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Post by quinn83 on Dec 13, 2014 14:19:59 GMT -5
Romeo has started biting on his legs and feet. I'm so worried! What should I do? Thank you in advance!
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Post by easttex on Dec 13, 2014 17:26:05 GMT -5
Can you describe what he's doing, and when he does it?
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Post by quinn83 on Dec 13, 2014 21:39:42 GMT -5
He lifts his right leg and he looks like he is chewing on it. Before he does this he is acting excited, not screeching or quite. He will just be chattering away in his cage. I have noticed he does this later in the evening, and when he is doing it he is saying step up step up. My first thought was hes wanting out to play more, but because he still goes after my mom and brother sometimes I can't let him out if they are in the same room. I haven't lessened the amount of time i'm spending with him every day. Im worried that if i get him out when he does this he will think it is a good way to get my attention. He has never done it outside of the cage. He never pulls feathers.It really looks like he is chewing on his right leg and foot.
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Chels
Hatchling
Posts: 10 
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Post by Chels on Dec 13, 2014 22:59:49 GMT -5
Sweetea bites her foot all the time. I think it is to clean them. She also takes her foot in her beak and slides it against her perch or whatever she is standing on. I would just make sure Romeo isn't drawing blood and the foot he's biting looks healthy.
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Post by easttex on Dec 14, 2014 7:04:08 GMT -5
Can you examine the bottom of his foot? Does he have a variety of perches in his cage? Does he bathe regularly? They will do quite a bit of grooming on the legs and feet, but if you are seeing this with only one leg/foot, I would think there is something else going on. It could be a bid for attention, especially if he has seen you reacting to it, but that doesn't tell you why he started it in the first place.
I would recommend you have him vet checked, to rule out infection or other physical cause. If the vet says it is behavioral, remember to ignore the behavior you don't want, so that you don't reinforce it.
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Post by quinn83 on Dec 14, 2014 17:59:27 GMT -5
Can you examine the bottom of his foot? Does he have a variety of perches in his cage? Does he bathe regularly? They will do quite a bit of grooming on the legs and feet, but if you are seeing this with only one leg/foot, I would think there is something else going on. It could be a bid for attention, especially if he has seen you reacting to it, but that doesn't tell you why he started it in the first place. I would recommend you have him vet checked, to rule out infection or other physical cause. If the vet says it is behavioral, remember to ignore the behavior you don't want, so that you don't reinforce it. I was unable to look at the bottom of his foot but he let me feel and I didn't feel anything different. I was also able to feel his leg and there was no places he had broke the skin. I also didn't feel anything there. His right leg and foot felt hotter than the other, and when I touched his right leg he jerked away and lunged at me. He has a variety of perches, and he bathes about once a week. I have made an appointment with the vet for this next week. In the mean time should I just ignore him when he does it? I'm scared he's going to hurt himself. Today he did it and started screaming bloody murder instead of saying step up like he was. After having him for 2 months now he has NEVER screeched, screamed, or gotten loud so hearing that scared me so badly. |
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Post by easttex on Dec 14, 2014 19:24:11 GMT -5
It does sound like it is something physical and not a bid for attention, so I would not worry about reinforcing the behavior. I would go ahead and lavish him with attention - poor baby sounds a little uncomfortable. Probably something easily taken care of by the vet. I wouldn't be surprised if you have to learn how to administer antibiotics.  Is he getting around okay? If he's having trouble with his mobility, I would remove or at least lower his perches, and put something soft at the bottom of his cage. If you have a small cage, like a travel cage, you could keep him in there to limit his movement, too. Let us know how his appointment goes. |
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Post by quinn83 on Dec 14, 2014 19:36:50 GMT -5
He seems like he is getting around okay but he stopped using his wooden perches. He has only used the soft rope one for a few days now. Today after he screamed I couldn't help but get him out and check on him.  He discovered my fleece socks and refused to be moved from them, so my poor baby has been spoiled all day lol. I will for sure update you all after his appointment. |
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Post by biteybird on Dec 15, 2014 3:29:56 GMT -5
Hope all goes OK, poor guy.
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Post by quinn83 on Dec 22, 2014 3:45:45 GMT -5
Just wanted to update on Romeo's condition. The vet said he was biting on his foot because his nails were to long and they irritated his leg and foot. I'm so glad it was something simple and easy to fix. I just wish his previous owner would have made sure it was done. I don't like the fact that he was hurting and I didn't know until that. On the bright side he has been feeling better, only now he thinks if he bites himself he will get my attention. I know this is what he is doing because I took him back to the vet after he kept biting himself. The vet said because it got my attention before he thinks it's a good way. I know that I need to ignore it but it is so hard! He has now started to bite and pull on the top of his wings, and I don't know what to do. I can't stand to see him do it so I have been covering his cage when he starts doing it. I'm so worried he will start to hate me because I have to put him in "timeout". Although, it is very funny and hard to not laugh when he starts saying "no, no, no, no, no" (this is a frequent thing I say and he picked it up). Is covering his cage the wrong way to handle this, and if so what are other options? Thank you!!!!
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Post by easttex on Dec 22, 2014 13:58:23 GMT -5
I'm afraid that with many birds, even a negative response from you will reinforce the behavior, so as long as he is not hurting himself, your best move is probably to ignore it altogether. I know that's kind of hard because you do want to monitor what he's doing, but if it really is totally behavioral, that's the best way I know to deal with it. Be proactive in giving him attention when he isn't chewing on himself, (catch him in the act of being good) even if it is just long enough to give him some verbal praise. You could try giving him an alternative way to get your attention, but it is hard to be consistent with something like that once you get past the training stage.
I've never heard that about a bird's long nails irritating the leg before. I did know they can irritate my skin. Learn something new every day. Just curious, did the vet do a full exam on him, with blood draw, etc.? |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Dec 23, 2014 11:43:10 GMT -5
I have a quaker that mutilates himself when he is stressed and it is difficult to get him to stop but Easttex is right - don't pay the behaviour any attention as it reinforces it. I know it is hard but say nothing to him and leave the room if you have to. Is the leg still hot to the touch?
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Post by quinn83 on Dec 23, 2014 18:01:54 GMT -5
Yes the vet did the blood draw and everything. The leg is no longer hot and he is able to grip better. The vet told me that his nails were effecting his balance and that that is what irritated the leg. I've taken your advice and i just ignore him, but what would you recommend if he starts breaking the skin?
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Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2014 18:58:45 GMT -5
If he does start to harm himself, I would recommend getting him fitted for a collar, and pretty quickly, before it became an ingrained habit. I don't think you have to worry about that at this point, though. Keep an eye on him, but don't worry too much. It's not good for either one of you for you to stress out! He's like a toddler, and is going to keep testing the waters to see what works and what doesn't. |
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Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2014 18:58:56 GMT -5
If he does start to harm himself, I would recommend getting him fitted for a collar, and pretty quickly, before it became an ingrained habit. I don't think you have to worry about that at this point, though. Keep an eye on him, but don't worry too much. It's not good for either one of you for you to stress out! He's like a toddler, and is going to keep testing the waters to see what works and what doesn't. |
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He discovered my fleece socks and refused to be moved from them, so my poor baby has been spoiled all day lol. I will for sure update you all after his appointment.
