Biting Grey

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a 15 month old African Grey, whom I absolutely adore, however, he has suddenly starting biting me VERY HARD!!  I am becoming scared to pick him up!  He has always been super sweet and loving and all of a sudden this has started... I am not sure what to do?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in Advance
ANSWER: This isn't unusual, but the causes could be absolutely any number of things.
Sometimes it's as simple as he likes your reaction! One of the most important things we advise anyone attempting to handle a parrot - whether they know the bird or not - is to never show 'fear'. A bird picks up quickly on the power they have, or think they have over us.

I let a big macaw completely rule me for a week when she first came to my rescue for rehabbing. She tore me up! I've still got scars and I've still got the macaw. We ended up bonding and she's a  permanent resident now.

Other reasons may be that something frightened him. It doesn't have to be associated with you personally. Birds often bite whatever or WHOEVER is in the immediate vicinity when they become frightened.

Try to think back and remember what was going on when this first started. Who else was around? What sounds were there?

Right now he's probably doing it because you're showing the reactions you are.  

Let me know what you can remember and more details about how he's housed, how often is he out of cage and what is his (and your) typical day like?

www.geocities.com/animalrelief_info  (see us by copying and pasting this into your address bar)



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well first off thank you so much for getting back so quickly!!!  Lets see now... I call him a "he" but am not sure if we have male or female... Usually he is out of the cage most of the day, unless of course I leave the house.  This all started so suddenly and at first I thought it was just an isolated incident but then he did it again at night.  He wakes up and I make him breakfast then he plays on his gym with occasional romps with me on the furniture... he loves to stand on the back of my chair when I am watching TV!!  The past week he has been regurgitating for me alot too?!?!  I have read this is a huge compliment for a bird, but I am fairly new and there is sooo much information, some of it contradictory!  Then we have a night ritual where the TV goes off and all but one small light stays on and I sing to him and he cuddles into my chest and lets me pet him... well tonight was the first night he wanted NOTHING to do with it!!  I hope it was just an isolated incident!?  He has lots of toys and is very rarely scared of new toys or anything else for that matter... he takes to things very easily except for people... he only lets me pick him up.  When it happened I yelled at him (it was my first reaction) then he bit me again!!  However once he calmed down I was able to make him step off my arm and put him in his cage with no problems... I am so very upset over this, I hope I am just jumping the gun here.  Again thank you for such a speedy reply.  If there is anything else I can tell you, please don't hesitate to ask!

Answer
it sounds like you're doing ALL the right things, so this relationship can be saved with some re-training of the human ;)
 Yes, regurgitating to you is a compliment - it means you're accepted as their mate or chick or 'significant other'. It's not to be encouraged, but never discipline for it. I'll see it coming and abruptly stop my interaction with the bird, change my tone and say "that's not necessary" - then I'll walk away or turn away - the bird stops and I resume interacting.  
 I have one macaw that can sneak a regurgitation without much head bobbing - suddenly it's just there!  I'll turn away and give her a chance to have it herself (they often re-eat it).
  One warning though: Sometimes this is a symptom of a yeast infection or other crop disorder. If you believe it's happening too often, a vet check is necessary - and early treatment is usually by far the least expensive and most successful.

 Given that your bird is so young - it would be unusual for this to be onset of sexual maturity, but then - it could be this nonetheless.  Parrots get "beaky" with their loved ones and since one beak 'biting' another beak is nothing like a beak going after skin - the birds don't know the amount of pressure that's acceptable.  

You can teach him with 'earthquakes' rather than yelling, which may be perceived as positive interaction (considering that they squawk like they do).  When a bird bites, drop your arm well below your eye level with one sudden movement (careful not to displace or unbalance the bird) and shake a bit until the bite stops (you may also have to bite your tongue at the same time). He'll stop and you can praise him for it.

Be careful about putting him back in his cage whenever he bites - it might just become his way of telling you he wants to go back in.  

Birds need to know that they aren't in control of when they're in or out of cage, otherwise it will be too easy for them to become 'cage bound'.  This happens a lot when owners get afraid of touching their birds and would just as soon leave them inside.  Many of our calls to assist are to simply take birds out of cages in order to get them to a vet!  Some birds haven't been out of the cage in YEARS!

 A play top is fine just as long as he comes down without protest every time you reach or call for him. If it ever becomes a problem, no more play top.  We don't use play tops here, but use boingy perches (spiral perches) hung from the ceiling - I think I've got pics at our site so you can see some options.

 www.geocities.com/animalrelief_info


Check the site out and let me know whatever else I can help with.  Don't be upset - you're doing the right things and so is your bird!  You've just got to stay a step ahead of him :)