2006-09-11 15:34:58 · 7 answers · asked by juditutie 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
respect her space. just like humans, birds don't always want to be bothered. learn to read her body language so you'll know when she wants to interact and when she doesn't. remember, she doesn't exist to entertain you on demand. she's an intelligent, complex creature. respect her as such.
2006-09-11 16:44:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spend lots of time with her. Do the laddering, play with toys, talk, sing, dance. Just be her friend. They like games and they like to fake you out and try to get the upper hand too. Do not let her bluff you but again, you will get bit at some point. When you do get bit, handle it with patience and stay calm. African greys are very smart and they like dramatics. If she thinks your reaction is funny, she will bite or nip at you just to trigger your reaction and then get a kick out of watching you. You have to be smarter than the bird but with African greys that is sometimes difficult. lol.
2006-09-11 18:09:31 · answer #2 · answered by Vagabond 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
African Grey's need routine, not a rigid time schedule. In the wild they rely on the sun to guide them as to what to do next, such as search for food, nap, head home. They flock has their its daily routine. Your parrot needs to know that at a certain time of the day she wakes up, has breakfast. Then maybe its shower time. Next, time to play with her toys. At some scheduled time during the day you need to take her to a room where she cannot see her cage. At that time have a one on one training session. Work on her step ups and no bites. If she goes to bite you when you reach to pick her up, distract her by quickly throwing your other hand to the side so that she turns to see whats happening, at that moment press your finger against her so that she naturally steps up. Praise her, mission accomplished. The daily one on one time should last about 20 minutes. You'll be surprised how far those few minutes will take you. And yes, respect her alone time, she needs that too.
2006-09-12 02:47:27 · answer #3 · answered by professor grey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason why she nips may be because she doesn't want you to stop. I have cockatoos and they love being scratched around the head, especially the comb stince that's the one area they can't do it themselves. They nip me also to make me do when I stop.
2006-09-11 22:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just more time. Mine looks like she's going to bite, but she uses her beak to step on my arm. Try putting your arm in and say step up. Face it, you're going to get bit at some point, and yeah it hurts, but just be persistent. Another thing you can try, have a little millet spray in your hand, they love it, and if she wants it she'll have to step up. Just sit very still while she's eating it so she doesn't spook.
I had a very mean mini macaw, he never wanted out of his cage (bought him from someone,later found out I was the 5th owner of poor bird). I got bit so many times, but he finally gave in and would step on my hand. Then he'd bite me after he got on my shoulder. Give a little take a little I guess......
2006-09-11 15:57:41 · answer #5 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the Gray is young, just keep on trying. It takes a while unless you hand fed the bird from a very small chick.
Got one too. Very cool!
2006-09-11 15:37:53 · answer #6 · answered by jinx4swag 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try new things and it will get better over time. Use creative toys to distract it and just spend time w/ it.
2006-09-11 15:44:51 · answer #7 · answered by brunnette advise 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋