a really bit day!!

[lola31]

i need a little encouragement things have been going really well with pepper my ggc but today she has been really stroppy and done nothing but bite (she reeaaally hurt my arm!) the "little earthquake" technique had been working well but didn't do anything except pee her off today at which she bit even more. i've been keeping her off my shoulder and last night she had even half mastered a little wave so i have been getting increasingly disheartened today and feeling like its all going wrong.
the only thing i did differently was buy her a little cozzy bed thing that she loves and i think she has decided that it is snugglier than i am and so doesn't much want to entertain me at the moment. i know this is going to be an uphill battle and a long process that requires patience and i know its only been a week since i got her but it doesn't make it any less disheartening.
also the pet store said she was only about 15 weeks old is there any way i can check this? she does have lots of fluffy grey feathers that you can see on her chest and under her wings and also a lot of new feathers coming through, does this help in guessing her age?

[xafsmom]

Sounds like she might have a lot of pin feathers coming in and that can cause a bird to be testy in the best of times. The best thing I can advise is be patient and consistent, and don't fret the ocassional bad days. If she makes a habit of this behaviour though... Try taking her out of her cage and into a room that doesn't have the cage in it. A week is still very soon and she'll be testing you a lot still. She hasn't learned what she can and can't get away with. Gcc's also are nippy little brats when young and they have extremely big opinions of themselves, with an attitude to match lol. You just have to fit yourself into her routine and it will work out, don't get disheartened.

Another thing you can do is remove all but 1 or 2 toys from her cage when you're home (put them back in when you're gone) and get a small play stand (cockatiel types work well) with toys on it - if you don't already have one. Make leaving her cage a fun thing! Then, just keep her on it, in a room you're in. Feed her small treats when you ask her to sit WITH you - they're verrrry food motivated. When she's on you and being nippy, get a foot toy and redirect her beak to it versus your flesh. She'll settle in more as time goes on and you keep working with her.

When she bites - and believe me, I know how persistent they can be when they want to bite - then look her dead in the eye, give your best frown and sternly but quietly say "No bite", then put her away in the 'less fun version' cage for a bit. They're very social and she'll not only start to want the fun toys and treats, but be bored soon. Let her stew for 15 - 20 minutes and IGNORE her. Then, offer her time out again. If she readily steps up, immediately praise her (before she gets a chance to bite) and perhaps offer a treat. Keep it positive and again; consistent. She'll come around.

[becca623]

She might be protecting her new hut? I know a conure like that. He is more aggressive when there is a "nest" in his cage. He's an older hormonal bird though.
Be sure to give her lots of misting or baths to help with the new pin feathers. My babies get extra grumpy when molting especially if I bump a sore spot.
The earthquake technique hasn't worked for me either except to get me bitten more. A lot of people swear by it so it could be a personal issue on my part.
I agree with Tina. A good time out can work wonders. Plus, it gives you a little break so you don't get as frustrated.

[lola31]

thanks guys i'm still working on encouraging her to play with toys she doesn't seem too interested in them at the moment and is scared of the foot toys at the moment, any ideas about the age?

[xafsmom]

I don't have any cinnamons to compare young to adult, but if I stick my young pineapples next to my breeders, I honestly can't tell a lick of difference lol So, you might have to have your vet give a good estimate. I'm not really sure why the age is a big thing if she's already socialised and you like her lol.

[lola31]

Originally Posted by xafsmom

I don't have any cinnamons to compare young to adult, but if I stick my young pineapples next to my breeders, I honestly can't tell a lick of difference lol So, you might have to have your vet give a good estimate. I'm not really sure why the age is a big thing if she's already socialised and you like her lol.

the age is not really a big thing but i had just been curious, she has a home for life regardless of age (or biteyness) its just i had wondered as i read on the net that most birds don't start talking (if at all) until 1yr old or so and I'm nearly sure she says hello, its very gravelly and quite low in volume but it definitely sounds like hello to me and i thought then if she was only 15 weeks and it's true that birds don't talk until a year old then I'm just hearing things. i guess i wasn't so much questioning her age as my sanity, which i have to admit I'm doing a lot recently two kids under the age of 3, one of whom is potty training and the other teething and now a new fid all on my own, phew what am i thinking.

[hollyhawkz]

No, some talk very early. I tired everything with Wawa not to bite... he is a very spoiled and assertive boy. Actually the biting never really bothered me. He even went after my face once when I was laughing at him. He really does not like being laughed at. Anyway to the point... the only thing that worked permanently was letting out the same kind of squeak that he does if he gets an ouchy like when I rub a pin feather. He has stopped biting completely. It was like day and night.. it stoppped in an instance... so never mind Wawa learning human - I had to learn conure. LOL Just hang in.

[xafsmom]

Oh yah, some talk really early! One of my 8 weekie pineapples says "XAF!" /cough

They hear it a lot...

[nailsrglue]

Sounds like you've got a combination of issues the bird is trying to work through. Its young, nippy, molting, in a new place, away from other birds, and around a bunch of toys it doesnt understand. To help with the toys, try tying some treats it likes into a thin peice of tissue and attaching this to the cage bars or a hanging toy. Make sure the bird knows the treats are in there. Maybe rip one open to show it what to do, then give it a few more not ripped open. It will learn to play this way. Then it should start to investigate its other toys. Praise it for playing with toys when you are home. Also, the bird may choose an "agression" toy it likes to attack when its upset. This is very healthy as it takes the aggression away from you! Encourage this behavior if possible.