I've had my tiel 7-8 months; he used to be very sweet. He loved to sit on fingers, knees, etc. while we rubbed/scratched at his head & neck. He also loves us cleaning off his head/neck feathers when molting.
Near Halloween he discovered my feet. I prop them up, he climbs down & starts whistling to them, singing to them, exploring them, tapping them, etc. I understand this is similar to mating-like behavior. Now, if I get up and walk around the house, he follows me -- he even flies to my shoulder if I go up the stairs, or into the kitchen or other tiled areas. It's great.
BUT, about the same time, he started biting me -- HARD. He often draws blood. He does it most often when he's been near/around my feet. If I offer him my finger to step up (usually to put in cage to poop -- he's mostly trained), he runs at it and bites. If he is on the floor following me, same thing. He just bit my wrist, drawing blood and leaving a welt. I've tried to be patient, but it's been 2 months now. HELP!
2006-12-23 13:03:20 · 8 answers · asked by Ben 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
I have suspected that he views my feet as a mate, and is trying to protect them, but I don't know what to do to get him to stop. It is starting to get very annoying -- and painful -- and I sometimes get frustrated with him now for doing it, and I know he is only a bird and doesn't have the same capacities we do, but I don't like being mad at my bird and I want him to be friendly again. What can I do?
2006-12-23 13:05:15 · update #1
This may sound silly, but it works with certain birds, and other animals, they sell novelty socks, and craft items, some have animals on them, or "eyes" you can also purchace craft eyes and hot glue them onto your socks so they seem like another animal, and scare him away from your feet. Simple and it just may work.. plus its no put out to you, they're just socks on your feet! :) Goodluck!
2006-12-23 13:13:57 · answer #1 · answered by code_blue_girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a cockatiel and he is 18 years old he also did the same thing to me but it was my ear. He would not bite me anywhere else. So after time i got him a friend a second tiel and had him on my shoulder and he did not bite my ear so i would give him treats but not the other when tried to bite. then over time he learned to take the treat instead of my ear and has not bitten me in 15 years. The second tiel i got for him has passed away several years ago and he still learned not to bite it worked for me good luck
2006-12-23 13:35:14 · answer #2 · answered by roeman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if he does love your toes, you still need to establish dominance while he works through his fetish!
Three things that might help...
1. Clip his wings. Birds with full wings can get cocky. If they can't fly, they are much more dependent on you to get them where they want to go and are more likely to play nice.
2. I know this one is hard, but get him off your shoulder. The shoulder is a dominant position that makes the bird feel in control. Keep the bird at or below your chest at all times.
3. Try re-positioning the bird's cage. If you have the cage high in the room, lowering it can help. I had a quaker that I literally had to put on the floor (safe from drafts) in order to keep the dominance factor under control.
2006-12-23 21:54:56 · answer #3 · answered by Marc 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cockatiels have a big reputation for this! They date people-feet. I'm going to give you the link to a bird community I belong to. Post your story here and talk to these guys about tiels flirting with feet. One of them is talking about it all the time. You're going to have to take away his foot time. They're leading him on ^_^
http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=29
2006-12-23 13:58:32 · answer #4 · answered by Em 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aw I'm sorry my bird sortof did the same thing before.He never drew blood though. Anyway, maybe try wearing some new slippers or shoes are something. It might confuse him into thinking "his mate" is gone? lol Sorry that's all I can think of
2006-12-23 14:03:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bye him a mate or cut off you feet one of the two. Mabe he is a bird by day and vampire by night... jk
2006-12-27 09:47:50 · answer #6 · answered by Angel M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cover your feet so your bird can not see them, and maybe the bird will stop attacking your feet.get a profecinal helper to help like a bird trainer, maby he needs to be trained again or needs help with its temper the, why it sounds your bird might have a temper problem.
2006-12-23 14:56:00 · answer #7 · answered by cheche 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your birdie has a foot fetish. lol.
2006-12-23 13:11:44 · answer #8 · answered by Philip Kiriakis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋