Bitten by My African Grey… Again! 🦜 How I Finally Got Her to Stop

[africangreyparrot]

Hey flock family

I never thought I’d be writing this post, but I guess it’s part of the “African Grey parent” experience. My usually sweet Congo Grey, Luna, bit me hard yesterday — hard enough to draw blood.

I’ve read a lot about African Grey parrot bites, but when it happens to you, it’s a whole new level of shock. These birds might not look intimidating, but their beaks are no joke — they can crush nutshells like paper.

At first, I thought she was just being moody. But after replaying what happened, I realized I was the problem. I reached into her cage while she was eating, and she gave me that warning look (eyes pinning, feathers slightly fluffed). I ignored it. Big mistake. She was protecting her food and space — totally natural behavior.

From what I’ve learned (and please correct me if I’m wrong), African Grey bites usually mean one of a few things:

1. They’re scared or startled.
2. They’re hormonal or territorial.
3. They’re testing boundaries or dominance.
4. They’re warning you to back off — and we ignore the signs.

Since then, I’ve been watching her body language more closely — pinned eyes, tail flicks, puffed feathers, low growls. When I see those, I just back off. It’s crazy how much communication they actually give before biting.

I’ve started target training again using treats and clicker methods to rebuild trust. It’s slow, but she’s already less nippy. I also avoid sudden movements near her perch or food bowl.

So for anyone new to owning one — don’t take the bites personally. African Greys aren’t being “mean,” they’re being birds. Once you learn their cues and respect their space, the relationship changes completely.

Has anyone here dealt with a biting phase? How long did it take for your African Grey to chill out again? And do you think time-outs actually work with them?

Would love to hear your stories — makes me feel less like a bad parrot dad


— Pedro

 

[TiktokParrot]

Hi Pedro,

Don’t beat yourself up, you’re definitely not alone in the “bitten by my African Grey” club

When I first got my Timneh, he’d bite whenever I tried to change his toys or clean his cage. I later learned that African Grey parrot bites are often about control and territory. Once I started giving him a “warning cue” — like talking softly before putting my hand in — the aggression dropped a lot.
One trick that worked wonders: I started offering him a small treat every time I approached the cage. Eventually, he associated my hand with positive things instead of intrusion. Took a few weeks, but totally worth it.

Hang in there! Once they trust you again, they’ll go right back to being your lovable feathered toddler.

 

[africangreyparrot]

Hi Pedro,

Don’t beat yourself up, you’re definitely not alone in the “bitten by my African Grey” club

When I first got my Timneh, he’d bite whenever I tried to change his toys or clean his cage. I later learned that African Grey parrot bites are often about control and territory. Once I started giving him a “warning cue” — like talking softly before putting my hand in — the aggression dropped a lot.
One trick that worked wonders: I started offering him a small treat every time I approached the cage. Eventually, he associated my hand with positive things instead of intrusion. Took a few weeks, but totally worth it.

Hang in there! Once they trust you again, they’ll go right back to being your lovable feathered toddler.

thank you, much appreciated and you explained it well.
Love this community, glad to be here, but sad I do not see much of active users here. Hope this community grows, so we have more people to talk and exchange our grey adventures.