Tips on working with my new parrotlet needed

[G8love4finches]

Baby birds will test you just like a small child.....Don't let them get their way by reacting to her bites....When my Ringneck went through this stage I firmly said "No Bite" put him down and turned away from him.....They can be seeking attention and testing their boundaries....She is a baby and needs to learn what behavior is expected and what's not tolerated....Praise her a lot when sheis not biting and try not to give her a reaction when she does.....the punishment of you NOT giving her attention and turning away will get through to her quickly.....They want attention and even a sad face can show her you are not happy with her.....Animals communicate on a far more subtle level than us humans..... Mother dogs can just give a glare to a misbehaving puppy to redirect behavior...Show her without raising your voice you don't like her behavior and she will pick it up very soon...Yes, as breeder, we do seem to ignore bites....It just comes with the territory and learning not to jump or yelp when they bite us!...Lol

[Amyrs2880]

Here is a pic I took a few mins ago. Excuse my messy hair...she likes to preen it.

[Amyrs2880]

Baby birds will test you just like a small child.....Don't let them get their way by reacting to her bites....When my Ringneck went through this stage I firmly said "No Bite" put him down and turned away from him.....They can be seeking attention and testing their boundaries....She is a baby and needs to learn what behavior is expected and what's not tolerated....Praise her a lot when sheis not biting and try not to give her a reaction when she does.....the punishment of you NOT giving her attention and turning away will get through to her quickly.....They want attention and even a sad face can show her you are not happy with her.....Animals communicate on a far more subtle level than us humans..... Mother dogs can just give a glare to a misbehaving puppy to redirect behavior...Show her without raising your voice you don't like her behavior and she will pick it up very soon...Yes, as breeder, we do seem to ignore bites....It just comes with the territory and learning not to jump or yelp when they bite us!...Lol

I definitely tend to jump if she bites, but I have been much better at that now. I haven't raised my voice at her, I try to talk really nice to her all the time and give her treats if she is behaving. So you think that if she bites and I try to redirect her somehow (by lowering my hand/arm or putting a perch or toy in her face) that this is not the best option? I think I can easily get her to climb up onto a perch and then put her back in her cage when she bites for a few minutes. She does very much want to be on me, so I am sure getting her off of me when she does bite could be very successful! Thank you very much The breeder told me that I should completely ignore all of the bites and not do a thing at all. Just let her do it even if it hurts like heck. But I guess I don't see how that is teaching her not to bite, seems like it is teaching that it is ok? I like the advice you've given me, thank you again!

[DanteD716]

What my uncle did when his macaw bit (he liked females over males and was not really socialized when my uncle got him) was push him back. Say he bit my uncles finger, he would jam it into his mouth further (not like joking him) but the bird would be pushed back by it and let go.

[cindy]

Rummy, is about 5 months old and is going through this as well. Parrotlets are very smart and are like a mini big bird and two yr old combined. The biting as you enter the cage is them guarding there territory.

This is what I do with Rummy, he does not come out onto my arm without my putting on a denim shirt. When I put the shirt on I open the door, tap the door edge and say " Come out, come out". He runs across the cage, hops on the ledge and he runs across the door and hangs there. He will not get in my hand or back of my hand. He has been like that since I got him.Instead I offer him the shirt covered arm, if I want him on my shoulder I scratch my shoulder and say "come here" he runs to my shoulder. I ask if he wants a tickle, usually he bends his head and I would tickle and say "good boy".

He knows the routine but lately he is going through the terrible twos. He has become bitey and guards his cage dish and bells. Fluffing up and a open beak lunging. I find certain toys that I touch he will lunge and go after my hand. In the past I could touch anything. If he bites then I bend my finger like I am going to tickle him or show him the back hand (close your hand up), tell him "no", if he lunges again I repeat the action...usually he calms down and allows me to tickle him.

He know the word "no"...if he goes to bite my computer, I tell him "no" and he stops moves away from it, usually he beats with the phrase "come here", I point to a spot for him to move to and I give him a treat. He has gotten smart and if I go to tell him "no" he tells me "no" first.

The the last two weeks have been a bit much with him but the last two days he has come out of it a bit and wants up, sits on my shoulder and looks for a treat in my fingers. the biting have almost stopped.

The biting is a stage...most go through it and with patience it will go away.

Keep in mine they are very smart and watch your every move and react to it and your voice tone. If you act scared or act nervous they become unsure and nervous and may bite as a reaction.

I had a bandaid on my finger, that even set him off, most don't like change.

When you put them back into the cag don't grab them and put them allow them to climb back in if you can.


this site is helpful with tips on biting and tricks
http://www.birdtricks.com/parrot-biting.html

[Amyrs2880]

Just an update on Pickle-

I have had her for eight days now and I get her out three times a day if not more. As soon as I open the cage she comes straight out and wants to be on me. The progress in one week is amazing. I started wearing long sleeve shirt with her just because it is easier lol, and she will hop right on! I give her a treat every time she does step up. I've been able to finally do step up with my fingers now without being scared and she does wonderful!! But the big thing that I wanted to share with you all is that since yesterday I am able to pet her with my bare hand!!! I think she really enjoys it, especially on her neck. I start rubbing her neck and she will bend it over and kind of close her eyes like she is having a masssage . She will let me get close to her beak and pet her back with no problem at all. We are becoming great friends and I am so glad I made the decision to get her, she is very smart and sweet! I can't wait to see how we keep progressing. So thank you all for your help and sharing experiences with me, they helped so very much!!!!!

[tinysparrow]

That's great Amy! I'm glad that things are going so well

[G8love4finches]

Great news!.....They can be great friends!....Just keep up what you are doing!.....Enjoy your new pet!

[cindy]

Amy, you are doing great with Pickles!!! Glad it is working out. I i the same thing you did, three times a day...it is amazing how fast they catch on.