Hi! We just acquired our very first bird ever! He is a beautiful quaker parrot and we saved him from a bad home. We have been doing a lot of research and realize we have a lot of work ahead of us. He is 6 months old and he did not even have a name until today when he came to our home. We have named him Manning(yes, we are Colts fans). He is a biter, but I believe it is because he has been neglected and I believe we can get him out of the biting thing. I welcome all and any suggestions that anyone may have because as I said before, this is our first time having a bird. We have read a lot of info from the net and went to several pet stores and spoke with them, so we are prepared, but you can't beat advice from QP owners!!!
Thank you!
Manning's Mommy
Full Version: We Are New Bird Parents!
Hi and welcome to the flock! I suggest reading back in the older threads -- just do a search on biting and you will receive a ton of information and insight! Keep us posted on how Manning adapts to his new home! 
Hi and welcome to the forum... You'll soon love that little Quaker. If you haven't already done so, I would strongly urge you to purchase the book "A Guide To Quaker Parrots" by Mattie Sue Athon, Its in its 2nd edition now so I'm sure she's updated some of the information in it but its a great book, give you lots of helpful hints of things to do and not to do.
One of the things I'd also suggest is to just give him a few days to settle in and get to know his new surroundings and you.
Hopefully, his wings are trimmed so he isn't able to fly well, you can always let them grow out again if you wish him to have free flight, but with that comes more concern and care.
One of the first things I like to tell people with a new bird especially if you know its a biter it to not show any emotion if and when he bites, Hard to do I know but its important. If you yell or scream or cry or jerk back you giving him a reaction to which he'll want to try and copy these guys are drama seekers if there ever was one. Instead stand your ground, take the bite, no matter how bad it hurts. While you are doing that push in and upward toward the back of his head. This does two things...first it changes the fulcrum point in his beak so he can't bite nearly as hard and it will keep it from hurting you as much, Also by gently pushing back and up it causes him to lose his balance, They can only think of one thing at a time and so their natural instinct is to not fall so they will quit biting while trying to concentrate on not falling.
Once they realize that you aren't going to be bluffed and that taking a bite doesn't scare you. The fun of biting is gone so they soon stop.
There are other methods too but that's the easiest one to do with a brand new bird.
Good luck and welcome to the forum, you're going to love living here!
One of the things I'd also suggest is to just give him a few days to settle in and get to know his new surroundings and you.
Hopefully, his wings are trimmed so he isn't able to fly well, you can always let them grow out again if you wish him to have free flight, but with that comes more concern and care.
One of the first things I like to tell people with a new bird especially if you know its a biter it to not show any emotion if and when he bites, Hard to do I know but its important. If you yell or scream or cry or jerk back you giving him a reaction to which he'll want to try and copy these guys are drama seekers if there ever was one. Instead stand your ground, take the bite, no matter how bad it hurts. While you are doing that push in and upward toward the back of his head. This does two things...first it changes the fulcrum point in his beak so he can't bite nearly as hard and it will keep it from hurting you as much, Also by gently pushing back and up it causes him to lose his balance, They can only think of one thing at a time and so their natural instinct is to not fall so they will quit biting while trying to concentrate on not falling.
Once they realize that you aren't going to be bluffed and that taking a bite doesn't scare you. The fun of biting is gone so they soon stop.
There are other methods too but that's the easiest one to do with a brand new bird.
Good luck and welcome to the forum, you're going to love living here!
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