How to Keep an African Gray Bird From Biting
African Grays are intelligent parrots that can live up to 60 years. They possess exceptional speaking and thinking skills. Like most birds, they use their beaks as a tool for communication and one of the ways they express themselves is through biting. Biting is generally a response to something and this behavior can be avoided by taking time to understand your parrot.
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Instructions
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Establish a bond with your parrot before you try to touch him. Spend the time you need to establish trust and make friends with your parrot. Talk to him, give him treats and allow him to become accustomed to you.
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Don't yell, scream or pull away when your parrot bites. This behavior is negative reinforcement and it works in the same way positive reinforcement does. Ignore the behavior and carry on as usual.
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Gently push your hand toward a parrot biting you. You won't need to be forceful, as your bird will not expect this reaction and he will let go.
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Learn what different bites mean. Sometimes your parrot will nip you; this is when he uses his beak and leaves an impression on your skin. The skin may turn pink but there's no blood and it doesn't hurt much. This is your bird attempting to communicate with you. He's actually trying to be gentle with you by nipping.
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Study your parrot's body language. If your bird allows you to pet him but begins to bite in a few minutes, then he does not want to be touched any longer. As the bird's owner, you need to recognize your bird's signals. Watch for any physical signals just before he bites; flexed wings, ruffled feathers, pinned eyes and fanned tail feathers are physical signs that shouldn't be ignored.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't force your African Gray to do anything and don't invade his personal space.
If your bird nips you when you're attempting to put him in the cage, he may not want to go inside. Try giving him a treat after he goes in, so he won't mind going in as much.
If your parrot bites when he is on your arm, use a perch instead.
Don't try to touch a parrot you haven't bonded with because he will most likely be defensive and react with a bite.
Don't annoy your bird. Don't tease, poke or hurt your bird because you think it's cute or funny. Once trust is lost, it's difficult to gain back.
