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Tailfeathers > Lovebirds > Ok, how do I stop his biting?

Author	Comment
gsacjj Egg Posts: 198 (4/26/03 3:01 am) Reply	Ok, how do I stop his biting? Whenever I put my fingers near the cage, Skittles basically launches at me and I pull my fingers away quick. I mist him with a water bottle when he does this but I dont think that does much good...it might stop him from trusting me. Any suggestions?
Cinderhawk Egg Posts: 54 (4/26/03 1:46 pm) Reply	Re: Ok, how do I stop his biting? You can gently blow on him if he tries to bite you. Or you can try the 'earthquake' method where you shake your finger a little. (if he's perched on your finger) Good luck! ---------------- ~Cinderhawk
gsacjj Hatching Posts: 201 (4/27/03 12:53 am) Reply	thanks Hmmm, I forgot about blowing, I'll try that. He's not pertched on my hand because he freaks out whenever I put my hands in the cage. (I'm working on that to) Sometimes I put a carrot in between the bars and he bites at that to, I think he thinks its my fingers...is that a bad idea to let him bite it if he thinks its my finger?
Budgie Tamer Egg Posts: 11 (5/7/03 2:42 am) Reply	Re: thanks when my lovebird pecks at me, i tap her beak . she usually stops. after a few days, she learned to behave
gsacjj Hatching Posts: 231 (5/7/03 6:41 am) Reply	Re: thanks Lately what I have been trying is whenever he tries to bite me, shaking the perch that he is on. But it doesn't seem to work, I read that unless you start taming a lovebird when its a baby, it will proably never be tame. Skittles is two years old. But I'm still going to try to work on it.
melanieyeah custard puddin alfie Posts: 1266 (5/12/03 2:08 am) Reply	Re: thanks gsacjj, this is what i do....when alfie used to try and nip me, i grabbed his beak softly and said'' NO'' then when he went to bite again, he rememberd '' she grabbed his beak last time so i aint doin that again''..... lol melanieyeah ^-^' visit Custard, Puddin' and Baby Alfie
gsacjj Hatching Posts: 262 (5/12/03 6:40 am) Reply	Re: thanks Thanks everyone....haha mel. I took Skittles out and held him the other day, I used a washcloth but then he crawled off of it. And then I got bit hard for the first time. Ouch!! Then I got bit again, so I put him back. But I'll have to try all of that!
GratefulDead Egg Posts: 18 (10/28/03 10:22 am) Reply	biting Blowing on your bird or grabbing his beak isnt really the most effective way, usually this will aggitate him more, not to mention is kinda mean. I know him biting you is mean too but Lovebirds arent like dogs, they dont react to punishment like that. I found that by spraying bitters on your hands before playing with them helps alot (Bitter Apple for birds, at any pet shop). He will still bite you but once he has bitten you once or twice he will realize that your hands taste completely NASTY! A girl i sold one of my chicks too has been using that and found it to be very helpful. If you can get him used to being handled and get him attached to you then the next step would be to put him down any time he bit you. Loving lovebirds see that as punishment, having to be put down or put back in the cage. Try bitter apple to start i have heard really good things. Good Luck!
SheveDark Egg Posts: 141 (10/29/03 5:20 am) Reply	Re: biting I've heard you can also use plain white vinegar. Dip your fingers in it before handling the bird. The only concern I would have here is that they end up identifying the distinctive smell with bad things. ... I know why the caged bird sings ... - Paul Lawrence Dunbar Freddy ~ Kama ~ Woody ~ Roxy (dec.)
lovebird lova Egg Posts: 6 (12/29/03 12:35 am) Reply	hey hi! I SHARE UR PAIN!!!! I hav the exact same prob with my lovie-Pickles. Ugh, he bites me all the time. I guess urs bites u wen u touch the cage bcuz lovebirds tend to b very territorial. i am not an expert but wat i did was try and let him out of the cage. and u no wat? that helped. he flew straight to my head afta he got out. he still bites me but wat i do is i wrap a little cloth(colour of skin-beige, brown works) and then try to give my finger to Pickles,it hurts less, so it mite work. Main tip: let him out of the cage, chances are, he'll try and socialize with you!!!! ~~NiCe MeEtInG u~~ P.S.~wen he's with u talk 2 him, whistle, and dont make any sudden movements. if he doesnt bite u while hes with u give him treats, k?
linda040899 Egg Posts: 44 (12/29/03 9:15 am) Reply	Re: hey Birds are basically wild animals that we have tamed and certain behaviors cannot be modified in the bird. Biting happens to be one of those behaviors. Sssoooo, the best way to avoid being bitten is to not have your lovebird in a situation where he can bite you! If he tends to bite when you try to take him out of his cage, use a wooden dowel instead of your finger. If he's on you and heads for an area of your body where he usually bites, discourage him from going there or offer a distraction. Learn the body language that preceeds a bite. When we get bitten, it's our own fault, not that of the bird. Modify your thinking instead of the behavior of the bird! Linda L. Lovebirds Plus Aviary Edited by: linda040899 at: 12/29/03 9:16 am