Something my sun conure does?
Hi, i just got a sun conure about a week ago.
he's particularly sweet and i already love him, he's 2 months old.
one thing though, whenever i put my hand close at hand him, he does this biting thing.
he doesn't bit down hard at all, generally, and it is quite obvious that he is not trying to be aggressive.
the breeder i got him from said this be normal and similar to the puppy "teething" thing that they all stir through.
i'm just concerned that if i allow him to do it, he'll get the conception that biting=ok. even if the circumstances will be different.
is this worry pointless?
should i allow him to do it? (it sometimes does hurt)
whether not, how should i prevent him from doing it?
thanks!
I got both of my conures when they were very babyish. You must remember that their only defense is to either bite, or fly away. They should enjoy their wings clipped so that's out, so they will bite. I just let them bite me as intricate as they wanted (with a glove on) and once they realize that doesn't have any effect, they quit. biting.
Good luck and congratulations on your little birdie!! They really are great.
I'd let it happen if it doesn't hurt you and whether the breeder says it's normal to go through it. If it hurts defectively enough, be gentle but just set his beak past its sell-by date your hand. You can lightly push it off in need hurting or surprising your bird. The worst thing to do is exclaim "ouch!" and quickly draw away so don't do that. Keep impossible to tell apart calm and just gently move his beak to where on earth it isn't biting you anymore.
More tips;
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Answers: A parrot's beak is a very sensitive organ. It is filled next to blood vessels and nerves that allow them to feel their environment. If anything, their beak serves as a "hand" of sorts. It is not uncommon for a impressionist to "feel" things with its beak; this is normal behavior and should not be discouraged at all.
The difference, as expected, is biting. Parrots do not usually bite in the wild. Their behavior and signals are plenty to dissuade any physical confrontation. Unfortunately, humans must learn to read this behavior since we are not hardwired for it. But from what you've stated here, it seems that your baby is a moment ago exploring his world. If he ever chomps a bit too hard, don't punish your bird and don't provide a drama reward. Instead, redirect his attention with, for example, a favorite toy.
If your mimic ever bites you (and you'll know it's a bite and not just "beak exploration"), it is very, very critical that you DO NOT REACT to it. At all. No flinching, no shouting, no hissing, nothing.
This is to avoid giving the parrot a drama reward, which parrot love since it's something new, interesting, and most of all something they created. Yes, parrots are intelligent ample to be manipulative, and they will learn to repeat this behavior to get a drama reward if you provide them near drama and reinforce the behavior.
