Expert: Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott - 11/10/2009

Question
I just got my Ringneck Parakeet a few weeks ago, he has been hand fed, very tame, loves to be pet, will fly to my hand on command etc..
he has good bird food, eating a healthy diet of fruits and veggies, eating normal, and drinking normal, active, and likes to be handled...
i get him out of his large cage and the first thing he will try to do is sit on my shoulder. Dex is very obsessive over that. I don't mind if he is on my shoulder but he eats my hair and bits my ear. I try to  have him step-up onto my finger so i can tell him no and let him sit in his cage for few minutes before going back ( happy. ) he attacks me instead. He will bit, clinch down and will not let go! I have many cuts from him, so lately I have been forbidding him to be on my shoulder. when he gets upset about me not letting him go any higher then my elbow he will find my hand and bit me extremely hard. If I don't let him get to my hand (by hiding it under my sweatshirt) then he will chew on my sweatshirt and leaves holes. i would LOVE to handle him but he eats everything. (I still handle him often) how do I get him to let go when he is bitting me without hearting him? I have tried putting pressure on his beak.. doesn't work..i have tried blowing on him..notta..I have to pry him off and I am fed up with it. help me please!

P.S- why do his eyes dilate so rapidly? do they mean fear, or anger?  

Answer
The first thing I'd suggest is providing a "sleep cage" .   It doesn't have to be a big cage, just one with a single perch (preferably a rope perch which is easy on his feet and legs), a source of water and a small amount of food.   It should be in a quiet area, preferably with low light, but you'll be covering it anyway so the lighting isn't vital.  

  If you can't do the sleep cage, at least establish a routine that includes covering at night.  If you typically start your day at 8 a.m., put your companion  to bed around 8 p.m. during spring/summer, and as early as 6 or 7 p.m. in fall/winter months.  Try to be consistent.

Make uncovering an event - be enthusiastic and greet the day - your bird will quickly know it's time to "step up" and go to the daytime area, or at least be uncovered and have breakfast served.   I offer a whole grain meal of natural oatmeal with fruit (banana, apple, raisins, mango, papaya, whatever is on hand).   Even if they don't eat a lot of it, at least they have the choice and you never know, one day you could be surprised.

 Also allow for plenty of vocalizations at this time, in keeping with their nature.   Birds stretch their vocal chords when they first greet the day - so join in with a song and let them scream if that's what they want to do.   After a few minutes settle down to breakfast and they should too.

 In order to transport a biting bird in and out of the cage layer a couple of old, thick socks onto your arms.  Cut the toe part off and pull them up over your forearm, then put your shirt down over them so it doesn't look unusual or frightening to the bird.  This way, when the bird bites it's going to pinch, but it won't be awful.  Once you stop reacting to the bites, the bird learns the action doesn't get a response and they'll usually stop.  

 To pick up, make a light fist with your hand and tuck it down and under so the bird doesn't notice.  Bring your padded forearm in to the bird's chest, just above the legs and as you touch there, issue the 'step up" command.   Whenever you go to pick the bird up, use the command.  

 When it's time for bed, make that an event like getting up in the morning.  Sing a song, allow for vocalizations and when you put him in the sleep cage offer a small treat like a grape or piece of a favorite nut.   

This should be in conjunction with plenty of out of cage time during the day, even if it's just to have your companion sitting on the sofa or chair with you while you watch t.v. or use the computer.   You can see some more ideas and pictures here  www.4AnimalCare.org/birds   

It shouldn't take more than a 1 to 8 days to see a difference in behavior, so keep up the efforts and the consistency.  Remember, patience!