Parrotlet biting/trust issues??

[BB'smom]

Here is the rundown. I got a handfed Blue Parrotlet on Sept 5th. I spend at least an hour with him EVERY day. Unlike my other parrotlets that I owned in the past, he wants NOTHING to do with being petted or scratched on the head. He rears up and snaps at me whenever I attempt to gently scritch his head/neck area.

He also seems to have a fixation with severly pinching(biting) my right hand when I do his "step-ups" which his breeder had trained him to do on command. He will step up on my left but then reach out when I present my right hand and say "step up" and will grab my skin with his beak and SINK IN. OUCH!! I have been so tempted to nail him for it but of course I don't. I have started using a stick and a glove and make him step up over and over until he quits biting. It cures him for that session but then the next day he starts his weird behavior all over again.

Here are some recent pics of BB:










Also, he isn't very "warm" My other parrotlets learned to relate to me and get cozy and playful on or around me. All this one likes to do is snuggle in my hair or sit like a stone and shake on his playground. He will eat sometimes but he doesn't ever truly relax until I put him back in his cage. Finally, He only seems to tolerate being on/with me for about an hour and then wants back in his cage.

Did I do this to him??? I work two jobs and I started an hour routine after the first couple of weeks of owning him. I made time for him between 4-5 p.m without fail but rarely did I have him out longer or for any other time periods until recently. Now whenever I have a free day, I get him out no matter what time it is.

I am sad that he is not warm and relaxed. In fact he is very "robotic" when he is out. He steps up, doesn't bite usually and loves to sit on me, but he doesn't act interested in anything, he just complies with my step ups and sits quietly on me or his playground. As soon as he goes back into his cage he rushes around, swings from his toys, rings his bells, etc.

I want desperately to get to scratch his neck and cheeks which my other Parrotles adored but not at the risk of getting a bloody finger. Any suggestions??

[Baby5566]

He just needs to learn to trust you. Have some spray millet near you or a nice piece of fruit and reward him when he steps up, if he bites firmly say "no" and dont give him any of the reward. He'll get it in due time and should trust you soon enough. I'm dealing with my Parakeet Blue the same way, he just will not stop biting. I just take it one day at a time and he's improving.

[Cindy215]

Poor guy. Well, it sounds to me that he's very unhappy, yes. Sort of lost and lonely. Not to be dramatic but it's sad how you describe him. But I wonder about his past and the whole handfed thing too. Handfed can be a quick feeding but not enough. Did you actually see him in his old home? Was he with the other birds and happy? Cheerful? Do you know FOR SURE that he's young and not an older bird ? He may have had a mate and been taken away from everything he loved. And yes, if they are alone in the cage alot they can get that way. (sorry).

First of all ime, they need a LONG nights sleep Parrotlets are that way. Mine go to sleep on their own at 645 in the summer and 445 right now. This alone can cause them to be very cranky and nippy and unsettled. Or sort of blank like you describe. But you cant have him asleep during the hours you're home and awake all day when you're out, I understand.

Is he alone all day? It really depends on your goals. IF you saw him and he was TRUELY happy there, and you give him back, she'll probably only sell him over again anyway. No pressure here lol....but IF she seems to be a really caring person and would take him back I think it might be best. Not saying to get rid of the problem just saying IF you can be sure about the breeder being in his best interests. Or maybe someone you can know who is home during the day and committed to helping him. We cant all be home like some need and he seems to need something.

HOPEFULLY it's just sleep.

I would stop the glove thing or take the bite. Say "owwww' in a cat like squeal and see what he does. My hen thinks thats funny and stopped it and started play biting like beaking instead just to hear me do that lol.

Or at least use a little facecloth. Just use the perch and forget about the finger deal, imo. Offer food from the hand to change his view of it.

The fact that he's ok when out is good, and the biting in the cage isnt unusual. But the robotic thing is sad, he just hasnt bonded yet. It's going to be really hard for you in the winter now with the days so short. Open his cage at all times when you're home. Work on the food they love food. Give him a predictable schedule and be sitting around him cheerfully at all times. keep offering food by hand.

The fact that he likes being in your hair is great. He may just be over tired and wanting to go back.

In all honesty I think if he's alone all day long that I'd consider a companion. I did that for my hen who was so lonely and fell in love with a budgie here but it can't be allowed to happen. She was like a different bird after she chose her mate.

BUT that is hard with P'letts. Perhaps the breeder can determine a good match for him from her home. THen you know he chose the mate and there's a good start. I can tell you how I did it if you want. They CAN be vicious under the wrong circumstances and will need a LARGE cage.

I'm sorry I couldnt be more help. Thanks for caring and doing what you can for this poor guy and helping him.

[Cindy215]

I just saw the photo of the rabbit. You cant hold the rabbit with him out or smell like rabbit on your hands with him. I know this from owning a pet store. You have to wash your hands between handling each animal or you get bit.

That rabbit looks like a predator to him. Put the rabbit in another room.

Parrotlets are visual too, if they see another pair breeding they can kill their own mates. That's why the rabbit has to be away. Where he cant see him and be afraid. At least IMO, to rule out all the possible problems.

[BB'smom]

Well, sleep is a big, big issue here. I live in a city apt on the corner of two busy streets. One is a main street, the other is used as a cut-through to the main street. Our apt is about ten feet away from both roads. We get ambulances, fire trucks, city buses, motorcycles, and cars all going by night and day.

The lady below us watches T.V 24/7 just about. The T.V is only off when she is at work. I can hear it through our floor and I am sure BB can as well. I also have GP's (five) that are housed near him and they "wheek" on and off day and night as well.

My husband or I often watch T.V until 10:30 pm. Quiet is not an option here I'm afraid. He gets covered from 7-7 (12 hours) The whole "quiet" thing is impossible. I am sure that P'lets don't sleep in absolute silence in the wild. Don't they have to listen to the forest/night sounds in Peru??

I cannot isolate him in a quiet room. My husband sleeps whenever he feels like before he heads off to his night job and he putters around in our other bedroom/office until 11:30 some nights. Both bedrooms are on the busy streets anyway.

I am not going to return him to the breeder. I saw her small aviary and am sure she spends a great deal of time with her "babies". She has a play gym in the kitchen, teaches them "step-up", feeds them home-made wheat bread, figs (which BB hasn't had in a long time), egg food, etc. She isn't the worry.

I think BB just is an independent soul. He likes to be on/near me but hate me to initiate the petting or forwardness of trying new things with him. If I just let him sit on me all day and put him back in his cage when he isn't on my shoulder he is fine. I just wish I could "play" with him and actually scratch his head. ALL my other birds loved it. He is the first that is so resistant to it.

[BB'smom]

Cindy, that's actually a Guinea Pig, and BB likes them. He flies to their cage and will fly INTO the cage to check them out. I always supervise but the GP's are frightened of HIM. He knows it too.

[Cindy215]

Here's the first article that came up on google on sleep:
http://members.authorsguild.net/goodbird/work5.htm

Ok, guinea pig LOL You didnt have the photo up in your op and I didnt look closely it just flashed in front of me since it's 2 am.

Human sounds are nothing compared to nature. Birds have a sensor in the brain regulated by light. Their whole metabolism.

Sandee Molina is the expert here on Parrotlets and maybe she'll see your post she can confirm what I said about sleep and the other issues. She's on that link I posted too.

If you google her name, her site Parrotlet Ranch will come up where she discusses these issues especially about segregating Parrotlets from other species and even other Parrotlets.

Parrotlets will attack any animal much bigger than themselves. That's not a good thing to have him in that offensive or defensive mode. Especially on minimal sleep. But I know you'll do what you want in your own home so I wont make a big deal out of it lol.

[FeatherLover]

I wonder, to help with the noise issue, if one of those "white noise" boxes would be effective. It could help drown out the outside noises and create kind of an ambient sound.

Has anyone used one of these with birds?

This is the one I have (for me):

http://shopping.discovery.com/product-53873.html

[Cindy215]

Yes great idea. I use my air purifier. It works my budgies are less likely to startle if I go in their sleeping room.

[BB'smom]

That I can do. I have an air purifier in my office, but I can move it near his cage. It does have bit of a high-pitched whine to it, but if it is on all the time, I guess he will get used to it.