Biting Parrot

[Scubaboy]

We have purchased an African Grey parrot about 6 months ago now, the parrot has bonded with myself but will not bond withanyone else and will not think twice about biting them hard, my wife and boys are upset about this because we all wish to be around it but the bird will not behave around everyone else but myself. does anyone know of a way to stop the Parrot biting. We are willing to learn, but the parrrot is making it difficult to work with.

[wildwood]

This is easily fixed but will takes some doing and work on your part. Greys are strongly bonded and often make lifelong commitments. The parrot thinks that it is your mate and won't allow anyone to steal the affections of its mate. You now need to teach it that it is in a community situation and has to get along with others, as it would in nature. Non-breeding A-Greys form flocks, this makes it easier to find food and many eyes make for an early predator warning system.

The first thing you must do is keep the cage well below eye-level, and do not allow the parrot out when there are people other than your goodself in the room. Get other people to feed it when you are around, if it ignores others or tries to bite them through the wire, put a cover over it and ignore it. Any screeching is always followed up by removing the cage to an empty room. Never allow the bird on your or anyone's shoulder, this gives it a feeling of being in control.

Do some googling on parrot training. There are many good experienced trainers who are willing to share their knowledge. This is not going to change overnight but is definitely easily fixable with dogmatic and strict training.

[fairkatrina]

A word of warning, it can take parrots years to ever bond with others, I've had mine for four years and I can just about stroke her but she still occasionally bites. If your family are feeling brave then as the bird becomes slightly friendlier tell them to try not to pull away if she (I assume from the fact that it has bonded with a male first that it is a female bird) bites, as often they are 'testing the water' and if you show no fear they will reciprocate and not bite very hard. However, this takes nerves of steel!

[MelonCoops]

I rescued an African Grey nearly 2 years ago who is now aged 9. She was very very difficult in the beginning but with a lot of love, care and attention she has stopped biting is now very loving and is extremely funny with her antics! Stick with it!