How to get a biting bird off of your hand?

[Jax]

My gcc, Lupe was acting really nice or the last few days, but today she started acting really freaky every time I tried to put her back in her cage. She used to just try to run away and not go in, but now she BITES. Hard. Like bleeding hard.

I am trying not to let her learn that if she bites me I will let her stay out. Every time she bites me I fight with her to get her in the cage. Just 15 minutes ago we were playing and having a good time, then she started to act sort of crazy, so I decided to put her away. She bit every single flap of skin she could find on my hand, drawing blood a few times. I just kept my hand in the cage and kept saying "no", but she would not stop biting or step down. After about 15 minutes of this, I got frustrated and had to sort of shke her offo of my hand as gently as possible. I know she did not appreciate that, and I don't want to ever have to shake her to get her off, but I need another way to get her off of me when she is biting. I can take a few bites and try not to do anything, but after 10 minutes of biting and blood, I need some way of getting her off. Any ideas?

The weird thing is, the last few days she was acting nice. She would sit on my shoulder without biting and even step up off of my shoulder (a first for her). She also learned to wave and to turn on command. Then today she started getting really freaky, especially when I try to put her away. Maybe she is just tired. I think I got bit every single time I took her out today and tried to put her back in her cage (maybe 5-7 times).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Flappuccino]

I have never received a bite that draws blood, so I'm not sure what others do.
But when my birds went through their nippy stages, I wouldn't let them go. I'd put their beaks into the crook of my index finger so they couldn't open their mouths when they were trying to bite. You don't have to use any pressure. I would just continue to hold and kiss them and stroke them, or whatever I was doing, like the biting wasnt even happening.
I just paid more attention to what I was doing than the bites. I would continue to talk to them in a normal voice and tell them "no" or "no biting" or "we don't bite". If they tried to bite when I released their beak, I'd just do it over again, not making a big deal out of it.
The funny think is, now, if I'm holding them, and they get scared or nervous about a loud sound or something, they both will bow their heads and put their little beaks in the crook of my finger for comfort. They do it if they havent seen me all day and they want a cuddle, too.

[Jax]

These bites didn't draw a lot of blood (maybe I exaggerated), but they did draw a few small drops of blood. :( Anybody else care to comment on holding their mouthes?

My bird can be pretty friendly, she always wants to be out of her cage and near me, but she doesn't like to be stroked, so I'm not sure that would work for me. No idea why but she always backs off when you try to touch her (other than having her step up or feeding her). She is only 3 months old.

[jenseits]

Hi Jax, it sounds like you've got a real problem on your hands. You mentioned in your other thread that she bites when she expects a treat, but in the case you describe here it sounds like she just went crazy out of the blue. Can you think of anything that set her off? Being tired could definitely make her cranky, but is there any other pattern you can see?

[Courtzrocks]

Beak holding never worked for me...plus i didnt like doing it. IMO it just made them either scared or angrier. Does she like scratches on the neck? My Beetle loves scratches but isnt into stroking. I would just say put her somewhere she doesnt like so when she bites she knows she has to go to the naughty place.

Matches is my terror at times. I put her in a bathroom and close the door for abour 30 secongs...after that amount of time she wants to come out nicely...otherwise she goes back in her cage.

[my-africangrey-echo]

There is a very effective way to stop biting. I have never had to do this but have read that this works wonders from a person that has many African Greys in the UK. He uses a (cat Box) or small animal carrier and will place them in the box without toys or food and cover it with a towel. Only for about 5 -10 minutes at a time. Like a time out per say. They very quickly learn that if they bite you they will be put in the dark and not have any (fun) So to them BITE = DARKNESS Again I have never had a need for Echo has never been one to bite. But anyone on this forum that has followed this technique it is quickly resolved the issue. Good luck Chris

[cbalvino]

well I have alot of birds who freak out and bite drawing blood,I always wear a thick sweatshirt when I am with them,Buster... my sweet terror always bites if "he" decides he doesn't want to go back in and he can be a pirahna so up goes my hand in the shirt and he bites the crap out of it,eventually tires and goes in,most of mine are rehomes and I have no thought to what they have been trained,but he used to get a real kick out of latching on with all his might and me trying to remove him,now it's like ok Buster let go... no bite Buster.... but I'm not in pain and he knows it he does it less and less it's too boring for him

[Flappuccino]

This is hard to describe accurately in words, without seeing it in person.
I don't have to actively hold their mouths closed. They tuck their beaks into the crook of my finger, that way, my finger is on top, and they don't get the beak around my skin.
They actually find comfort in it after a while. (mine did).
I think the little carrier cage is a good idea, too. That way, they don't think that if they want to go back into their cage, all they have to do is bite.

[Jax]

The problem with the time out cage is #1 I only have one cage and #2 when she is bitey, she wont let go of my hand, so I can't get her into any cage at all.

Normally when she is on the couch or sofa and refuses to step up (tries to bite instead), I just leave the room for 30 seconds and come back and she is happy to step up, but then she won't go into her cage. She just clamps down on my finger / skin and doesn't let go.

So the first problem I have is, how do I get a biting bird of of my hand when its time for her to have a time out if she won't step down, won't let go, and won't stop biting? I don't want to hurt or scare her so I don't want to shake her off of my finger, but I'm not really sure what to do.

I hope yesterday she was just having a bad day, because other days she has been really cool. I'll be out of the house today till 4-ish today but hopefully when I get home she'll be glad to see me.

[ROYJOY]

push your hand toward him, into the bite. he will release. never pull away from him.