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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.
a Fearful Budgie
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.
a Territorial Budgie
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.
A Jealous Budgie
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.
an Irritated Budgie
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.
your 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,
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and yelling as stimulating.
So what’s the best reaction? Ignore biting completely!
Don’t make a face, don’t yell, or don’t flick the beak. Just
continue handling the bird. The parrot will get distracted
and forget about biting. Do nothing so biting is not
reinforced. |
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