Hello,
I am wondering if you can make any suggestions. My ringneck (Jacques) loves the shoulder which is fine with me, but the problem is, he will not get off the shoulder and bites hard when I put my hand by him to get him off. Sometimes he will get off for a treat, but I want him to get off on command and not always with a treat. I usually have to get a perch to get him off or he will get aggravated and fly off. How can I break him from biting and teach him to get off on command. I have been working on this for about 2 months, but things have not got any better yet. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Michelle
Biting
Moderator: Mods
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Jodie
questions
Hi,
It sound like you are doing the best you can do. I would just hand in there. Sometimes I move my head to prompt my bird off of my shoulder away from my head. He gets right close to my head and hangs on my collar. When I tilt my head he moves to the other side allowing better access to pick him up. I also would suggest making him step up on command from a perch or his cage, then place him back and pick him up again, over and over to teach him that step up means step up. You are the boss, yes he bites but you let him get away with it. Unfortunately it means that you have to put in the extra work! Hope this helps!
It sound like you are doing the best you can do. I would just hand in there. Sometimes I move my head to prompt my bird off of my shoulder away from my head. He gets right close to my head and hangs on my collar. When I tilt my head he moves to the other side allowing better access to pick him up. I also would suggest making him step up on command from a perch or his cage, then place him back and pick him up again, over and over to teach him that step up means step up. You are the boss, yes he bites but you let him get away with it. Unfortunately it means that you have to put in the extra work! Hope this helps!
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Jodie
question
hi,
I don't think from what you are describing that it is the bluffing stage. It sounds like he needs to be reminded or possible taught to step up from your shoulder. If he did step up and is now giving you attitude, it could be a slight rebellion/bluffing stage. He has to be handled everyday for you to really drill it in him to behave like you want him to. I am not sure of the entire story and history of the bird, but handle him. I would say try to spend a good fifteen minutes making him step up on command then putting him down and making him step up again. He may not be used to the command step up. I also suggest finding a nice thick glove to pratice the step up from your shoulder. The glove resembles the hand so it should not interfer with training him to step up from your shoulder. This way he learns that he bites, it does not hurt you. If he is flying from your shoulder, you need to clip his wings. He should only be able to brace his fall with his wings. If he can fly you could get an attitude from your bird just because it will think it does not need you. Or it could fly in to a wall or window and hurt itself! Anyways, it is gonna take some time and training. Best of luck!
I don't think from what you are describing that it is the bluffing stage. It sounds like he needs to be reminded or possible taught to step up from your shoulder. If he did step up and is now giving you attitude, it could be a slight rebellion/bluffing stage. He has to be handled everyday for you to really drill it in him to behave like you want him to. I am not sure of the entire story and history of the bird, but handle him. I would say try to spend a good fifteen minutes making him step up on command then putting him down and making him step up again. He may not be used to the command step up. I also suggest finding a nice thick glove to pratice the step up from your shoulder. The glove resembles the hand so it should not interfer with training him to step up from your shoulder. This way he learns that he bites, it does not hurt you. If he is flying from your shoulder, you need to clip his wings. He should only be able to brace his fall with his wings. If he can fly you could get an attitude from your bird just because it will think it does not need you. Or it could fly in to a wall or window and hurt itself! Anyways, it is gonna take some time and training. Best of luck!
I actually go to a full size mirror so I can see him. At first I did this so I could react if he was going to bite to minimise injury (to me). He would hide behind my head, so I would tilt my head forward so he had no where to hide - my friends would laugh at me as they would see how hard it was to get him off.. After putting the hand in front and trying, I would then have another from behind which if he didn't move onto my finger I would grab him and start to lift him off, naturally his claws were dug in my shirt and instead of pulling because there's no way I was going to win without hurting Austin, I would then put my fingers back as the other hand is holding him under his feet and he would then know now that my fingers are the better option right now. This happened a few times and even though I knew Austin didn't like the second hand coming over he then knew two things.. 1. When I went to the mirror it was time to come off so he would hide, and 2. If he didn't come up when I said up, the other hand was coming - and through a little time he would come up without a problem as soon as I went to the same mirror and now he just comes up when I put my hand in front of him and say 'up'.. all in a couple of months.. but very important not to react to the biting or the growling type noises.
Austin used to jump up to my shoulder when he was on my finger, now he only goes up when I put him up - this took time and every time he jumped, I would take him off. Now he only tries to go up if he's bored sitting on my finger or when I move him towards my shoulder.
Austin used to jump up to my shoulder when he was on my finger, now he only goes up when I put him up - this took time and every time he jumped, I would take him off. Now he only tries to go up if he's bored sitting on my finger or when I move him towards my shoulder.