If you've had him 3 years, and this is the first time he has
bitten you, I wouldn't rush into any decisions. I don't know
anybody who's had a bird long without being bitten.
You can learn to recognize signs that will tell you he doesn't
want to be handled or touched. Recognizing them and then
respecting them will prevent a lot of bites.
Anytime you try to make him do somethng he doesn't want to do,
you run the risk of being bitten. If you try to take
something away from him or frighten him or hurt him, he is
probably going to bite you. If he is playng and gets excited,
he is likely to bite you. If he knows you are afraid of him,
he will probably bully you (includng lunging at you, chasing
you, biting wherever he can reach). He may have liked your
reaction when he bit you (especially if you don't spend much
time with him--at least he got a rise out of you), which will
cause him to do it again. And it may just be that he is
hormonal because it is breeding season.
Parrots aren't dogs. They don't live to please you like a dog
does. They live to please themselves.
Spraying with water as punishment is a big no-no.
As far as the screaming, he has probably trained you to do
something when he screams--come to him, yell at him, cover him
up. To break him of screaming, leave the area so he can't see
you when he screams. When he has been quiet for a few
minutes, go to him and give him a favorite treat. After he
has learned not to scream when you leave, then while you are
out of his sight, call to him to let him know you are around.
He will likely always scream in the mornings and at dusk,
because this is their flocking time. Don't try to break him
of this or you will have a neurotic bird.
If he screams when you are around, then give him something to
occupy himself with--lots of toys, especially foraging toys
(so he has to work a little to get his food); or play the
radio or TV. You can even get videos made especially for
birds. Mine get very quiet when I put one of those on.
Good luck.
Evelyn
, 5/21/06, Bob wrote:
> MY UMBRELLA COCKATOO BIT MY VERY HARD CAUSING ME TO BLEED
> I AM ABLE TO HANDLE HIM EASILY BEFORE NOW I FEAR HIM. HE
> IS A SCREMER AND NEEDS ALOT OF ATTENTION MORE THAN I COULD
> GIVE. I MUST ADMIT THAT I DO COVER HIS CAGE OFTEN AND
> SPRAY HIM WITH WATER TO SLOW DOWN HIS SCREMING. PERHAPS I
> MAY HAVE GONE OVERBOARD WITH THE SRAYING WITH THIS LESSON
> LEARN I NOW STOPPED THE SPRAYING. NEVERTHELESS, I AM
> CONSIDERING OF GETTING RID OF HIM DUE TO THIS
> INCIDENT.HOWEVER, THIS BIRD IS VERY COMPASIONATE AND LOVES
> TO CUDDLE. I DO HAVE MIXED FEELINGS HE HAS BEEN OUR PET
> FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND HES ABOUT 14 Y/O. THERFORE, I AM
> REACHING OUT TO MY BIRD BUDDIES FOR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
> THANKS
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