When I put my finger up to my parrots cage, he reaches out with his foot and grabs and touches it.

Question

He's a blue fronted amazon. We even taught him how to stick your hand in the cage & eat a crackers. But why does he crab my hand with his claw, does he want to bite me? Or is he just interested in my hand?

Answer 1

They explore the world with their feet and tongue.  Your parrot may get some sort of comfort from feeling your finger in his grip.  Maybe its like holding hands.  Only you can know if he is trying to bite but I would think that you would have found that out by now.  

Answer 2

Maybe he thinks its a thing to stand on, or maybe he thinks you are going to give him a treat, like you said crackers or some sort of treat.

Guy08

Answer 3

my father has one of those big green parrots and he sort of trained him since it was a young bird to stand on your finger, eat from your hand, and stand still on your shoulder when you walk around...I think at the beginning it was ok for it as it was new and maybe funny but not the parrot has become bad tempered and bites or if you take it out of the cage tries to fly and doesnt obbey

Answer 4

he is just being affectionate. Even if an animal bites you lightly that is what we call a love nibble. So all bites are not bad. But this is his way of saying Hi and I love you.

Answer 5

he loves you. sounds like he might need more human contact. do you hold him, scratch his neck etc, etc, birds are very social and need lots of interaction.

Answer 6

he could be tellin u thank you or sumtin like dat its common

Answer 7

hes being friendly

Answer 8

Do you handle him and let him out? Was he every hand tamed? It looks like your bird wants to come out and go on your finger. He opens his beak to get a hold of himself and pull himself onto your finger. You should let him out more often (if you do let him out) or start to let him out and finger train him. I will follow up on finger-training.....

First I would like to say is do NOT use gloves. But here is MY way of training birds (lovebird and cockatiel)

To tame him give him about 2 weeks to get used to his surroundings.

In the meantime you can talk to him and give him treats. (do not put your hand in unless to cage food/water)

After the 2 weeks is up you can open the cage and tempt the birdie out with treats.

When he comes out pet him/touch him and if he lets you reward him and give him a treat. (do not touch under a birds wings, his butt, or his middle-lower wing area. That is like his private spots. Plus when praising him keep your voice soft and do not yell at him.)

after he lets you pet him you can put him back in and wait for tomorrow to continue.

The next day tempt him out again with treats and your voice. When he comes out practise touching him (birds LOVE head scratches!) if he lets you reward him.

Then you can start finger training! (remember this can take 1day-1month!)

Take your curved pointer finger and rub his lower stomach. (If bites don't pull away! I know it might hurt but this is his way of saying i don't wanna go up (ignore that for now) plus if you pull away he now knows how to get you away and will keep doing this. Birds also bite to measure the distance between your finger and his foot to see if he can step up!)

If he steps up say step up praise him and reward him. Keep doing this until he gets it then put him back in.

As soon as he masters this (this could take a 1day-month) you can start taking him off. Just say step-off and put your finger near the ground (shake your finger lightly if you have to get him off) when he does go off say step-down and praise and reward him.

Just master this then finger training is complete!

Next is bonding + tricks if you want!

P.S birds are right footed or left footed like we are left handed or right handed! to tell, see what foot he puts on your finger first or what foot he uses to get down with first!

Your bird might also be interested in your finger. Bird use their feet and tongue to explore. He might be grapping your finger and trying to nipple a little to figure out what it is. Good luck with your birdie =)