My Lorikeet Bites For No Reason Help!!

[mickmonie]

Hi I own a rainbow lorikeet i dont no why he bites me i have done nothing wrong to him he is tame,i let him out of his cage every day 1 minute he just sit on my hand or shoulder and then the next minute he will just bite and hang on,i get really upset when he bites can any-one give me some information why he would do this,he is about 1 and a half years old.....
THANKS MICK!!!!!

[Ashling]

Most lorikeets do this- they are prone nippers. A bite is when it draws blood (and possibly bruises). Ignore him completely, and do not make a fuss when he bites- it will make him excited if you yell, just put him down and do not make eye contact or talk. You need to train your lorikeet that it is an unwanted behaviour, and revert the behaviour to something else. Such as when he bites, say no! And present him with a toy- when he bites the toy instead, say good bird! and give him lots of praise and attention.

[mickmonie]

Thanks for the reply,can you tell me any other information i need to no about lorikeets,the bird was given to me from a friend not sure how old im guesing 1 and a half my vet thinks he is young,latley he has been trying to mate with my hand by rubing side to side on me could that be a reason for him to bite due to mating season,sorry about the question but im a new lorikeet owner and i think they are very funny and smart birds.
Thank-You again for your time and reply Mick!!!!!!

[sonicbird]

i work at newport aquariam and i love to work at the lorikeet avairy but i would like to own one and i have no clue where to find one the only expirecne i have with birds is two years with parakeets and doves

[wizard348]

I know you are going to think this is crazy sounding, but birds will bite to get a reaction out of you. That is why you can't dicipline them by yelling "NO". If you get mad and yell at them, they love the attention they get when they bite.

I stopped my Meyers from biting by.... Everytime he would crawl down on my shoulder and bite my ear and I mean draw blood, I would just get up and take him to his cage. Then I turn my back on him and walk away.

It didn't take long for him to learn that biting meant back to his cage. He loves to be out with me and play so the biting stopped. Come to think about it, it was about when he was 1-1/2 to 2 years old. Someone told me that it was the "Terrible Two's", that all birds go through.

There are times when he wants to go back to the bird room with his buddies, and he will just nip my ear to let me know, and I praise him for not biting and I take him back.

I hope this helps. I read about doing this in Bird Talk and it worked for me.

[mmr]

Originally Posted by wizard348

I know you are going to think this is crazy sounding, but birds will bite to get a reaction out of you. That is why you can't dicipline them by yelling "NO". If you get mad and yell at them, they love the attention they get when they bite.

I stopped my Meyers from biting by.... Everytime he would crawl down on my shoulder and bite my ear and I mean draw blood, I would just get up and take him to his cage. Then I turn my back on him and walk away.

I completely agree! Your bird is bitting you because you react and it is giving him attention. You need to completely ignore him and also put him on his cage and walk away. You need to do this every time and after a few times he is going to figure it out!

[mickmonie]

Hi thanks for the replys,i try not to show any reaction when he bites and when he bites i put him in his cage,i have only had the bird for 2 months a friend gave me the bird.He is very tame loves to come out of his cage and do his own thing and always sits on my shoulder and licks my hair and face,but since he is biting/nipping i only let him sit on my hand/forearm.he hates to be touched and when you try to scratch him he will bite/nip other than that he is a great bird.Can anyone tell me when mating season is because he has been rubbing him self on the sleeve of my jumper while holding on very tight and gently taping my hand with his beak,every time after this behavier which is 3 or 4 times a day he gets in this funny mood with pinned eyes,fluffs up and rubs his chest and head all over my hands and that is the only time i can try to scratch him with out him bitting is that normal,is he playing or is it a mating thing PLEASE HELP as i am a first to own a olive rainbow lorikeet.
THANKS MICK :)

[mmr]

Originally Posted by mickmonie

Can anyone tell me when mating season is because he has been rubbing him self on the sleeve of my jumper while holding on very tight and gently taping my hand with his beak,every time after this behavier which is 3 or 4 times a day he gets in this funny mood with pinned eyes,fluffs up and rubs his chest and head all over my hands and that is the only time i can try to scratch him with out him bitting is that normal,is he playing or is it a mating thing PLEASE HELP as i am a first to own a olive rainbow lorikeet.
THANKS MICK :)

Hormonal season varies for all birds. Also I would NOT let him rub on you etc (mating behavior). You need to discourage that NOW.
That will only make matters worse and he will deffinetly be more bitty!

[Addicted to Tequila]

And taping on his beak is a no-no too... that is sexual advances in the bird world!

[mickmonie]

Thanks for the reply so it must be mating season for what he is doing and you must of misunderstood what i said he taps my hand with his beak,if it is all to do with mating season i will stop allowing him to do this,can you tell me the best way for the bird to like scratches with out him bitting.
THANKS MICK:)