unhappy here, which she doesn't. In fact, she seems to be a very happy little lady. So I'll post my original question with Kim Bear in the experts section, too, and hope she gets back to me. Thanks to everyone for their kind and well thought-out suggestions, and to Graestone for making us laugh :-).

[poi_lover]

Ouch! That sounds pretty painful. I've had a bloody nose from Peeps. I sure can't imagine having a big U2 hanging onto my nose. Ahhh!