Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the other day I was staring idly at my Georgie when I noticed the barring under her tail was pretty much gone. And her face looked very bright... I pulled out a picture of her as a baby and, how had I not noticed- her face had turned completely from gray to yellow. Hmmm. So it turns out that my painted pigeon wh0re (as she is affectionately known to my friends on account of looking like a pigeon except for the blushered, made-up face) is actually a Ladyboybird of Bangkok! Naturally his new name can be nothing but… Boy George.

Now this explains 'her' whistling ability but on the downside, also his nippyness. He's been a moody little poo the past few weeks. He's about 9 months old so can I put this down to puberty, or is this a permanent trend?

how can I train him to become cuddly again, or at least not bite?

(mind you, he loves all company and hanging out, just tends to attack our fingers for no reason. Doesn't bite very hard though.)

Well as far as nipping the fingers he probably likes the response he gets. I know that a nip can hurt but the first thing to remember is don't give a response. No flinching or those unmentionable words etc. If you know you will flinch invest in a pair of lightweight leather skin colored gloves. Let him get used to the gloves first without using them to "touch" or pick him up. When he seems used to them use them when touching him and do not give him a reaction when he nips. If he doesn't nip give him a special treat and when he does ignore him. Don't put him back in his cage if he is out or cover his cage because that is still a reaction and he will think hey I want back in so I'll nip or I'm ready for quiet so I'll nip. Just don't react do whatever you already were and let him think his nipping is getting him no where. (this is a lot like the same treatment for screaming etc since they are both undesireable behaviors!)

You will need a lot of patience for this but he SHOULD calm back down after a while. If not treated corrctly it can be a permanent problem and yes they can at certain times in their life go through a "breeding mood" but ours have usually been older when that happens. I don't have my cockatiel books in front of me to see what age they say. Even if it is old enough for a breeding mood then the same treatment should help in the long run.

Stephanie