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From: steveg@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM (Steve Grant)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: INDOOR Biting Conure
Message-ID: <4950001@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM>
Date: 6 Dec 89 20:56:36 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon
Lines: 17

I am looking for some advice on how to deal with my pet Conure who has
decided to start biting. He (or she?) is about 6 mo. old and was a hand 
fed baby. Until recently he has been the perfect bird. Never bit me
hard, likes to snuggle up to me, and is very friendly. We spend a lot of
time together and I have tried to be consistent in my training. But now
he has started biting me occasionally. These are not nibbles that I am 
worried about, he bites HARD! Usually he does it when he wants something
(like my food or the cards in my hand), but at other times I see no reason
at all for his actions. I usually react with an abrupt movement (it hurts),
followed by "NO! Bad bird .....", then off to a cage in the back room.
   So far I can see no positive results from my scolding. If anything, I
think I am making him less trusting of me. What should I do? I have tried
to find info in books but they seem to skip the issue. I want to maintain
the friendship that I have with him but I can't keep letting him hurt me
like this. 
  Also, can anyone recommend a GOOD book on keeping indoor birds? I have
looked but am not satisfied with what I have found.