|
|
Post by Holly on Jan 22, 2017 5:00:34 GMT -5
Hi Everyone!
I haven't been on the forum in ages! I blame work! Normy and I have been doing really well and this coming Tuesday is Normy's first birthday! Yay!
Norman has been such a wonderful little friend and so far hasn't shown any sign of aggression until... last night we were sharing dinner as always and I went to put my hand up and he launched and sort of grabbed my finger with his beak. It wasn't quite a nip because it didn't hurt but it looked suspiciously like he intended it to be one. It happened again today with lunch... it doesn't hurt but he isn't acting the way he usually does and I don't want this new behaviour to turn into nipping or biting.
So my question is what should I do? When he did this, I just put him on his cage where he squawked but I ignored him and ate without him. Am I doing the right thing? As I am a first time parrot owner, dealing with parrot behaviour management is all new to me haha
Thanks a bunch!
Holly
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Jan 22, 2017 17:51:16 GMT -5
Hi Holly, and welcome back! I'm glad Normy is doing well. He could just be getting hormonal, but you have to look at what happens right before he nips. Could it be because you put your hand up like he's going to be returned to his cage? Or something else that he might be misinterpreting? It could be he's just growing up and asserting his independence. What you're doing is not bad as far as consequences go, but it's always better if you can figure out what he's reacting to so you can avoid it and not provoke the bite. If possible.  |
|
|
|
Post by Caseysmom on Jan 22, 2017 21:15:53 GMT -5
Casey always gets her own dinner plate set on top of her cage at mealtimes She does prefer to eat on her own. Years ago I once moved it after I set it down and it had her fav salmon and brocolli on it, she did try to nip, I guess thinking I might be taking it away Now she calls want some while I am dishing, I set the plate and leave her to eat. She happily lets me add more to the plate.... pretty sure she wouldn't want me to take anything away. Norman might just be worried you will eat it all on him.... and might be happier with his own plate
|
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Jan 23, 2017 14:34:12 GMT -5
Oscar will eat out of my left hand while I try to eat with only my right hand. I get these little reminders (nips of his) on my left hand when he wants more or something else. If I do not pay attention the nip gets a little harder and a littler harder.... bossy little guy.
I wish I had trained him just to eat from his own plate or off my plate. It is really awkward trying to eat like this. Before I sit down I must make sure everything is cut up into bite size and there better be something on my plate that I know he will enjoy... lol
|
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Jan 23, 2017 17:29:00 GMT -5
Hi Holly, welcome back and Happy 1st Hatchday to Normy! When Normy grabbed your finger do you think he might have wanted to play? Our little blue devil does this sometimes - at completely inappropriate moments, too. If you are sure it was aggression, then I think you did the right thing by ignoring him for a short time (they HATE not being the centre of attention, don't they?). You could ignore him for just 1 minute, then bring him back over and if he does it again, put him straight back on his cage again and ignore for 1 minute again. If you ignore him for too long he might not associate his behaviour with the consequence. It could indeed be hormones kicking in, as Normy is the right age. This just means you'll have to come up with strategies to address any behaviours that creep in, whereas beforehand he was naturally compliant. We have issues with Bonnie's behaviour, had her checked at the Vet and discovered it was hormonal. Good luck and let us know how things progress. |
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Jan 23, 2017 17:31:55 GMT -5
Oscar will eat out of my left hand.... It is really awkward trying to eat like this. Julianna, could you try holding a dish in your left hand for Oscar to eat from? Would he, do you think? Then you could gradually phase out your hand altogether over time. ...although I'm sure you've tried this already. Cheeky devil (Oscar, that is).  |
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Jan 25, 2017 14:09:52 GMT -5
Actually biteybird I have tried this but he usually wants to beat up the dish. After all it is sitting in his hand... lol. I am going to try to have a dish nearby and put the food from my hand into the dish... and see how that goes. He really needs to get off at eating time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Holly on Jan 28, 2017 3:16:07 GMT -5
I think you guys might be right, I think he was worried that I was going to gobble up all the food and not share any with him... which is a pretty reasonable fear as my mouth is a whole lot bigger than his haha
I tried the suggestion of making Normy his own plate, this has been working really well for us. He still gets to share in the experience of meal times, plus I get a lot more control over what he eats and how much, and he also doesn't feel threatened by us having to eat from the same plate. I do have to say I am slightly missing sharing all our meals together but I do think this is better and a lot less stressful for Norman.
Thank you once again for your help!
Norms has a wonderful 1st hatchday, he had a delicious chia seed and pumpkin cake to celebrate which he LOVED! Food really is the way to this little blue chicken's heart!
|
|
