He's still biting

[gsacjj]

Yes, Skittles will not stop biting. I've tried msiting with a water bottle, shaking the perch, blowing on him, and taping his beak but nothing seems to work. Any other suggestions?

[OOwlinn]

Yikes, you're doing all the things you're not supposed to do. Those "discipline" measures are inhumane. Don't know who gave you that advice, but don't listen to them anymore.

I recommend you get a copy of the Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot by Mattie Sue Athan. Most the techniques there will work on a lovebird. I will tell you that a mature lovebird is VERY territorial about his or her home and even my VERY tame lovebird Jonah will bite me if I try to just reach in and get him. If I remove him with a dowel, he will immediately step onto my hand outside of his cage and not bite. You should try to work with your lovebird AWAY from his known area (try the bathroom with the toliet seat down). Also, clip his wings or have someone that knows how to do that do it for you. It really makes a difference it a bold little lovebirds HUGE attitude.

Good luck,
Marci with Jonah and Joy

[gsacjj]

Opps:o I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to do that. But I never do it very much/ hard or often.
I read at another board that unless you start taming a lovie from when they are young then they will never be tame. Is that true? Skittles is already about 2!

[Duddles]

and taping his beak but nothing seems to work

I know you meant to say "tapping" his beak, not "taping" it. I just want to clarify for anyone else who might read this. NEVER TAPE a bird's beak shut! gsacjj - I know it was just a typo.

[OOwlinn]

gsacjj,
I know you want to make friends with Skittles, however, forcing him by punishments like water, blowing in his face, whacking his beak, and shaking his perch will do nothing but make him mistrust you and dislike your company. Patience and kindess are only way you will win his affection. Sometimes loving animals means accepting them on their own terms and not what we would have them be. It's easy to love a bird that is "perfect" but if you worked for years, if necessary, to win the trust and affection of Skittles, I promise you it will mean more to you than if you just gave up and got another younger, friendlier bird. Seriously consider getting the book. It has a lot of taming techniques that really work and are quite simple. I'm sure you could find it at abebooks.com, used, at a great price. Do it for Skittles.
Best wishes,
Marci

[annabnana]

Gsacjj,
Not all of those methods you have been trying are bad taming methods, and from experience they will not make your bird dislike or trust you. How long have you been working with him for, to try to deter this bad behavior?
A biting bird seem so hard to train, I know.. It can be frustrating and tiring. But just think of the progress you will make once you can break that barrier, however long it may seem to take. Don't give up. There are only two things you need to remember while training...consistancy--and clarity. When showing your lovie that you don't want want him to bite..he has to get that message EVERY time; and he has to UNDERSTAND that message...or this bad behavior will continue.

Here are a few more suggestions of things you may want to try, if you aren't already doing them.

Don't let your lovie on your shoulders or around your face, and deffinitley not ontop of your head (if he had access to those perch spots previously) as this will ensure his postion as "flock leader" and you can bet that while he thinks he owns you--his biting will not cease.
You can try to distract him. When you are holding him, try to bring along a peice of leather, or a toy for him to chew on. Even a treat or two. While he's on your skin, give him the treat or the toy, and keep his attention on that. Even if it's just for five minutes while he's on your hand...if he doesn't bite when he's with you---that's progress.
Veronica, an female budgie I owned years ago, was a big biter. She never really got over her territorial issues, but after a lot of work, she stopped attacking my fingers whenever I handled her; and gladly let me preen her. With her, it was simply a matter of putting her down. When she began to bite, I would put her on the desk. She LOVED human company, and this was quite upsetting for her. She began to realize that whenever she bit, she wouldn't get her perch.

Last of all, if you get your lovie to stop biting--even if it's just a matter of seconds---PRAISE him. Show him that he's a good boy when he doesn't latch on to you.

Keep us posted...

[jacmacattack]

TRUST is the best training u can do the more trust the better the training will be for u and the bird or just about any pet u train so everthing u do should be about TRUST . I Have 11 yrs of traing and if u have anything at all u would like to ask feel free to do so . jack

[Birdmanca]

Just bgive the bird some space. That is nwhy bird acting like that. Wwhen bite, are sendind you ma message.