Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!usc!snorkelwacker!spdcc!ima!cfisun!susans
From: susans@cfi.COM (susans)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR Biting Conure
Message-ID: <718@cfiprod.UUCP>
Date: 8 Dec 89 12:47:35 GMT
References: <4950001@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM>
Reply-To: susans@cfiprod.UUCP (Susan Scheide -CFI-)
Organization: Consumer Financial Institute, Waltham, Mass.
Lines: 35

In article <4950001@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM> steveg@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM (Steve Grant) writes:
>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. 

	There's a letter in December "Bird Talk" describing this
	sort of thing.  The editors claim that this is the age
	when handfeds start to nibble.  I imagine he's just checking
	you out.
>I usually react with an abrupt movement (it hurts),
>followed by "NO! Bad bird .....", then off to a cage in the back room.

	I read that if you ALWAYS react to a bite in the same way,
	you are inadvertantly training the bird to bite you to achieve
	a result.  For example, your conure gets tired of you and
	wants his cage, so he bites you, knowing you'll put him away.

	I am troubled by a biting cockatiel (3 years old) and he
	has me at my wit's end, so please send me a summary of 
	advice!

>  Also, can anyone recommend a GOOD book on keeping indoor birds? I have
>looked but am not satisfied with what I have found.

	I've enjoyed "The Pet Bird Handbook" by Patricia Sutherland.
	I ordered it through "American Cage Bird" magazine.

	I also enjoy "Bird Talk" magazine.  It isn't as technical as
	ACB mag. and has more advice I can relate to.


-- 
                        Susan S. (susans@cfi.com)

                        Another Friend of Bill's