Green Cheek Conure biting and sexual maturity?

[Jax]

My GCC Lupe is generally a pretty good bird, but lately she has had several freak out sessions where she repeatedly starts biting my lips with her tail flared out. She did it once yesterday and in order to get her off of me I had to take my shirt off because she was being really violent and would not stop.

Today she did the same thing twice. My girlfriend brought her over to me, she voluntarily stepped onto me, climbed up my shirt, and then started freaking out biting my lips. Then about an hour later, when I was holding her, she was fine for about 20 minutes then started freaking and biting my face. This is not nipping, its offensive (not defensive) biting.

So I am wondering, what could be setting her off? She knows me very well, I've had her since she was 2 months old and now she is about 8 months. She started off being a pain, then we tamed her, and now she's starting to act unpredictable again.

My first idea was that maybe she is approaching sexual maturity, but is it possible that she is too young for that (8 months)? Besides that I'm not really sure. We've had guests in our house for about a week but she seems perfectly comfortable with them now, she just started biting me yesterday!

Any help would be appreciated...
-Jax

[darrylleeohs30]

most greek cheeks go through the nippy phase. mine has been at it for a long time now. he will be standing on my bed and i'll be laying there on the laptop or something and he'll run down to the foot of the bed and bite my toes then run back up and chase my fingers trying to get to them. yesterday he bit hard enough to bring blood. i'm not quite sure what to do either, but i do know it is common in green cheeks

[hollyhawkz]

I read somewhere on birdboard that often the bite can be like hearding the ones they love away from what they think is danger. Maybe even though she seems fine with the guests, she may be "protecting" you from perceived stranger danger. LOL

[Jax]

That is possible Holly Hawkz, but now I doubt it because my guests are gone and she is still biting me daily.

So does anybody know if it is possible that she is going through sexual maturity, or is she too young for that? I've been told that can bring on behavioral changes and I want to know if that could possibly explain things.

[DarwinTheSun]

I just found out from another board that green cheeks mature between 8 and 12 months of age. I am going through similar things with my sun conure (who is 16 months). And he also has been very beaky (not nippy or biting). His beaking is rough and fast, and then sometimes he swivels his...cough...hips.

I was referred to this article which helped:
Popular Conures and Their Breeding Habits

[hollyhawkz]

Wawa is 1 1/2 and just started doing the hip swivel thing recently... while he grabs my face with his talons

[Jax]

I haven't noticed Lupe swiveling her "hips", but she basically puffs up her face and bites at whatever she can while making sort of soft quacking noises. She bites either my lips or my fingers, and this isn't nipping or beaking, its biting. It's the asme thing she sometimes does with people who she is unfamiliar with.

She is now doing it to me AND my girlfriend.

So sexual maturity happens between 8 and 12 months. Can anybody verify? I've heard 8-12 months from one source and 1-2 years from another source. Anybody have any references?

[Jax]

Another thing I noticed today is that Lupe before she bites is sometimes shaking as if she is nervous. I've seen her act like that around people she does not know. Anybody know what the shaking thing could mean?

[SniperIX]

Originally Posted by Jax

I haven't noticed Lupe swiveling her "hips", but she basically puffs up her face and bites at whatever she can while making sort of soft quacking noises. She bites either my lips or my fingers, and this isn't nipping or beaking, its biting. It's the asme thing she sometimes does with people who she is unfamiliar with.

She is now doing it to me AND my girlfriend.

So sexual maturity happens between 8 and 12 months. Can anybody verify? I've heard 8-12 months from one source and 1-2 years from another source. Anybody have any references?

It's impossible to know unless they lay an egg. My guess is males would be more aggressive during this time (specially spring).

Solution: Biting = more cage time, or time-outs

[janinetiel]

Hi Jax
i went through something similar with Buddy when he was about 6 months old. it was after a big moult, has Lupe gone through a molt recently.
i know what you mean about the biting, it is painful. my arms looked like they had been attacked with a small chainsaw.
i would defintly not let lupe near my face. are her wings clipped, that seems to make a difference re the dominance thing. when she bites immediately put her on the floor and leave her alone. walk away. she will follow you and wear her out a bit that way. i did that with Buddy and it seemed to work. the advise of not reacting to the bite just didnt work for me...it was hard with blood pouring down my arm.
anyway i really hope she settles down...try and see if anything unusual has been happening ... you mentioned having visitors, was her sleep effected. maybe she is just over tired. i know that may sound a bit silly, but i have found Buddy is grumpy if he doesnt sleep well. also diet, keep up the fresh foods. i have just about given up on seeds altogether.
sorry this is so long. just some of the things that have worked with Buddy. He is fine now or at least until the next bout i guess. i am still worried about the 'terrible twos' i dont think lupe or buddy have gone through that yet. good luck with lupe, how are her tricks going....come to think of it, with visitors staying over have you spent as much time with her as usual....that could be worth looking at...
anyway, hope things improve!!!