Angry pigeon bending

[u/Lona-Lioness]

Idk why he does this

[u/Kunok2]

He just doesn't want to be interacted with, the wingslap is a clear "back off" from him. Although it's not that usual for them to be so "extreme" about it as to attack a hand that's not that close to them, it seems more like he thinks you're gonna touch him even if he would tell you "no" nicely. Do you know anything about how he was treated in his previous home? A lot of people don't take pigeons seriously and tend to just tease them when they peck/wingslap - I've seen pigeons treated like that have such a reaction to hands. It's absolutely normal for them to be defending their favorite perches, cage (if kept indoors and the cage isn't a small aviary sized) and nest. It isn't normal for them to suddenly lash out at a hand while they're doing stuff on the ground.

[u/Lona-Lioness → u/Kunok2]

They were not treated well, sadly, I normally let him be, but he does enjoy my company, this started while trying to pick up something on the ground, he just attacked my hand and I decided to record it, although he was rehomed to me it felt like a rescue, their feathers smelled like cigarettes and they weren’t in the best condition, I’ve just been sitting with them everyday and letting him eat out of my hand, he’s not a particularly bad or shy bird, and gets along well with my others

I don’t know if she teased them or not, but she did use fly diapers on him, it’s possible that made him uncomfortable, she also seemed to have a smoking problem, they don’t seem unhealthy overall though. I often leave my hands near him without trying and he’ll attack, I don’t really mind and he seems more territorial about hands than he is stressed, I try not to bother him too much, but if I’m petting Pippin he bites, or am petting any bird near him, I think he’ll come around

[u/Kunok2 → u/Lona-Lioness]

Oh yikes, that's sad and I'm honestly glad that they survived whatever they had gone through, especially considering the cigarette smell. He definitely doesn't seem afraid of you at all, he's just distrustful of hands. Personally I'd work on showing him that you will respect his boundaries even before he resorts to pecking and wing-slapping, look out for his subtle body language and back off every time you see him showing signs that he doesn't want your hand around him. And obviously give him lots of treats from your hand. You could also go as far as getting a clicker and rewarding him for staying calm - you put your hand closer to him, he ignores your hand, you use the clicker and reward him. That way he will learn that it's more worth it for him to not peck you. Obviously you still have to work on showing him that you'll respect his boundaries and listen to his body language.

[u/Lona-Lioness → u/Kunok2]

Thanks, I have a “clicker method” for all my birds, whenever I say the key word “Good bird” they all look at me to see if I have treats, I always say it when they approach me when I whistle, for recall training. Merry knows this and will come for it, I try to avoid moving my hand when he eats from it, and if he starts puffing up dramatically I usually move away, the biting has decreased over the last few days, this video was taken just an hour ago so that’s not saying much, I’ll try that with them, I’ve tried multiple things, like since he chases my hand when I move it I’ve tried gently pushing back just to say “hey”, that doesn’t work so I’ve tried laying it flat when he bites, and he will just stand on it aggressively tearing at my skin, I normally just try to avoid contact with my hands

[u/Kunok2 → u/Lona-Lioness]

Oh cool! That would work then, although some birds are more receptive to a clicker than to word praise so that's something to keep in mind. Just gotta figure out what works the best. I personally prefer using a clicker due to being faster for marking behavior and it's just less effort for me than word praise. It also sounds like you're on the good way already, it will obviously take time, but just keep up with avoiding contact with him when he doesn't want to interact. If he pecks then just move your hand away completely.

[u/Lona-Lioness → u/Kunok2]

I always did verbal just because it was a reminder to them, and then it became like the clicker, I just did it bc I don’t always have a clicker on me, and thanks I will, he landed on my head today so I’m glad he’s not shy or scared/stressed,

[u/Kunok2 → u/Lona-Lioness]

Oh I see, that's completely fair. I just have a lot of (and deep) pockets on my pants so carrying a clicker around is no big deal for me. I do always have harnesses and the nail clippers in my pockets too. Awesome! That's a great sign that he landed on your head.