aggressive caique

[tkan86]

So although my caique hasn't really broken skin since the first night I brought her home, she is still biting but I think she's just playing really aggressively.

I can pet her, and scritch her and hold her. Once she's on my arm, she starts rubbing her head against my arm and then start nipping at it with her beak.

She's not really biting out of anger, it seems more like she's trying to eat me or see how stretchy my skin is. Then she'll rub her beak roughly against my hand/arm and start nipping/pinching again.

It's not painful, but it doesn't feel too pleasant for me either
Currently, my entire arm is covered in red marks and spots and some of them kinda sting

When I try to distract her with a toy, she'll bite down harder on my arm (still no blood... just a painful pinch).
If I wear long sleeve, she'll attack my shirt viciously (literally trying to rip it out of her way) and I end up with holes all over the place.

Any advice would be appreciated

[Freedomoflight]

That is all normal caique play. They love to roughhouse just like a dog would. I have bird shirts too, shirts full of holes that I waear when the birds are out so I don't have to worry about holes in my good clothes lol. When she is chewing at you and getting too rough, tell her no and ow and try to redirect her attention. Keeping a couple small toys on hand to give her when she starts going to town on your skin can help. I know mine love to just sit and gnaw at the skin between my fingers, and it hurts! I think they like the feeling/texture for whatever reason, so I actually got some latex toys and put those in their cages, which they love. Good subsitute LOL

[tkan86]

Thanks for the advice!
I'll be sure to try out some latex toys. Are there any particular ones that you may suggest? :)

[Freedomoflight]

Ummm let me see.

Something like this would be good:

Prevue Pet 6102 Knaw and Klaw - Rubber Bird Toy for Parrots - Rubber Roller: WindyCityParrot.com, Parrot Cages, Parrot Food, Aviaries, Parrot Supplies,Bird Toys,Bird Cages

Bird Foot Toys Smart Bird Toys
has some good toys too, the knobbly wobbly, squiggly wiggly, etc.