I'm new to parrots and have read all I can get my hands on but I'm experiencing a behavior in my baby parrot that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere. I'm hoping someone will recognize this story and offer some advice.
My parrot is a 3-1/2 month old Meyers - DNA sexed male.
He uses his beak constantly on fingers, etc. Of course, there's the old "I can't quite reach" grab when he is climbing onto a too-high perch or hand, but this is different.
When he is being petted, which he enjoys and leans into and all, he nibbles on and fiddles with fingers. When he's on my hand, he nibbles on fingers and between the fingers. Same with my neck if he's on my chest (he likes to nuzzle up under my chin). Most of the time I have the impression that this may be more of an allopreening type behavior, but he doesn't preen my hair at all. And sometimes, he can really pinch hard. Of course, it makes people who meet him nervous, even though 75% of the time he's just "touching" them with his (usually open) beak.
What I want to know is, how normal is this behavior? Or better yet, how appropriate? Will it likely lead to serious biting? He does often wrap his beak around my finger when he can - like he's just seeing how hard he can bite it... maybe he's treating me like a chew toy?? I don't know.
It seems to be all mixed together with very loving behaviors including cuddling, begging, and the little "beak open tongue waggle" thing.
If I should be discouraging this - how? I've blown a little blast of breath on him when he's biting down and said "no", which seems to distract him pretty well MOST times. And if he pinches I say "no" and - in both cases - move him to another spot (possibly even back to the perch if it's been too many times).
Any thoughts? I want to socialize and train him well while he's young. I certainly don't want people to be afraid of him because he's "beaky".
Thanks so much!
M
