Biting budgie!

[budgiezila]

My budgie Pastel used to step up and sit for a few seconds, then step down. Recently, I put him on a rope perch slightly outside his cage when he stepped up. I did this twice, and praised him both times even though he immediately went back into the cage. Looking back, I think he wanted to step down, but I moved too quickly for him to do so. After that time, he will not step up and will go so far as to bite my finger very hard if I put my hand near his tummy. Will he get over this phase? Is he just a little cranky?

 

[milliebird]

whenever he bites, don't pull your hand away because that is like rewarding him for biting you. how long have you had pastel? don't move to fast and observe his body language carefully

 

[budgiezila]

whenever he bites, don't pull your hand away because that is like rewarding him for biting you. how long have you had pastel? don't move to fast and observe his body language carefully

I got him in November. Thank you for that advice, I will definitely observe more

 

[clarousel]

Recently, I put him on a rope perch slightly outside his cage when he stepped up

Do you mean its actually in the cage but sticking out?

I wonder if he is biting you because you're invading his territory.

Are you getting him to step up from inside or outside the cage?

 

[Kiwi & Co.]

whenever he bites, don't pull your hand away because that is like rewarding him for biting you. how long have you had pastel? don't move to fast and observe his body language carefully

You really should move away before the bite meets your skin, leaving your finger there just makes them bite harder and learn that you don’t respect their space. As soon as a bite comes, move away and ignore the bird for 30 seconds so they understand that biting doesn’t get them attention, also, don’t put them on the cage when they bite, because they will learn that biting is free transportation.

Imagine that a Macaw was crushing you fingers, and someone told you to just leave your fingers there.

 

[clarousel]

You really should move away before the bite meets your skin, leaving your finger there just makes them bite harder and learn that you don’t respect their space. As soon as a bite comes, move away and ignore the bird for 30 seconds so they understand that biting doesn’t get them attention, also, don’t put them on the cage when they bite, because they will learn that biting is free transportation.

Imagine that a Macaw was crushing you fingers, and someone told you to just leave your fingers there.

What about in the case where the bite is unexpected or caught you by surprise? Although that is debatable with you not reading the bird's body language

 

[BirdWorld]

If he is molting or overtired he might be grumpy, that could cause biting.

 

[Kiwi & Co.]

What about in the case where the bite is unexpected or caught you by surprise? Although that is debatable with you not reading the bird's body language

Just move away as soon as you can, try not to agravate your bird.

 

[budgiezila]

Do you mean its actually in the cage but sticking out?

I wonder if he is biting you because you're invading his territory.

Are you getting him to step up from inside or outside the cage?

I get him to step up from inside the cage, and put him down inside. He doesn’t like it when I move him, and will step off if I seem like I’m taking him out of the cage

 

[budgiezila]

You really should move away before the bite meets your skin, leaving your finger there just makes them bite harder and learn that you don’t respect their space. As soon as a bite comes, move away and ignore the bird for 30 seconds so they understand that biting doesn’t get them attention, also, don’t put them on the cage when they bite, because they will learn that biting is free transportation.

Imagine that a Macaw was crushing you fingers, and someone told you to just leave your fingers there.

I’ll definitely move away, but the thing is, he wants me to go away. Going away would be like a reward to him, as that’s what he wants me to do

 

[Kiwi & Co.]

I’ll definitely move away, but the thing is, he wants me to go away. Going away would be like a reward to him, as that’s what he wants me to do

Imagine someone was in your space, and you wanted them to go away, but no matter what you did, they wouldn’t leave.

While leaving may seem like you’re rewarding them, staying will greatly damage your trust

 

[Kiwi & Co.]

I get him to step up from inside the cage, and put him down inside. He doesn’t like it when I move him, and will step off if I seem like I’m taking him out of the cage

Let him come out at his own speed, would you like someone to force you out of your home?

 

[budgiezila]

Imagine someone was in your space, and you wanted them to go away, but no matter what you did, they wouldn’t leave.

While leaving may seem like you’re rewarding them, staying will greatly damage your trust

I never thought of it that way, thank you!

 

[Kiwi & Co.]

I never thought of it that way, thank you!

A lot of their behavior makes a lot more sense when you think about it from their point of view

 

[Meerkat07]

One thing that really stopped biting for me is to let them step up on their own or sort of jump onto yoir fonger bybthemselves. The whole push on their stomach technique is quite uncomfortable for my birds. Obviously you will need to your birds to be more motivated but if you can do that it stopped about 90% of all my biting