How to Stop a Bird from Biting

How do I stop by pet bird from biting? Biting can be a frustrating issue for a bird owner, especially when you aren't sure what provoked the biting or how to solve it. First of all, it's necessary to know that biting is not a normal behavior in parrots even though it may seem normal for your bird. In order to correct your bird's feisty demeanor, you need to figure out why your bird is biting. Being familiar with the different types of biting can be very helpful.

Why Do Pet Birds Start Biting?

There are a few different reasons a bird may bite. Baby birds, like toddlers, enjoy putting things in their mouths to investigate them. This is called exploratory biting. Birds tend to explore with their beaks, and this includes your fingers or other body parts. Your fingers are very new and interesting to birds, so they are often eager to inspect them. Young birds usually outgrow this behavior as they mature.

Another type of biting is fear biting. A bird may be afraid in unfamiliar situations and in the presence of new people. If possible, remove the source of fear and learn which situations trigger biting. Some birds can be afraid of loud noises, such as the vacuum. To ease this fear, expose him to the sound of the vacuum while he is a great distance away and if he stays calm, give him a treat and talk to him in a positive way. Each day, move a little closer until he associates the sounds of a vacuum with positive things and doesn't bite anymore when it's running.

The last type of biting is territorial. Birds are used to protecting their nests from intruders, so they may feel compelled to bite you if you put your hand in their cages. It is also common for birds to become protective during mating season. You can avoid territorial bites by taking your bird out of his cage before you clean or replenish his food. Lastly, try not to make eye contact with a territorial bird because this will only provoke him more.

If a bird is hurt or was abused in the past, he may be more prone to biting. Check closely for medical conditions or bring him to your avian veterinarian to rule out any health problems.

How Do I Get My Bird to Stop Biting Me?

If your bird does try to bite you, try not to quickly pull away or yell at your bird. This will likely only cause your bird to grab you again. If you pull away quickly, your bird will think that he needs to grab quicker and stronger next time so he can get what he wants. In addition, yelling can actually be pleasant for a bird to listen to because he thinks you are "squawking" and will continue to find ways to hear you make this noise.

Finding out the cause of your bird's biting is of utmost importance. Your bird uses body language to communicate with you, so watch him closely and he will probably let you know his needs. You can then use these hints to help prevent or treat his bad behavior.

Birds love to play and sometimes use their beaks to do this. Birds love chewing on anything that they can get their beaks on, so make sure that you have plenty of toys on hand for him to chew, instead of opting for your fingers. Just because birds have the ability to talk doesn't mean that they always will. Generally, younger birds will learn to vocalize quicker. It can be a slow process, quite similar to a child learning to talk. Keep on trying and don't get discouraged too quickly!

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