Biting or lack thereof -long post-

[Neokireina]

It seems that the most frequent topics are about biting and agression. Having not experienced these things with either of my ringnecks I cant really help in this area as much as I would like to.

I will describe the circumstances in which I raised my birds and perhaps it might help some.

Our first ringneck Niamh was purchased from a pet store, Hand raised. He was very scared of us at first. He was clipped then but is not clipped anymore.

The biggest problem I had was him not wanting to step up and having fear of my hands. To counteract this I took him to an unfamiliar room. I sat down and too scared to go anywhere else he sat on my finger and quivered. An hour later he would be asleep on my hand. Yes an hour heh. I did this a few times and practised step ups until he was no longer afraid, I would also use treats to encourage him to come to my hand. If a bird can fly take them into a very small room like the toilet, lid down and sit on it. It may sound cruel but this was done to break the fear barrier.

It took hours of work over months to get him to be the nice tame chicken he is today. But all that work paid off and now he even flies to his owners hand for treats. Gives kisses. Never bites. Will reluctently lay on his back in the palm of my hand, and raises his wings for an under wing scritch. Before scritching I always tell him "Scritch" so he knows what I want to do and he puts his head down for a scritch. He loves the camera and I have digital camera recordings of some of his dances. He even waited for me to unload the memory card and download it to clear more room for more of his display.

My baby Kiva i got when he was 4 weeks old and I finished hand raising him myself. I dont reccomend this for anyone that isnt experienced with breeding birds. Having been raised by me and properly socialised with Niamh and my other birds I didnt do any work really. Niamh tought Kiva how to behave like a bird. Even down to how to do that really cute male mating dance.

My sun conures can get a little nippy at times this is not fearful biting as my suns were also hand raised by me from a few weeks old. This is rare but when it happens I put on a pair of wollen gloves and hold them, they can chomp away to their little hearts content until they get tired and realise biting does not mean they will be let go. Instead I let them go when they arent biting. If i grab them and they dont bite i let them go a few seconds later.

Birds tend to bite more when they have been clipped as their primary way of escaping fearful situations has been taken from them. No fear should mean less biting. Flighted birds are far more confident than clipped birds.

[Mikaela]

We share alot of the same ideas and I too have friendly girls.

I hear of Irns lunging and hissing? My girls have lunged but never a hiss. My goodness

[Neokireina]

I've seen it, It's a very impressive display I'd be intimidated if I was a bird. Their pupils dilate their wings open slightly their posture changes. They can growl and strike out with their beaks.

I was never the target of this behaviour well my babies do it because they are startled but once the realise it's just me they settle down. The older ringnecks only did this to other birds that get to close. Just because they do it doesnt mean they hate you. They just feel threatened or annoyed. And they dont usually bite when they strike.

[Dani03]

Wow I have never had Prinny hiss at me...then again I don't think I want to! She did lunge for a while (during bluffing) but she has pretty much kept that down to when she is really upset. Biting is not something she does and she really doesn't scream except for when she decides to squeak loudly...maybe things will get louder as she ages.

Dani and Prinny

[Melika]

That's how I tamed my budgies and I still use it. It's the quickest way for them to learn they won't get hurt sitting on your finger. When a bird lives through a situation they will be less afraid of the next time around. Same for dogs and even people.

Now that Hane knows that when he comes out of his cage he gets to spend time downstairs with new toys and new foods, I don't push him to come out of his cage. If he doesn't want to come I'll let him be. I found that if he approaches me that means he wants to come out.

Of course, I've also learned that if he doesn't want to come and I start playing with his toys (one hanging on the door) he'll come right over and hop on my finger, lol. Tricky but it works.