|
Budgerigar
Biting
Budgies bite for many reasons, it is important to
understand that biting is not natural. Budgies are social creatures
and very rarely do they use their beaks to solve a problem. If a
Budgie is being bullied by another Budgie, they usually get into a
quick squabble and fly away. They almost never fight to kill.
Budgies are usually only aggressive over nesting sites. Even after
such a squabble, it very rarely leads to a brutal attack.
So, if Budgies rarely bite, then why do they bite
humans? Because biting is a learned behavior. A biting Budgie will
bite out fear, territorial instincts, jealousy, or out of
irritation. Before a remedy can be diagnosed, you need find out why
your bird is biting. Keeping a journal of when the parrot bites is
recommended. After a week of recording down your Budgies biting
behavior, take a few minutes and analyze the problem. Most owners
start to see patterns of biting before the journal is finished.
Continue recording until you are sure you have identified the
problem.
Fear:
A Budgie that bites out of fear is scared. Most biting that is
based on fear comes from being pushed beyond what the Budgie is
willing to do. For example, if the Budgie was not accustomed to
being held upside down, his natural reaction would be to bite.
Another instance of biting out of fear is meeting new strangers.
You can’t expect the bird to be placed into a stranger’s hand and
not bite. Birds are not like dogs and it takes time to warm up to a
stranger.
These are just two examples of biting out of fear.
To avoid this type of biting, always ask yourself how the Budgie is
going to react. If you know he is fearful of a person or area,
slowly introduce him to the things or people that make him nervous.
In time he will learn these new areas and people and begin to enjoy
them.
Territory:
At times, a Budgie can become very territorial. Though females are
notorious for this behavior, males can exhibit this behavior too. A
territorial Budgie will lunge and guard its cage fiercely. Just
opening the door can cause the parakeet to bite. Most owners wait
until their parakeet walks outside the cage before they handle the
parrot. These owners also report that their parrot is gentile after
being taken away from its cage.
Why has the Budgie become territorial? The answer
lies in its reproductive instincts. A Budgie who guards its cage
perceives it as a nesting site. Like most parrots, they cannot cope
with birds, or their owners, touching their stuff. The best way to
deal with this problem is to move the cage around in new locations
weekly. Moving around toys also helps. Since the cage is not
located in one place, like a nesting box would be, the Budgie will
lose interest in guarding the it. Under no circumstances are you to
wait until your parakeet steps out of the cage to hold him. If your
parrot wants to leave the cage, he must step up onto your finger
before being let out. Start with a towel if you think your parrot
will bite and gradually introduce your finger. Praise the bird for
doing what is expected.
Owners tend to avoid the problem of territorial
biting by letting the bird walk outside the cage before being
handled. This should not be practiced. By doing this, territorial
behavior is being allowed and reinforced. The bird needs to
understand the household rules, biting or any aggressiveness should
not be tolerated.
Jealousy:
Budgies can become jealous, especially if they have a close bond to
you. Ever walk near a family member, or hold another bird, and the
Budgie bites without warning? This is because your Budgie is trying
to divert your attention elsewhere. The Budgie perceives that
family member, or other bird as a threat to your relationship. How
can the problem be addressed?
Start by introducing the person or bird to your
Budgie. During the times you are not present, let the person
interact with the bird. Have the person offer treats to the parrot
or play games with it. If you are trying to develop a tolerable
relationship between the two birds, keep the cages near each other.
Though the Budgie will never develop a strong bond with the person
or bird it is jealous of, it still makes the situation bearable
without biting. If working with the two birds, never place them
into the same cage. One can become injured.
Curing a jealous parrot takes time, none the less,
it’s important you stick to a routine and solve this problem.
Irritation:
Birds do get irritated. Parrots sometimes need their space. If a
parrot is tired it can quickly become cranky and moody and this can
lead to biting. If your Budgie is molting and you pet a pin
feather, your parrot could bite out of irritation. These are just
one of the many things that can irritate you bird.
When biting out of irritation, it’s important to
respect your parrot’s boundaries. Give your Budgie space, if he
feels the need to be alone, let him be.
Reactions:
Never hit or yell at the bird for biting. Birds do not understand
our method of discipline. A parrot only perceives aggressive
behavior as intimidating, or yelling as stimulating. What’s the
best reaction? Ignore biting completely! Don’t make a face, don’t
yell, don’t wobble your fingers, or don’t flick the beak. Just
continue what you planned to do. The parrot will get distracted and
forget about biting. Do nothing so biting is not reinforced. |
