Hello all,
I know that there has been a lot of posts about lovebirds biting but my lovebirds biting behaviour is a little abnormal so some advice would be appreciated.
I got Casanova around a year ago (one year 3 months old now, male). He is really spoiled, has his own big room, has more toys than a toy store, is completely free in his room, I spend around 2-4 hours in his room with him and he is well fed and physically healthy (vet tested). He is a very happy bird, chirping and singing all day, playing, flying, etc.
I got him from a pet store and since I bought him, he has always been very scared of hands. I was able to tame him fairly well, but hands are still a no no for him. Other than that he spends a lot of time on me when I'm around him, on my head, shoulders, arms and even on my fingers (he does step up), he just won't accept me petting him with my hand or grabbing him.
He has always been a biter, but nothing out of the ordinary for a lovebird until recently. In the last few months he has become an extreme biter, what I mean is that he won't stop biting me, it almost feels like if it's a game for him. He doesn't get into an aggressive position when he bites, he doesn't have any of the aggressive body language that lovebirds have when they're threatened, angry, fearful, etc. (did research online for these behaviours.). But he does bite hard, it's not just a nibble, I often bled because of his bites. His biting behaviour is always the same, he will approach me slowly, look at me for a couple of seconds, opens his beak close to my skin and just looks at me kind of like to see if there's a reaction and then when I look at him, he bites me then flies away and screeches, then within seconds comes back to me and gives me kisses (little nibbles). And this can happen on any part of my body, head, arms, hands, legs, feet, stomach, etc.
I have tried so many advice I found online but nothing detracts him from doing it. I tried a cage timeout, distracting him, holding his beak, ignoring him, not making any reaction, giving a treat before the bite, etc.
Any help would be appreciated.
I know that there has been a lot of posts about lovebirds biting but my lovebirds biting behaviour is a little abnormal so some advice would be appreciated.
I got Casanova around a year ago (one year 3 months old now, male). He is really spoiled, has his own big room, has more toys than a toy store, is completely free in his room, I spend around 2-4 hours in his room with him and he is well fed and physically healthy (vet tested). He is a very happy bird, chirping and singing all day, playing, flying, etc.
I got him from a pet store and since I bought him, he has always been very scared of hands. I was able to tame him fairly well, but hands are still a no no for him. Other than that he spends a lot of time on me when I'm around him, on my head, shoulders, arms and even on my fingers (he does step up), he just won't accept me petting him with my hand or grabbing him.
He has always been a biter, but nothing out of the ordinary for a lovebird until recently. In the last few months he has become an extreme biter, what I mean is that he won't stop biting me, it almost feels like if it's a game for him. He doesn't get into an aggressive position when he bites, he doesn't have any of the aggressive body language that lovebirds have when they're threatened, angry, fearful, etc. (did research online for these behaviours.). But he does bite hard, it's not just a nibble, I often bled because of his bites. His biting behaviour is always the same, he will approach me slowly, look at me for a couple of seconds, opens his beak close to my skin and just looks at me kind of like to see if there's a reaction and then when I look at him, he bites me then flies away and screeches, then within seconds comes back to me and gives me kisses (little nibbles). And this can happen on any part of my body, head, arms, hands, legs, feet, stomach, etc.
I have tried so many advice I found online but nothing detracts him from doing it. I tried a cage timeout, distracting him, holding his beak, ignoring him, not making any reaction, giving a treat before the bite, etc.
Any help would be appreciated.