VERY painful bite...

[LoveBug12]

Junior just bit my neck really hard a few minutes ago. I really don't know what to do. He is constantly biting and it's getting to the point where I don't think he should be held anymore. He left a big mark and it was so painful I cried. It still hurts as I type. He has been doing this for quite some time now. I don't mistreat him..he is a spoiled bird and gets plenty of outside the cage time. I give him treats and lots of toys..I don't understand what is going on.
:very_sad:

[Chickobee]

How old is Junior? He may be going through his adolescent stage right now.

How did you react to the bite? I know it would be extremely difficult to NOT react to something like you described but that is what all of the bird books advise, however impossible it seems.

For now it may be best to not allow Junior to ride on your shoulder and to find other ways to interact with him.

Did you teach him to step up onto a dowel? And, what do you do with him when he is out of his cage? Is he allowed to do everything he pleases or do you spend some time practicing step ups and giving him treats for good behavior?

It's very important to not reinforce bad behavior, like biting, because then it can become a conditioned response that he uses to get what he wants.

If you can find ways to distract him BEFORE he bites such as with a toy or something else you may find that he outgrows this stage where he is testing his boundaries to see what works for him. If he gets what he wants by biting he will learn to use that behavior to get his way.

He will still occasionally try to bite but you can learn to read his body language and avoid most bites.

:2cents: When he is riding on your shoulder you can't see what he is doing so you can't avoid those bites. So, unless you want a pierced ear :omg: or nose ring :omg: I would avoid that for right now.

[Pips mom]

I'm thinking your Junior may be a girl! How big is Junior's cage? If he has a good size cage, maybe keeping him in it more right now might be a good idea until your bites heal up! Others here have suggested a wing clip....have you considered this? because I don't see any response from you about it. Wing clips work wonders with bold little lovies! I know I probably wouldn't have my sanity anymore without Pip being clipped regularly. A wing clip would give you more control over where Junior goes and is allowed, and you really do see a big attitude change when they're clipped.....they know when they have the upper hand!! and having that flight gives them that. When you limit where they can go and they can't just take off across the room, they also know it, and behave accordingly. I strongly suggest a good clip!! I know people's views on clipping are different and some are against it, but it REALLY is the type of thing where every bird and every situation is different.....some situations and birdie personalities really call for a wing clip!and some don't......I REALLY think this one needs a clip!:omg:

[LoveBug12]

How old is Junior? He may be going through his adolescent stage right now.

How did you react to the bite? I know it would be extremely difficult to NOT react to something like you described but that is what all of the bird books advise, however impossible it seems.

For now it may be best to not allow Junior to ride on your shoulder and to find other ways to interact with him.

Did you teach him to step up onto a dowel? And, what do you do with him when he is out of his cage? Is he allowed to do everything he pleases or do you spend some time practicing step ups and giving him treats for good behavior?

It's very important to not reinforce bad behavior, like biting, because then it can become a conditioned response that he uses to get what he wants.

If you can find ways to distract him BEFORE he bites such as with a toy or something else you may find that he outgrows this stage where he is testing his boundaries to see what works for him. If he gets what he wants by biting he will learn to use that behavior to get his way.

He will still occasionally try to bite but you can learn to read his body language and avoid most bites.

:2cents: When he is riding on your shoulder you can't see what he is doing so you can't avoid those bites. So, unless you want a pierced ear :omg: or nose ring :omg: I would avoid that for right now.

Junior just turned 1 this month. When I try to get him to step up, he bites my finger. It's very hard to get him to do anything at all. I can't really read his body language because he looks calm then out of nowhere..he chomps down. I've never seen a bird so aggressive before. Even our Eclectus that are family had didn't act this way....and he used to chase my dad and brother out of the room!

[LoveBug12]

I'm thinking your Junior may be a girl! How big is Junior's cage? If he has a good size cage, maybe keeping him in it more right now might be a good idea until your bites heal up! Others here have suggested a wing clip....have you considered this? because I don't see any response from you about it. Wing clips work wonders with bold little lovies! I know I probably wouldn't have my sanity anymore without Pip being clipped regularly. A wing clip would give you more control over where Junior goes and is allowed, and you really do see a big attitude change when they're clipped.....they know when they have the upper hand!! and having that flight gives them that. When you limit where they can go and they can't just take off across the room, they also know it, and behave accordingly. I strongly suggest a good clip!! I know people's views on clipping are different and some are against it, but it REALLY is the type of thing where every bird and every situation is different.....some situations and birdie personalities really call for a wing clip!and some don't......I REALLY think this one needs a clip!:omg:

Junior has a good sized cage. I'm not good at measuring so I couldn't really tell you how big it is. He has room to walk around and he has 4 perches in there with plenty of toys and food. I plan on getting him clipped today, I hope. I'm going to take him in to the pet store where he had them clipped as a baby. I don't know how they are going to be able to clip his wings with his aggressive behavior. :(

[Chickobee]

Don't worry. They will be able to clip Junior. Even the most squiggly bitey bird can be clipped if they are toweled properly and that nasty beak is covered up.

You will be amazed at the immediate change in attitude after the first couple of flights when Junior can't gain altitude anymore. He should be much more accommodating and easier to work with.

I'll be curious to see how it goes and what the changes are.

I notice that many of our birds get very headstrong when they can fly wherever they want to. Then the scissors come out! :)

[Pips mom]

I notice that many of our birds get very headstrong when they can fly wherever they want to. Then the scissors come out! :)

:rotfl:rofl: alot of lovies definitely get out of control with full flight....these little guys are smart and FAST! It's amazing how a wing clip doesn't even phase Pip anymore. He just makes due and can pretty much still go where he wants, just no up too high! and their little flight feathers grow back in so fast sometimes that I often wonder if they can will them to grow faster!:rofl:

[Flapjack]

Oh honey- I feel ya...:(

Nokomis nailed me so bad tonight it feels like my thumb is broken (obviously it isn't). His beak is about 3 times the size of a lovie.

Was it you I replied to about the hold I would do with Jack? I can't remember. She doesn't bite me at all anymore.

[FuzzyAga]

I finally learned to keep my eyes on the feathers at the back of her neck. If it starts to stand up, I keep away from her beaks. It's a dead giveaway.

Also, with other parrots with light-colored irises that you can see, it's easy to tell when to stay away, because their eyes "pin" but with dark-colored irises it's just too dark to see the pining. To pin means that their eyes contract and dilate very rapidly and it shows strong emotions. It's actually a remarkable form of communication and facinating to see. With Lovies, you can't see this, so you need to see what the feather angles are as the next best thing to communicating their intent.

Sorry you're getting bitten, and I think maybe you have a female.

[bbslovie]

Oh honey- I feel ya...:(

Was it you I replied to about the hold I would do with Jack? I can't remember. She doesn't bite me at all anymore.

What was the hold you would do with Jack? If she doesn't bite you anymore than I'm very curious as to what that is!


Barb :)

[linda040899]

Junior just bit my neck really hard a few minutes ago.
I agree that Junior should not be allowed on your shoulder if she (I also think Junior is a hen.) is going to bite like this. A turtle neck top will protect your neck but then you have ears and your face to worry about. Hopefully, the wing clip will help.

[Enko_chan]

Freyja went through a SUPER bitey stage when reaching that age, and she has calmed down A LOT.

Think of your bird as a hormonal teenager. Not to be insulting to any teens out there- but it wasn't all that long ago I was one and I remember! At first they act out to see what they can get away with. I won't add to the advice that's already here, except really try not to respond to the bites as best you can... and agree 100% with no shoulder time allowed. Spend time talking to, training, sitting next to Junior when he/she plays and communicate A LOT when the little one is in the cage, and you'll retain your bond. Slowly allow the bird things he/she likes, as in, shoulder privileges when he's been on "good behavior". I did this with all my adult birds and they're all very well behaved now!

[LauraO]

I have had birds at this age go through a crazy bitey stage. They are usually hens and stop shortly after turning one year old. The worst is our hen Shy. She didn't bite as a baby and then suddenly started biting hard all the time at about one year old. She stopped at just the point I was about to give up. She's well over four years old now and doesn't really bite. She will give me a good bite when she's on eggs sometimes, but it's more the exception than the rule.

I also agree the wing clip will do wonders. Even the tamest most loving lovies can turn into devil birds when they are fully flighted.

My last suggestion is to begin stick training Junior. This will allow you to transfer and move him/her without fear of getting your finger bit.

Good LUck:whistle: