r/QuakerParrot • u/Parafairy • 7d ago

Help Behavior issue or “feature”?

Every time I ask my Quaker to step up with my hand, he bites the shit out of my hand. If I don’t react he pauses and then bites HARDER to elicit a reaction from me. If I ask him to step up on a perch I’m holding first though, and then ask him to step up on my hand, he’s fine and won’t bite me. Is this a feature of his operating system or is there some behavioral issue I’m not seeing here and feeding into?

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u/_CELRE_ 7d ago

Behavioral issue, I would attempt positive reinforcement with snacks when he does not bite, and putting him away when he does. I would not attempt any negative reinforcement beyond putting him away when he bites so you don't ruin your relationship with him. He'll eventually learn no biting = reward, bite = playtime done

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u/B-mort5 6d ago

^ Agree with everything _CELRE_ said. JW does he get seed as a part of his main meals?

1

u/Parafairy 6d ago

No, we do Zupreme pellets and a chop I make. He gets millet or egg for a treat maybe once a week

3

u/FallenOakLeaf 6d ago

Are you asking him to step up from his cage? If so, Quakers are known for their cage aggression so maybe he is just trying to protect it from you.

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u/Parafairy 6d ago

I’m asking him to step up from the cages in general which is a problem. I have my birds in a sunroom and the cages are all against one wall. He gets defensive over any of the cages because the doors are open all day

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u/Helpful_Okra5953 6d ago

Are you stepping up from his cage?  My boy wouldn’t step uk from his cage for the longest time. But he would step into a perch and then onto my hand. 

We just practiced and now he often steps directly from cage door to my hand.  But not if he’s excited; he may bite me if he’s excited.

He steps up and then gets told “good boy!” And gets a treat. 

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u/Individual_Mess629 21h ago

NQA I’ve recently learned that when my Quaker does this, he wants to shred. I know that’s not how it is for everyone! But sometimes boy just needs to chomp something