Babysitting a Meyers Parrot with a biting "problem".

[toby]

I em taking care of this bird while the owner is on vacation. Taco is a very loving bird but sometimes
he bites me so I em bleeding. It looks like this is a natural behaviour for him.
I´v tryed to ignore it, but its not easy to ignore when blood is runnning.
Any suggestion on how to respond to biting or how to solve the problem?

Here is Taco. He is looking so evil on this picture that I must post two pictures.



He is really a kind bird. I guess that it is us, the owners (as always) that is the reason for our birds "bad behavior"

[CJ]

Biting is one of the hardest things to understand with our smart friends. My perfect Novie bites "only" when she isn't happy about something I've done or didn't seek her approval on a change first. She gives one quick bite and then looks at me like I know what I did. Calle has never bitten me .... yet.
It could be that Taco is getting a reaction from you and he enjoys the interaction of you holding your finger and cussing. LOL! Like when they want attention they don't care if its good or bad attention as long as its attention.
One of my tiels is a biter but he came here with a suitcase full of problems and I know why he bites. He bites because he is angry at life and was ignored for a long time. I respect him and when he does bite I don't react but I show him the blood and talk to him about it. He hasn't bitten me in a long time now but he will bite anyone else that comes close.
Its could be that Taco is frustrated that his folks went on vacation and left him. I'm not saying that you aren't taking great care of him because I know you and have seen the facebook videos but that doesn't mean Taco isn't angry and is just lashing out about it. We can't sit them down and explain things to them so we have to understand what they are telling us by their actions. The next time Taco bites sit with him and talk comforting to him and show him the blood he caused you.

Is there a certain time he bites more? Like in the morning when he expects to wake up and be in his home or at night when he is tired and grumpy? Is there a certain color you are wearing that he doesn't like? A person can't wear black at all in my house. Try to pin point whats going on first.

Great pics as always and those red eyes do make him look a little weird...  LOL!

[CJ]

Could he be reacting to the tiels???  Maybe jealous of them???

[toby]

Thanks for the answer, CJ.
First, I dont think the tiels have something to do with this. He does not care about the tiels.
When they come to close, he strikes at them with his beak.
I em aware that a shout (from me) when I em bitten, can be a reward for him. So I try not to say anything. :P (thats hard) :)
I have ignored it so far. Must say that he has improved a lot. In the beginning he bit me every time I put my finger through
the bars on his cage. Now, he does not do that any more. I just let him finish his biting and continued to scratch his neck, so now
he knows that the finger through the bars, means a scrathch.
It took a drop of blood but it worked.
I think he bites when he does not get attention and when he is insecure. . When he sits on my shoulder, I must keep an eye on him and give him attention.
He has bitten me twice in my ear and it hurts like hell. I put my attention towards something else and he didnt like it an bitt my ear.
I dont think it has to do with his owner is on vacation either. He seems to thrive here and his flying skills has improved a lot.
The owner lived alone with this bird, so I think its a big change for Taco to come togheter with other birds.
I think he bites when he gets insecure about somehing. And when he is grumpy. Last night when he was about to perch for the night,
I put my finger in the cage to scratch him. Shouldnt have done that. :)
The colors of my clothing does not seems to bother  him.
Well, as I said, he has improved a lot. If he (when he) bites me again, I will talk to him about it. :) (do you really think talking
abot it helps) :)

[CJ]

Yes, I think talking about it helps because they understand the emotion in our voice if not the words. You know they love to please us and if they don't they will correct the actions.

[toby]

Yes I understand. Some birdowners call it "to put your most evil look at the bird". :)

[CJ]

I don't do an evil eye but I talk to mine like you would talk to a child.

[toby]

I will try that without the evil eye.

[YICKelly]

I have no more to add to what CJ has said.  Except I know that first look well!! It is just the same way my Sun looks before he attacks me.  I have a sore ear almost all th time anymore.  It is not fun, but it doesn't stop my love for him.  I hope your visitor will improve.   How long will he be with you?

[toby]

Hi Kelly. .)
Sorry about your ear.  It is really a bad habit.
Yes, taco has improved but he bit me hard today again.
I guess building a trustful relationship with this bird takes time.
Owner was to be away on vacation for two month. Its been one month now.
So taco will stay here for another month. :)