hot & cold signals from bird :(

[foxxxi]

I am sooooo confused!! ok, so most people say that when your bird shows any signs of wanting to bite you, it means that you're invading it's territory and he doesn't want to be touched and all that, right?
ok great, so for the past couple of weeks, Kiwi has been wierd.. I will walk up to him while talking to him, and I will have my hand out, giving him the option of coming to me if he wishes.. As soon as I get close it looks like he is going to take a bite at me, so I say ok, and walk away, or back off. As soon as I do that he starts screaming at me, as if to say dont leave me, or why are you walking away now..

What the heck does this bird want from me ??? :(

[lueylover]

That is weird. Maybe he doesn't want you to have your hand out, but he doesn't want you to leave, either. Try it without having your hand out.

If he doesn't do this usually he may be sick...probably not, though

[Monica]

Have you allowed him to take that bite??? If it looks like he's going to bite, then allow him to! Birds use their beaks to climb and move about. You can actually teach your bird to bite if they try to step up using their beak and you pull back. I have it so that I can pick up Charlie using his beak as a hook. If he's on the ground, I just use my finger to hook is beak and pull him up! I then roll my hand so that he can use his feet to grab a hold of my fingers, at which point he maneuvers so that he's on top of my hand, sitting/standing there.

[KimM]

If I missed what breed Kiwi is, I apologize. I have learned to read Newt's body language pretty well and can usually tell when I'm going to get a bite. Newt has never broken the skin on me "aimed at me." He did draw blood one time and that was when I blocked from someone else getting bitten that wanted to pet him and he didn't know them. I got nailed instead!
Newt's eyes will usually flash/pin and his tail will spread or head feathers will go up. Right now I know it's because he's almost 4 yrs old and its "hormone time." He protests more vocally with me when he's upset than with his beak. He may grab my hand, but will not apply pressure....thank goodness.
I'm still learning to read Elliot's signals. He's much quieter vocally than Newt and does the sneaky stealth attack, as I call it. He's probably giving me signals, but I just haven't recognized them yet. Elliot has bitten me hard and drawn blood, but I think part of it is he's learning what "pressure" is ok to use on people. HE's getting much, much better. BTW, he's only bitten me hard twice. Ugh... goes with the territory, I guess.

[Addicted to Tequila]

Ditto what Monica said.

Also... some birds LOVE to bluff! It is a game with them.

[foxxxi]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses.. Kiwi is a green IRN (male).. Its also spring/summer time now so maybe it's hormones..
When he "bites" he usually grabs my finger and moves it away (not sore).. But also he's been almost "growling" at me - and yes, eyes flashing and all that..
At the end of the day I have tried to stand close by and just chat with him etc because MAYBE that's what he wanted, but as soon as I walk away he screams at me..
Almost like he's wanting all this attention that I cant give him.
I wanted to start trainign him to wave and all that, but obviously with this behaviour, im not sure if I can/should start right now..

[Addicted to Tequila]

OOOH! He wants to play "I can intimidate my human!".
IRNs love that game!

Every so often they decide to nail ya instead of bluff... just to keep things interesting!

Mwhahahahahaha!

[foxxxi]

oh dear - that doesn't sound good. Certainly doesn't LOOK like a game he's playing.. He looks deadly serious and cross :(
Is there something I can do to rectify this?

[Addicted to Tequila]

yep...

IRNs have one flaw... cupboard love.

Find "THE" favorite treat... and you hold the keys to the castle! LOL

[foxxxi]

hahahahah i love that term - "cupboard love" hahaha..
Ok, so I have basically had him on a training diet for a while now.. so he hasn't been getting any of his favourite sunflower seeds.. That will obviously work then..
Do you think I can start the training now then, even though he's being so tempremental?