So some of you might remember me or maybe not I haven't been on in a while Anyways I've had Pickles for several months now and up till now she has been the sweetest bird ever, always being very hesitant to bite me, but now she will let me pet her for a few minutes then suddenly she will lash out and bite very viciously. I don't know whats going on? It might be worth mentioning that this bird was formerly abused by her old owners but like I said she was adjusting to our home very well and biting for her was very rare. Please help I want my sweetie bird back...

Not sure if something changed, as in moving the cage or toys around in the cage,

Lots of factors can be the cause... You've had her a few months as in 2 or 3? If that's the case, it could be that the "honeymoon period" has finally come to an end and she's testing the waters as to what she's going to be allowed to do. She could be trying to establish where she thinks she wants to be in the pecking order.

Or could it be that you have changed something about yourself, New hair color, hair style, a different type of perfume etc. Little things like that can make a big difference to a bird, you wouldn't think it would but it can. Have you perhaps taken to wearing a different piece of jewelery on a regular basis?

When is she doing it...Are there other people or animals around when she starts if that's the case she could be telling you that you are hers and only hers and she doesn't want to share you with anything or anybody and so she bites you to make you move away from the threat. A bird will do that to their mate to protect them from perceived danger.

So there can be a lot of different factors as to why she's biting.

You can work on that though by trying not to make a big deal out of it. Don't yell, scream or cry, or even jerk back when she does it. Take the bite, and in fact if you'll push up into the bite gently but firmly up and in toward the back of their head, it will keep the bite from hurting so much, it will show her that you aren't afraid of her and will take the bite and it will also push her slightly off balance so that she will have to concentrate on hanging on with her feet and she'll let go with her beak.

If she's biting you while she's on your shoulder, don't allow her on your shoulder, its a power struggle and she's trying to show you who's boss.

If she's biting you while she's sitting on your hand or arm you can also use what we call the earth quake method and give a short quick shake and then tell her no biting, again, this will cause her to lose her balance and they don't like that. If you are consistent with what ever method you choose she will learn that biting isn't going to get her anywherel.

You may even try putting her in a nuetral area not back on her cage or in her cage so that she is away from her flock for a few minutes. Being banished from the flock is a fate worse than death.

If you just put her back in her cage when she bites your teaching her, Ahhh, I get to go home when I do that and I don't have to listen anymore. So she might just be doing it to get put back in her cage.

Hope this sheds a little light for you. Good luck.

louie grew his flights back in and turned into a real butt attitude-wise. my normally sweet bird was taking chunks outta me. we clipped him, he's back to his sweet self. that could be a reason. i am at work and skimmed so i'm not sure if connie mentioned this or not.

the other thing: i was scritching louie's head the other day and hit a tender pin. he was very quick to let me know.

not sure if either of these situations pertain to you but just thought i'd throw them out.

kris

Hi, I've actually had her for about 8-9 months now. We have no idea how old she is, all we know is that she is at least a year and a half old at this point. (could be two or three years old though). I have started wearing rings on my fingers but she just likes to grab them they don't seem to bother her. That and she is back to her sweet self today I dunno what happened...her cage hasn't been moved around either or anything like that thanks for the help guys.

I have had Kiwi for over 8 yrs and in May I bought a few new outfits for my birthday. Kiwi had never seen them. He let me know that. Clothing also can do this. Or moving something in the room he is in or putting something by his cage. They definitely will let you know.

Okay, I'm awfully confused. LOL Total newbie, bear with me. Clyde was gnawing on me something awful and then he quit and now he's started again, only he bites my shoulder now (used to be my arm) and when I object -- I know, I shouldn't, it only makes him worse and I think HE thinks he's playing -- he mutters what sounds like cussing. We move his cage all the time and he doesn't seem to mind that. We move him into the bedroom at night and into the living room during the day and he likes that, it keeps him close to us and whatever we're doing when we can't have him out. And he hasn't been here long enough to know all my clothes, so how would he know if I had something different on? Contrary little critters, aren't they?

Eveyone is just trying to give you some idea's of maybe why, could be hormonal, if his wings aren't clipped might give it a try, they don't feel so powerful when they can't fly..Also I was told never let them be higher then you, they like to feel as they are the boss,have to keep them humble..and let them know you are the boss..Kermi has been getting nippy and I tell her No in a stern voice and put her in her cage for a few min, then come back and she is nicer..but she is still a baby , only 5 months old..

Not being a smarty butt, but I'd say because she is a quaker.... ....Seriously, I think they have their moody times also like us humans and it could be hormones....
Just hope she will soon stop her biting because I do feel for you....
Just let me put on a different pair of shoes or curl my hair and Harley would love to get at me just to bite...He is 4 1/2 years old.....

Hi thanks everyone for the replies Actually she hasn't done that since so I really think it was just a mood maybe, I mean maybe they don't like to be held 24/7

Fred got crabby with me for a couple days and bit me if, and only if, I tried petting him. Other than that he was fine. He didn't bite my wife at all either. This lasted for two days, and now he's back to normal. The only thing I did was let him bite me as if it didn't hurt or bother me. I think once he figured out that he couldn't control me by biting me he gave up on it.