Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!netcom!stratus!cloud9!mm
From: mm@cloud9.Stratus.COM (Mike Mahler)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR Biting Conure
Message-ID: <9978@cloud9.Stratus.COM>
Date: 8 Dec 89 19:24:47 GMT
References: <4950001@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM> <1612@intercon.com>
Organization: Stratus
Lines: 18

In article <1612@intercon.com>, ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry) writes:
> If the bird bites you when he's on your hand, bringing your hand down
> in a stunted karate chop motion (with the bird still on it) will teach
> him that his biting causes an earthquake where he is quite unsafe.
> Sounds silly, but it's a proven training technique.

     It doesn't sound silly but it does sound particular (in that
     it may not work with all birds).  Although I know some people
     reccomend this method, it isn't very good if the bird is
     unclipped (and many conures are not AND they are almost as
     adept at flying clipped as cockatiels) since the bird might
     take flight and head for a window in a startled state.  

     The type of bird must be taken into account here.  Conures
     are "nippers" and this one is at "that age".  Some of it is
     beyond the birds control.  Sometimes you can tell when the bird
     is in a biting mood and not touch it.  It will learn that you
     will only play with it when it doesn't nip.  --