Evil New Lovie

[rigidneophyte]

Ok i just got this bird yesterday and it's turning my hands into pin cushions, It'll chill with me for hours on end even nestling down on my chest however when ever I try to move it or get it to go on my hand it bites uncontrollbly. Help!

[RicosPoppy]

A fact of life is many companion birds are very shy of hands and want nothing to do with them. My guess is that the size and shape of our hands (especially when attempting to grasp or hold) appears very frightening to them and hence they will bite (when unable to fly away) for defense.

Also, please bear in mind our little guys don't have hands and they use their beak as a primary tool for exploring. What can often be misinterpreted as a bite is actually them just exploring their surroundings.

So, a bitey bird is definately not an evil bird. With lots of time, love and patience, there is a good chance he will come around and no longer have any fear of hands. But again, this might not change. Just be sure not to get upset with your bird for doing something that is quite natural to them.

I'm sure some of the other people here can offer some good advice and how they deal with their bitey birds, I think we also have a topic dedicated soley to this as well.

[rigidneophyte]

its not just the bitting, i know he's just exploring most of the time, for instance he just nibbled on my industiral piercing. But its also the up command, I don't understand how I can train a bird that will have nothing to do with me, How am i supposed to bond if I keep scaring the bird in order to get him out of the cage? Also how can I get him used to hands?

[RicosPoppy]

Seeing as how the bird is in a new setting with new faces, the best idea right now is to take things very slowly and be sure not to put the bird in a situation where he is scared or uncomfortable. Such as putting your hands in the cage to remove him.

Most people will suggest the best thing right now is to give your bird re-assurance by speaking to it softly, spending time close to his cage to get him adjusted to your presence. Then, when you begin hand training him most people will suggest you do this in a dimly lit, small room, such as a bathroom.

The idea is to take things very slowly at this stage. Once the bird and you are more comfortable and adjusted to one another, the easier training will be.

Birds are not like dogs. You must earn their trust. This can be a long and enduring process, but the rewards are well worth it.

[bellarains]

Trust is something earned, and that is what you are trying to do, earn your birds trust. Trust takes time, and time, along with patience will pay off.

Day one in a new place is very scary for a new bird. If s/he is sitting on you, that is actually very good for a first day. Hands do take some time for some to accept, and some never do like hands, but slow introduction of your hands is key to acceptance. .

Instead of putting your hand in the cage to start with, try offering an extra perch to step up onto, or an elbow works well for some also. Each day, offer a finger to step up, if not accepted, try the elbow or the perch. You might also try offering your hand without the fingers extended.

Bottom line, let your bird decide when your hands are acceptable. I'm not saying don't try to pet, skirtch or offer a step up, but if s/he is not ready, try again another day.

Don't get discouraged. We have many, many people here who can testify that time and patience do work:)

[rigidneophyte]

Here is my little devil

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/rigidneophyte/PartyHouse050.jpg

[linda040899]

What a cute Green Mask Lovie!
Typical lovebird......loves hiding under/around hair!

[butterfly1061]

Well, that's the prettiest little devil I've ever seen! :evil:

I have a little devil and her name is Olivia. She was like this when I first got her back in December. It took a while for her to settle down, but she did. Now she's a sweet girl, but I have to read her body language when handling her. She also paired up with my other hen, Daisy, and they are the best of buds :D The best word I can give you is PATIENCE and lots of it. Remember, birds are not domesticated like cats & dogs, they are wild animals. Taming & socializing takes time, but in the end it's worth it! :D

[rigidneophyte]

yea, he's actually moveing really fast, when i take him out he's with me all day on my shoulder or in my hair, and when i just put him back he stepped up on a rod and off my back no problem, so i guess its not bad. I just hated the bitting, but then again who loves that?

[peppero1]

when i got my bird, he didn't like hands much and was scared of everything, and had a typical biting reaction.
This is what I did:
Whenever he nipped my hands i gave the earthquake motion to knock him off balance. If he bit really hard i would hold his beak firmly and look closely into his eyes and say "DON'T BITE"
(don't do this for too long as it will make him more scared than necessary).
in a while he stopped biting and now he never bites me, ever and doesn't bite any of my friends either.
I also do what I call "love-bombing" which is i hold him upside down, tightly, and I rub his beak and tummy and talk to him for a long while. You might also wrap him in a towel and hold him tightly and look closely into his eyes and talk nicely and energetically to him.
He will eventually calm down and realize you aren't going to eat him.
My bird is currently very docile and calm and most of the time he is compliant and willing.....

[sdgilley]

Time will help you build trust with your new lovie. He may or may not ever like hands. My first bird, Peter, is a green mask and is the funniest little clown. I adore him. BUT he hates hands. If I need to move him, I can use a perch to move him. He's very afraid of the vet, so I can hold him in my hands during that time, because he's safe there.

I don't ever do anything to my lovies that scares them. The only time I wrap up one of my birds is to administer medication. And then you have to be very careful: they don't have diaphrams so if you hold their sides or wrap them tightly they can suffocate.

I've had Peter for 3 years now. He flies to me and hangs out on my head or shoulder (and doesn't even poop on me). I have two other birds that aren't nearly the biter he was in the past, but I enjoy Peter very much. Since I respect Peter's attitude about hands, I haven't been bitten in quite a while.

Your bird may get over the hand hatred. Time will tell. I can feed Peter from my hands. I have to be careful though, he'll make sport of me if I'm not paying very close attention! :omg:

[Janie]

Time will help you build trust with your new lovie. He may or may not ever like hands. My first bird, Peter, is a green mask and is the funniest little clown. I adore him. BUT he hates hands. If I need to move him, I can use a perch to move him. He's very afraid of the vet, so I can hold him in my hands during that time, because he's safe there.

I don't ever do anything to my lovies that scares them. The only time I wrap up one of my birds is to administer medication. And then you have to be very careful: they don't have diaphrams so if you hold their sides or wrap them tightly they can suffocate.

I've had Peter for 3 years now. He flies to me and hangs out on my head or shoulder (and doesn't even poop on me). I have two other birds that aren't nearly the biter he was in the past, but I enjoy Peter very much. Since I respect Peter's attitude about hands, I haven't been bitten in quite a while.

Your bird may get over the hand hatred. Time will tell. I can feed Peter from my hands. I have to be careful though, he'll make sport of me if I'm not paying very close attention! :omg:

I don't normally quote an entire post but in this case, I am! :D Because I think it's great advice to follow! That Suzanne is one smart lovie mom! :D

[rigidneophyte]

thanks for the advice, now i use either a rod or my blanket to lift up rebel, i decided to call him that. He seems to enjoy the blanket, he also chews on it, I guess he's teething.

[Janie]

Oh, I did forget to say one thing before.....He is adorable!!!! Love the name, too! :D

[rigidneophyte]

Is it a good thing when he loves my head? also, is it ok that i spend 3 or so hours with him like this while i chat online and watch tv?i talk to him during it.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/rigidneophyte/bird002.jpg

[Janie]

Be sure that he has access to food/water every 15 to 30 minutes. If you can put a food and water dish close by that he can see and get to, it's fine to have him out for long periods. My older bird is often like a growth on my neck. :D He's so quiet that I sometimes forget he's there! I take him back to his cage at least every half hour to be sure he can eat and drink. If left up to him, I'm not sure he'd ever let me know he's hungry! :lol

Oh, btw, we only use links for pictures on the forum except in the new section (Photo stories, New) that Linda added a few weeks ago and it is fine to put the photo right in the message there. It saves much needed space to use links in all the other sections. :)

[rigidneophyte]

ok cool thanks again