What makes us so tolerant to biting?

[Mom's Animal Preserve]

I'm curious as to what everyone thinks about this. Why are we, as bird owners, so tolerant with a bird that bites? No matter what the size of the bird, we pretty much look at being bitten as a given if you own any species of companion bird from the tiny guys (parakeets or maybe finches) all the way up to a M2 or a Hyacinth Macaw. Obviously, the severity of the bites varies, although the bites from the real tiny guys can be brutal. The worst bite my hubby ever got was from a parakeet that latched onto the skin on the inside of a finger, bit down hard and would not let go. (Just think of it as a really painful paper cut. It's small, but it hurts like the dickens!)

I ask this question because, as you can see by my signature, I have lots of different kinds of pets, and I can honestly say that I would not be so tolerant if my Papillion was sweet and innocent one minute and then lunged at me and bit me hard on the hand the next. But my Severe Macaw did just that, and I write it off by saying that "its not his fault, I obviously did something to make him react and then bite me." I sure as heck wouldn't take this view with one of my dogs or my cats. I would be extremely upset at his behaviour and would not automatically excuse it by believing it was somehow my fault.

So, I'm curious what you all think about this.

Why are we so tolerant of biting in birds?

[SDavid]

I guess it's a combination of things for me. First off I understand that not all biting is the same. And, I guess it depends on how the individual defines what a bite is. A curious bird can still hurt you with it's beak until it's learned not to. Sometimes they just get too excited while playing or something in the room might scare them. In which case they may bite the closest thing (your hand).

Also, the beak is it's main tool and combined with the fact that they are still wild animals you have to make allowances.

[Poohsbirds97]

Now, this is really something to think about. I have never even looked at birds biting this way.(Why we except a bird bite and not a dog or any other animal.) I will have to think this one over, but I would say for me I really believe it is because the beak is their way to figure things out sometimes, like how hard not to bite, or what is this thing trying to pick me up, or just get away from me I am mad. Whatever the reason, it is odd we tolerate the ways of our birds over any other animal. (Just my opinion)

[tvymola]

You bring up a very good point. As I read your post today, I am looking down at my chewed up hands. I have 2 band aids on 2 different fingers today. And my hand is covered in beak shaped bruises and bites. I do not understand why I allow for this. I recently rescued a bird that was neglected and put into a basement with little to no contact for 5 years. I keep telling myself that he is in the process of being rehabilitated, and that is why I tolerate the screaming and biting. When Jack bites, he latches on and does not let go. So shaking him off only intensifies the puncture. He has also bitten me on the face twice in our short time together (3 weeks). I am somewhat of a bird newbie and so I think that it will get better as I gain more experience.

I have been reading as much information as I can find on rehabilitating a 2nd hand bird and the books say not to react to the bites. If you back away, you are reinforcing a bad behavior. Also, punishing a bird will lead him to associate you with a negative experience. Is there anything that we can do to break the habit of biting?

I have been working with this neglected fellow every day since I brought him home. He will not come out of the cage on his own. I have been trying to get him to step up, with not much luck just yet. Once he is out, he is a total joy! He even snuggled up and fell asleep on me for the first time last week. I like to think that we are building a bond.

[lisark]

Birds are wild animals. They are not domesticated. To me it's the same as asking "why do we tolerate tigers that bite their handlers."

Dogs and parrots cannot even be compared. It's like apples and oranges. Dogs evolved alongside us, with the less frightened/more puppylike animals surviving better than the wilder ones, until eventually the wolf became the dog. This happened over a period of (according to fossil discoveries) about 13,000 years. Birds have none of this history. So, we can expect that when they are fearful or feel pushed to do things they don't want to do, or when they accidentally see us as a mate and try to protect us, they will bite.

[lisark]

Oh, and by the way, even with the 13,000 years of evolution toward tameness and non-reactiveness, dogs still regularly bite people. The most common cause of death for canines in North American is "euthanasia" under the age of 5 (many of these deaths probably due to biting/aggressive behaviour).

So why should we expect more from birds?

[Mom's Animal Preserve]

Unfortunately, many dogs are euthanized because they wind up in shelters and are not adopted out before their "time is up". This even happens with the sweet puppies. I wouldn't go so far as to say that a majority are euthanized for biting. I volunteer in a local shelter that does euthanize and I see many euthanized for a host of other reasons.

I agree on your point about our birds not being domesticated. As for the tigers, not many people keep them as companions given the obvious dangers. I've not heard of a companion bird killing anyone, so I have to think that the tiger is a bit of a strong comparison to the bird.

For me personally, given that the birds are not domesticated, I guess I'm tolerant of the bites (at least so far ) in the hopes that I can tame my llittle guys enough that they enjoy being handled and enjoy being close to me (on my arm, on my lap, etc). I love watching my babies, but that is not enough for me. I definitely get much more satisfaction out of my relationship with them when I am able to hold and play with them and can see that they are interacting with me. I've never chosen a bird that hasn't chosen me too because I need to feel some sort of elementary bond with them if we are going to build a relationship together. Birds are smart and can clearly form bonds with us even though they are not domesticated. We just need to keep our guard up. I can see that my guys are responding to me and are doing and saying things to get me to respond to them, just like my cats or dogs do.

That's why I tolerate the bites.

[Jannabellsmom]

Maybe a different take on the same subject, I only have one bird, a tame tiel. She has never bitten me, but sometimes nips at my lips when shes ready to cuddle against my face for her scritches. I am going to the seaside for a week and not taking her ( I would if it was my own vacation but its a large group). So I am having my neighbor in to birdsit. Today I told her something along the lines of "Don't get upset if she nips on your lip rather hard, she sometimes does that to me." And LOL, to me, that statement is perfectly normal and sane. I'm not too sure my friend thought so tho.

[xafsmom]

Who says I'm tolerant? When I get bit, I blame Xaf immediately. He's my scape-bird. He's also unrepentent, the bugger.

Actually, I think most pet owners are masochists. Horses step on our feet, dogs scrape us with nails or play bites, cats bite or scratch. It's all part of their body language that we accept.

[KimM]

Short answer: Because we're all crazy? or stupid?