Greetings:

This is my first post on this forum. I have been a long time reader, but I cannot seem to find an answer to the problem I am having with my keet, Pee-Jay. I was hoping you guys could help me out??
First let me give a little background-I adopted my Keet at the end of April from the bin-o-budgies at Petco. I tried to pick out the youngest looking most active bird I could find. I'm still not sure if it is male or female. I'm leaning towards female-- judging by the chewing of everything and personality. I already have her finger trained, out of the cage, taking baths-on her own and sometimes in the shower with me, she greets me when I arrive home from work with some whistles, purrs and chirps, and she will sit on my shoulder while I go about my business around the apartment. I guess I got lucky because I was able to get her perched on my finger like 16 hours after I got her home and settled. Maybe a little soon, but I was careful. I didn't force the issue- I merely followed Lisa's steps and the first time I put a perch in her cage, Pee-Jay hopped right on it. So I cautiously put my hand in and pressed my finger up against her chest and she hopped right up. I actually had more trouble getting her to eat from my hand. After a week she was out of the cage and exploring. A few weeks later she would stop and look up, as if she was done looking around on the ground and was looking to me for a lift.(petco clipped her wings, but they are growing back fine) This surprised me because I was starting to get used to following her with a perch so I could get her back in the cage. I've had good luck training Pee-Jay.
Though recently she started biting and pecking at me. This happens most when I try to take her from her roost in order to put her in the cage when it is time for bed. She has never broken the skin, but it is hard enough where I get the point! Some nights I can get her off the roost and into her cage. Other nights she insists on staying put. I know it isn't the best idea to leave her out of the cage for the night, but she is in a safe room, up in a dimmly lit corner space and she stays put until the morning. I'm not sure what to do? I would like to know if anyone else has any experiences with this problem? I haven't been able to get her to stop biting. Can anyone help me curb this aggressive behavior?


Thank you

It sounds like she is being moody my birds get that way but I have to chase them all over the place as for the biting goes I would the next time she does it to get her in her cage and not let her out the next day and tell her no she was a bad girl. You can try to blow on her as well to break the biting I know of someone that did that and it worked. Good Luck!
http://s13.invisionfree.com/PetLovers/index.php

Try the earthquake method. When she bites you if she is on your finger shake it gently and make her wabble.

Thanks guys-I appreciate your replies.
I will try your suggestions. Though she only tries to bite when I am attempting to get her on my finger.
Any idea how to get her off the perch without grabbing her? She is moody- kind of like her owner. But I would like to get her off the perch and into her cage with out being pecked at or having to grab her.....any ideas?

Get another long wooden stick, and push gently up near her/his stomach, and it is just like a finger, except you don't get bitten.

Use a stick or perch like lovingbudgie said instead of your finger.

My keet Esso went through a similar phase - right around the time he was was going through his first molt - Is Pee-Jay molting by chance?

Anyway, he got a little "bitey" - and it was always in his cage or on top of his tree, when he did not want to be bothered. I think using the perch would be the easiest solution when he is on his "roost". If he can fly now, does he know how to fly from the roost to the cage? If so, I bet that if you stick the perch right under him and force him - if he won't step up on the perch, he will probably just fly and hopefully go back to the cage. If you are determined to use your hand, try using all 4 fingers together (instead of offering just 1 finger) - approach with the palm of your hand down, with your pinky side closest too Pee-Jay. There is not much to bite there, and he may just hop up on the back of your hand. It works well for me and esso.


PS - you will be happy to know that Esso settled down a few weeks ago - i think it is just a phase they go through.

what color is your birds cere or the thing right above his beaks with the holes in it.

Esso- Pee-jay IS molting, but the aggressive behavior started a little before. I figured she didn't want to be bothered. I leave the cage about three feet away from her everynight. She has every oppor,tunity to fly home, but seems content to spend the night perched up on her roost.
I have used a perch to get her, but I have to force the issue and I am worried it might make her meaner because she pecks at the perch too. Though, once she is on the perch she is fine. Weird bird.....I hope it is just a phase!?!?

Dannyboy- Pee-jay's cere is a blue-ish purple on the bottom and pinkish brown on the top. If you look at it in the right light it is blue, and if you look again it is pink. This is why I have no idea if she is a he or he is a she- can you dig it?
Thank you everyone for your help. All of you on this forum are a wealth of knowledge!!! I guess the bird is only as good as it's owner-but you'd be surprised.....