how do i get my african grey to stop attacking me?

Answer 1

These birds are extremely intelligent and will remember mistreatment for ever, even if not by you.

You will have to regain or gain its trust - I did this by very regular handling and with treat bribes. And the magic Budweiser Beer, which my grey loves when he is allowed it. It seemed to make him a little more amiable! Not too much and I certainly do not condone cruelty of any kind - no Monty Python Sketches please!

Sit on the floor by his cage for a few days. Talk to him quietly and offer bribes galore. He will be very curious at what you have to offer, especially if you change the treats. (Mine love bread and butter, chips, tomato, pineapple, cranberries, grapes and chocolate). Once he is taking these very small pieces from you, open up his cage and get him to come to the door. It will not be long before you are able to get him to come on to your hand. If you feel the need to wear gloves, then fine, but at some point you are going to have to go 'bareback'! Its a trust thing, plain and simple. Some birds will have been badly handled but I don't think there is a bird out there that can't be pulled round with the right treatment and an absolute stack of patience. This won't happen in a week, but please don't give up. Take it nice and slow. You will be repaid hundreds of times over when you see what a character your bird can develop into given the right love and care.

A small tip - If he spins himself upside down and offers his neck to your waggling fingers, (if you can get your fingers in) its a good sign. I'd try to be getting him to do this quite often before moving on to door opening/handling. A bird offering his neck in this way is gaining trust in you.

Birds will often 'latch' and will behave totally differently with different members of the family. Our macaw adores me and I can do anything with him but will not have much to do with anyone else. The grey will only go to me and my son and will take chunks out of my partners hands rather than go to him. Odd. but there you go! You may have to accept that your partner is going to get more out of this bird than you ever can.

Have you had your bird from a black eyed baby or from a pet shop, or private purchase? All can be deciding factors on your birds behaviour.

Get the trust thing going and lots of luck in your 'Project'. BE PATIENT and DONT GIVE UP!

Good advice too Zawni! Perhaps I should have made clear about the chocolate.Chocolate is indeed poisonous to many types of animal. I actually mean drinking chocolate - and a very rare sip at that...I buy the delicious Mint Aero ones and generally, they are MINE ALL MINE. Jester will have a sip now and again - when he can get me in a headlock! Everything in moderation!

Answer 2

Okay...

Im not sure where to start. Most of these answers arent worth reading.

You should never hit an animal, animals are like children and need patience and understanding along with positive training to get them to do the things you want them to do. Hitting an animal for any reason is abuse/neglect and anyone who hits an animal doesn't deserve to have one.

Next...You do not want to get a second bird as company for your bird. It will only encourage the aggresive behaviour as the bird will more than likely start bonding with the new bird as opposed to you.

Now...On to answer your question. There are a lot of unknowns here. How long have you had this bird? Approximate age of the bird? Are you having any other problems with the bird, such as plucking or anything else? Is this a new problem or an existing problem?

Birds in the wild do not bite, that is a behaviour that has started with birds in captivity. Right now your bird has or is establishing that he is top of the flock. You have to teach your bird that you are top of the flock. A few things that can help you do this are, never allow your bird on your shoulder. Shoulder birds tend to be biters, and feel as if they are top of the flock because they are higher than you. In the wild birds will try and get on the highest branch to show dominance over the rest of the flock. Do not allow your bird on the top of his cage if he is higher than you, for the same reason.

Do not pull back when your bird is trying to bite push in with your hand instead, pulling back only encourages his biting and it can/will become a game to him. If he sees that you will go away by him biting he will continue to do it. Try doing some "step up" time with him in 5 to 10 minute intervals away from his cage in an area he does not usually go in to. A bathroom is a good place for this training time or a spare bedroom he doesnt usually go in. Use two perches for this in the begining and have him step up from one perch to another. Praise him everytime he steps up on first command. If he does not "step up" give his perch that he is sitting on a lil shake (not a hard shake, just a lil shake) something to get him a little off balance and then firmly ask him to step up again on to the other perch. Every time he acts out with biting give him the lil shake, and then take him to go do "step ups". You can also do some positive reinforcement with this by giving him a tiny peice of his favorite treat each time he does what you ask him to do.

You just have to have patience, and try and make yourself top of the flock. I had a quaker that was a rescue and abused that did the same thing. I cannot even tell you how many chunks of my skin he took off, but I refused to give in and I used the lil shake and step up method and it worked really well.

Good Luck hon

Good Advice Indy..the only thing I would object highly too is the chocolate comment. Chocolate is poison to your bird as well as any other animals. NEVER feed your bird or any other animal chocolate please.

Answer 3

i am an ethologist (animal psychologist) in training and so i have had to learn about parrot problem behaviours. this is the major one. first make sure its on exactly the right diet, the major mistake of almost every parrot owner including the college i study at. they have just recently been told parrot feed should not have a lot of seed in it, if your food has try asking around for parrot pellets.

second a parrot reared by humans will transfer its natural behaviour onto them and so it may be seeing you as competition for a mate. i have been attacked by several parrots due to this behaviour alone. thirdly it may just not like you. if this eventually proves itself to be the answer then spend more time sitting next to the cage. forced proximity will eventually force the bird to accept you're here to stay.

after it relents (depending on the species this may take anywhere between 1-5 years) let it out with some treats out as a distraction and where something with a tough hood. it will learn it can get at you if you react to its attacks. each time it is out increase the length of time it is out, eventually it should accept you as family.

Answer 4

First of all, if you are both the same gender, your bird will be prone to attacking you no matter what.
After looking at the website, maybe a little hard work and time will put an end to the destruction. Consult your vet. Maybe get a companion of the opposite sex to calm your birdie down. Everybody can benefit from a little love in their life.
Good luck.

Answer 5

Try taming it. All the answers above are crap.

Well, my cat tackles me. I usually go, "BAD! Panda! Bad!" and i slap him. He runs off. I did this a little when he was scratching the couch. He kept scratching, and i slap him every time he does it. After about 4 times, in about a week, he stops doing it.

I guess you need to teach your dog discipline. If he's those, "RUFF RUFF! MASTER I WUBB YOUUU OZMOGMOGMOAM" Well.. Try feeding him a treat every time he doesnt do it.. Or just try my technique.

AHAHAHA, SORRY IF ITS NOT A DOG

I dont even know what an "Africen Grey" is ;P

Whatever the case, try mine... If you can X_X

EDIT : Oh, sorry.

I had a feeling it was a bird. I guess keep it in the cage. Dont let it out. When it attacks you, take it and, iunno, snap your fingers beside it. Dont hurt it though D; Snap fingers meaning, when you scream in someones ear. Just startle it a bit with sound. If that doesnt work, well i have no idea. I'm not a bird keeper ;(

Answer 6

My bird... haha sorry, my african grey always attacked men... which i admit was often a good thing... but do you find it does this to every one or just you??? they are stange but beautiful birds... they need alot of patience...

perhaps you should stay away from him a bit... watch him... sus him out... see what and who he likes or dislikes...

good luck... hes worth it!

Answer 7

Set it free

Answer 8

ARE YOU NICE TO IT? DO YOU FEED IT ENOUGH? TRY PLAYING WITH IT WITH A BIRD TOY? PUT IT ON YOUR SHOULDER AND WALK IN THE PARK OR ANY WERE OUTSIDE?

Answer 9

Give it to your next door neighbour

Answer 10

Pull it`s head off !