biting lorikeet - would getting a second lorie help?

[texbird]

We have an edwards lorikeet that is a random biter.
She will be playing or cuddling and then just suddenly viciously bite and hang on! She sometimes even runs up your arm and attacks your face.

We have bought a lot of tapes/books looking for a solution and nothing has worked.

She is about 1 and half years old.

We are wondering if perhaps a cage mate might sooth her disposition. We dont want to breed. Would another female do any good? We have no idea how she would react to another bird.

[BiiRDiiELuV805]

NO!...Mine is the same way, he goes from a cuddle bug to lorikeetzilla instantly, have you stopped playing with her as often as you normally would?, ive talked to the breeder i bought him from she said thats normal for them, and i also noticed that as soon as i bought him a friend (another lorikeet) he was no longer handable, hope this helps also post pics id love to see what he looks like...Heres my monsters.

[Ashling]

My lorikeet only does that to my little sister- but then, my little sister pulls my lories tail!
hmm... Do you make a big deal when she bites/ lunges at you? She could be trying to get your attention, if you're not giving her enough for her liking at that moment. Or- the sound of your screaming/ yelling could excite her to want to do it more because it gets an amusing reaction out of you. When she is calm and good, try teaching her a trick like pouncing on a ball, flapping wings on command- to use up excess energy- and give her LOTS of praise/ food rewards (apple?) when she does the action you want. My lorie loves to "kill" her ball, and all her aggression is let out on it (or my sister) and not me! If she lunges for you again- say NO- put her down and give her the ball and say "get it" or something. Always set your bird up for success. Hope this helps or gives u some ideas! Good luck!

[texbird]

Yes we know about not reacting to the bites. The whole drama thing reinforcing biting...

But its hard not to react when a lorikeet has latched onto your lower lip and it is swinging from it while grinding it beak.

We are now trying a water squirter.

Anyone else tried a second lori? Do they just bond to each other and become unhandleable?

[LGood22573]

Yep- nothing quite like a lory bite- the way they seems to dig in and twist. Mine is a complete love bug 364 days of the year. Just long enough for me to forget he ever misbehaved. Then BAM!!!!! One day a year right during breeding season he nails the living crapola out of me. I think they have "an excitement factor" or at least mine does. If he gets over excited with noise (loud ringing bell) or play he is more prone to get nippy. I don't think a cage mate will sooth her disposition at all. I think you'll get feedback that a water squirter is not a good idea. It teaches them to be afraid of water, but.. of I understand your fear of the bite. Maybe you could try some behavioral techniques like stick training and step ups to assert your "leader of the flock" status? Good luck, I wish I had better advice.

[willow13]

I have a rainbow lori and he is almost 3 years. He is not a bitter. I have heard alot of people talk about this issue with them. I can tell when he is going into mating season and I leave him alone for a couple of days or as long as I need to disconntect that position. Also I have always played with him like a lori. If you are familar with the way they roll around locked feet swaking at each other that is what we do. I also have him to shake and play dead. Just like a puppy I trained him not to bite hard. Sometimes he bites hard but it is pure being overwelmed when we are playing. I dont know if I have done something right or if he is just great. I would like to talk to more lori owners about the random biting issue because it just floors me. My lori willow also is a excellent talker and I am wondering is this normal for them? He says about 8 different things. I love him I wouldnt trade him for the world. I have a amazon also and she is the best too.

[Courtzrocks]

Wow Edwards lorikeets are so pretty. Yeah i would advise not to get another as they would probably bond with eachother and more likely than not become protactive of eachother which in turn would make the biting more unbearable. Could be a hormonal thing? And yes any parrot will talk if you spend enough time with them.

[whitewing]

I read that Lories are easily excited and when they get too excited they bite. Lots of birds are like that. I knew a Caique that would do that and Caiques are a lot like Lories.

Do you know how to read bird body language? It could take a while to figure it out, but once you know, you can see he/she getting overexcited and then you know to stop all playing/handling and wait for the bird to calm down.

Also I heard that Lories can be kind of aggressive, I wouldn't go putting them in the same cage at least not right away. Maybe if the birds were raised together it would be easier. Otherwise you will need two cages. Also you should know that if you have two Lories they are going to make a lot more noise than if you just keep a single bird.

Lories seem like a real handful but they are so pretty!

[texbird]

Yes i am very good at reading birds.
This one seems to give no signals pre-attacks.

I may have solved it another way, waiting to see it the fix keeps working.

[LittleMT]

my little Lorie is a biting machine.....