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Last week Paco attacked our grandson and bit him on the hand, drawing blood. It's my fault because Paco kept coming down off his gym and I thought he wanted to play with the little toddler. He seemed in a playful mood, but obviously had biting on his mind.

Yesterday, our grandson was over at the house again, and I held Paco on my hand. All seemed fine, until our grandson walked by us, and then Paco bit me. Drew blood.

This morning I took Paco from his cage and happened to have my new cell phone in my other hand. When I somehow got the phone close to Paco, I think just shifting things I was holding, WOW--he got alarmed for some reason and bit me again, drawing blood.

Three hard vicious bites in 1 week.

He's about 7 years old and otherwise is a good bird, but awfully possessive and demanding of my attention. He talks all the time.

A sensible thing would be a trip to the Vet to have the "dagger" at the end of his beak rounded off a bit. I suppose I dare not try that myself.

Is this some nutty demon phase of his maturing process? What's the deal here?

I know what you mean. We have a sign on our caique cage that says "Beware of Attack Parrot". Strangers and being startled by something can both be bite-inducing. Also hormones. Watch for pinning eyes to know when to avoid getting too close.

Hey

Yeah, Cisco most certainly has people that he does not like and will go all out to try to get to them and deliver his own brand of punishment. We usually know who and what sets him off and he gives us all sorts of behavior signs. Pinning eyes, fanning tail, pushing his beak on the floor or bottom of his cage. He has NEVER taken out his frustration on my wife or myself. To this day he has only bitten my wife once in a very bizarre situation and although he gets pissed at me sometimes he never bite hard enough to wound me. We DO take him to the vet twice a year to have his wings done and she also blunts his beak a little. He seems to sharpen it up good on his toys so that certrainly helps to take some pain off the bite. Ask your vet next time you take him in to do that for you.

Freddy

I have noticed that one of my female caiques gets irratated or jumpy about quicker movements this last 6 months. I wondered if it is hormones ??? She is about 8. Sometimes when I try to pick her up she squeals that caique temper tantrum noise and if I continued I would get nailed. I am not sure if she is just day drreaming and it startles her or what the problem is. If I need to get her I just use a cholla perch. She has a mind of her own and seems to think she makes the decisions. ha ha Usually if I talk baby talk to her then she is ok.

One of my other caiques gets quite the "ice pick point" on his beak. I just use a nail file - the paper kind - and file down the tip. It helps to protect his skin also, as he is my plucker and nervous boy.

Yankee has only bitten me twice and both times it was my fault. I must have an unusual caique, because so far, at 4, he has been a real gem! Our only problem is that he calls for me when he can't see me and that can get a little nerve racking. I know that he doesn't like any other people, so he just has to stay in his cage when I have company.

Hi:

My BHC, Jessie will also give me a good pinch if something, like our dog gets to close to me. She will also sometimes squeel like a piglet if she does not want to come out of her cage. Sometimes she makes the rules, and I must pay careful attention to her signals. She will sit on her T- stand at night and I give her treats, which she will eat and then drop the left overs to the bottom of the stand. Then cry for more treats. If I pick up one of the dropped pieces and offer it back to her she will give my hand a pinch and screech. I then have to get a fresh piece and that she will take. She seems to be a little more crabby lately and I wonder if it has something to do with the seasons changing?

Karen

Aren't they such funny birds...sometimes mine do that piggy squeal at me if they are eating something and I get too close. Like they think I am going to steal it from them. ha ha And Peanut has been doing that occassionally when I go to get her out of her cage. I think she is day dreaming or something - so I just go away and give her a couple minutes to get over it and then she is fine. But I guess reading them is the most important part of having birds and trying to understand what causes certain behavior.

Peanut is the smallest of all my caiques and she loves to go with me in the car. Yesterday my daughter needed a ride to get her car at the rrepair shop. So I grabbed Peanut to let her come along. My daughter kept getting scared that she was going to come get her - imagine this little bit of a bird - about 140 grams - but every time she would even lean over toward her she would say "she's coming to get me". Ha ha - and my daughter is 43 years old. In her defense however, Peanut does chase her feet when she comes over and is on a mission to get her. Silly birds.

Oh Yes - typical Caique behavior. Cisco is food possevise as well. I get that piggy squeel and warning growls when he is eating with me. He will also puff out his pantaloons - makes him look big and mean !!! If I try to move his banana or take a napkin from him. He just gets so pissed !!!! I try to hide my laugh and just do what I need to do. Cisco will wack at my hand with his beak or even grab my finger but he does not bite. They (I think) aware of the bite they posess and will only use it when necessary or if they are "trained" too.

Freddy

Yes, my BHC is aware of the bite. She will often just grab my finger as well, with out giving me a hard bite, just a little pinch and I take that as a warning to stop whatever is bothering her. She will also grab my finger with her beak and just hold me. She is also like a dog with a bone about her food. I know not to get to close to her when she is enjoying something. She also puffs up her yellow feathers around her head and gives me that squeel. I have not gotten a hard bite from her yet and she is now 4 1/2 years old. I think part of that is that I am carefull about reading her signals. A BHC is a creature that we must respect. They will not bend to our will, however when she cuddles with me, she melts my heart.

Karen

Yeah Karen

Stubborn is their middle name. Cisco will get something in his head and just REPEATEDLY go after it. The other day I was at the desk on the computer and Cisco decided to fly over and see what I was doing. When he landed on the desk (after he skidded to a halt and said hello) he decided that the clock cord needed remodeling. I grabbed him, looked him in the eye, told him no and and put him back down. Predictable result? Oh yeah, right back to the cord. So I tossed him toward his house (this is across the room, about 15 feet) he flew over, landed and launched back to the desk and back after the cord. This was repeated about a dozen times. He was pooped and hot when his Dad finally gave up and put the clock away. So what does he do? He rolls over on his back and entices me into a game of tickle toe. They are ball of almost unending energy, and yes, when it is snuggle time they do that with all their effort, too. And it will melt you, yes it will.

Freddy