Ask Lafeber

Older Rehomed Conure Biting

Hi, I have rehomed a conure from a family member who was looking after him initially for only a few weeks whilst the owner was doing exams however that turned into 10+ years. The conure never really got the attention he needed a d was kept in a cage that was too small iny opinion. The previous keeper who I rehomed him from tried to get him to be hand tame but wasn’t very consistent or confident with him and would make a big deal of being bitten which I believe has caused him to see biting a s a fun game and is now a habit.

We have had him for about a week and he loves our attention and wants to be near me all the time when in his new (much bigger) cage however he will still bite very hard if hands are too close and will charge hands to bite them when doing anything in the cage such as cleaning or tidying it up.

I have provided a few videos to show his behaviour a little.

Hi,

Unfortunately, you are doing a great job of teaching him to bite! Never offer up your fingers or hand to a bird through the cage bars. The cage is his home, and even the tamest bird will bite in this situation. Letting him bite you, and then pulling away and saying Ow, is a wonderful and entertaining game for him! This is encouraging biting. You need to go back to basics, and learn abut behavior as well as the correct way to work with him. What you are doing will undo any progress you may have made. He isn’t showing curiosity, he is showing aggression and hoping you get closer so he can get a really good bite in and make you understand you are invading his space. When he bites the cage bars, this is frustration that he can’t get to the finger that is annoying him. Please read the below links and also watch our webinar on Green Cheek Conures and you will be able to make some positive progress with him.

Pet Bird and Parrot Behavior

Teaching Your Bird

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda