I recently started caring for my cousins quaker and i'm trying to get him used to me and train him to step up instead of biting.
Every time I put my hand in his cage he immediately goes for the bite, I decided to just let him come out on his own when he felt comfortable, He would climb on top of his cage and then step-up no problem.
But recently it seems like hes gotten fearful of my hands, he goes to bite even when hes on top of his cage. I feel he may have become overly territorial of his spot on top of the cage now as well because he has no problem stepping up if he leaves his cage altogether.

Any advice on how to make my little Quaker buddy trust me more and not want to dismember me at the sight of my hands?

I have a couple green cheek conures. I know sometimes parrots can get cage aggressive and will bite and attack anyone that messes with thier cage. Only thing that works is to get them off and away from thier cage and sometimes that helps them calm down. Also if he is new to you it will take time for him to gain and build trust. Im talking weeks even sometimes months. Just gotta be patient and keep working with him.


My feathered friends


This post was edited by PrimeOs on Apr 15 2016 12:21am

Very nice friends you have there! Maybe I'll toss up a picture of Ludwig up soon!

Any advice on how to handle him properly? What should I do when he gets in one of his bitey moods? What's the best way to soothe a feathered temper tantrum?

I know with my conures if they get really grumpy sometime i leave them out on their own to do thier own things it will them get use to new surroundings. Which in turn will help them calm down. Also rearrange his cage now and again and get new toys it will help curb the cage aggression. If hes being bitey on his cage use a perch to get him to step up on and move him to a neutral area. He dosent need to be standing on you try sittinn next to him and try talking and spending time with him. It will just take time for him to get to know you and that your a friend. If you have a facebook looking for some of the parrot groups some have really good information. Bigest thing is small steps and patients.

Problem is that most birds once bonded will become a 1 person bird and only like that individual. Depending on how long he had that bird it may never happen and if it does will take a long time. Just try being around it more also talking to it often.only thing you can do is be patient and not force affection on the bird. Also try using treats like millet or certain fruits/veggies.everytime he steps up he gets a treat.

Gl

Time definitely helps ! Me and Ludwig have bonded a lot the last month or so! He's been super comfortable around me and has no problem stepping up at all any more but now he's starting to pluck all my hairs! Whether it's from my head my face or arms it doesn't matter he yanks em right out! Anybody have any idea on how I can get him to stop doing this?

Get over your fear of being bitten. I have an African grey, umbrella cockatoo, military macaw and a pineapple green cheek conure. If you pull away whenever they try to bite you they learn quick that that's what they need to do to make you go away. I taught my bigger birds to be picked up by their beaks, I reach down and they gently grab my finger with their beak and I pick them up.



He's preening you, it can be uncomfortable but its his way of bonding with you, I wouldn't discourage it. My green cheek loves to do this with hairs I swear are barely poking out of my face lol.

This post was edited by mervin311 on Jun 6 2016 01:34pm

I'm not afraid of this little guy at all! He was nervous when we first met but now that we've become a little more aquatinted we've become great friends he playfully preens me all day but sometimes he does get a little overzealous and plucks out one of the hairs on the back of my head or the stubble on my face and it's a little irritating although he does mean well I was wondering if there was a way to get him to stop plucking!

Usually just putting them back on cage when they have a behavior you don't like does the trick, if he wants to stick around you he'll learn to stop plucking. Could always make a shirt with like a thousand buttons lol, they all seem to love to destroy buttons.

This post was edited by mervin311 on Jun 11 2016 11:16pm