Robot Parade ([info]wingedkamui) wrote in [info]budgerigars,
@ 2004-11-28 16:21:00
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Newish Budgie owner here... :)
I've had my Budgie about a month now, and we're getting along pretty well. He sits on my finger without a problem, but he's still a little wary about leaving his cage...

My question is this- sometimes he gets a little bitey. How can I teach him not to bite? My friend said to tap him on the beak, but it seems that he sees this as an invitation to play "catch the finger and bite it."



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[info]rustlingragazza
2004-11-28 10:30 pm UTC (link)
Gilgamesh? Wow, that was pretty...ambitious!:)

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[info]soymilknpepsi
2004-11-28 10:39 pm UTC (link)
awww...the feathers look like they have a purple tone! :oD and welcome!!

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[info]belacane
2004-11-28 10:57 pm UTC (link)
i LOVE white and blue budgies!!!
they're just the cutest of them all.

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[info]tviokh
2004-11-28 11:50 pm UTC (link)
He's very cute. :)

As for the biting, it's best to either ignore completely or discourage and distract.
When does he get bitey?
In cage, out of cage, after being petted, on your shoulder, while playing?

It makes a difference; many budgies are nippy in cage, but are okay once they're out.
Overstimulation can also cause biting (and screaming) during play.

If he's biting while on your shoulder, shoulder rides need to be curtailed for awhile.
Shoulder rides are not something that should be given freely to any bird, as it can cause some serious dominance and biting issues.
Shoulder riding is not a "right", and not every bird can be allowed to have shoulder rides.
For more information on why shoulder rides are not a good idea for owners who are experiencing a biting problem or dominance problem in their birds see:
http://www.petpublishing.com/birdtimes/articles/shoulder.shtml
http://www.companionparrot.com/articles/shoulder.html


Ignoring bites is usually the best way to deal with them.
Reacting, especially if done inappropriately or after the bird has been nipping at you for a few minutes, can actually cause the bird to learn that he can get his way and make you do things by biting.
He can make you give him a toy, a treat, he can make you yelp, do a funny dance, or make all sorts of funny noises...all of which are very amusing to him. Birds LOVE drama and animation, so the more worked up and scoldy you get, the more fun it is for him.

But if it gets no reaction at all, not even a second glance, it's not fun at all.
Many birds respond well to facial expressions as well, and just giving the "evil eye" (and I mean REALLY evil, as in "You are the scum on scum's shoes" level) is enough to get many to stop what they're doing.

Of course, you do need to teach him what's okay to chew and nibble on, as budgies instinctively need to chew on things.
Balsa wood is one of the favorite chew toys around here. It's easy to shred to bits, and it's dirt cheap...a lot cheaper than Shredders or other similar toys at any rate.

Eh, rambling now.
I'm going to past bits from an article on parrot biting that I use on another site; I've tried to edit out bits that don't apply to your situation, but it is a stock article so if something doesn't seem to fit it probably means I just forgot to edit it out.
*********

Birds don't bite for no reason, and they don't bite because they personally "hate" you.
One of the biggest mistakes owners make is to take their bird's behavior personally.
Birds are not human, no matter how much we'd like them to be.

Birds will not bite unprovked and always give other body language clues before a bite; if you fail to read their cues, you will get a well deserved bite.
A bird cannot say "I'd rather not be petted or held right now." or "Stop that! I don't like it!". They can only communicate with their body language, and as a last resort, a bite to get the point across.

Birds will also become more nippy when hormonal. There is nothing you can do about that, it's just part of owning a parrot. The first hormonal period is usually the worst.

I recommend you first go out and buy the books Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot by Mattie Sue Athan and The Beak Book by Sally Blanchard (A biting & aggression specific book). Both books help you out a lot. I own both and still refer to them on occasion.
You can find them both on amazon.com, or get The Beak Book from
http://www.companionparrot.com/beakbook.html

Then check these links; Liz Wilson is the author, and she is a recognized expert in parrort behavior and behavior modification:
http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/biting.html
http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/personally.html
http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/spring.html
http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/socialization.html
http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/drama.html
http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/myths.html

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[info]tviokh
2004-11-28 11:51 pm UTC (link)
As for beak flicking or shaking, do NOT listen to your friend!

Not only is it easy to accidentally injure or kill a small bird by doing that, but beak wrestling is sexual foreplay.
So, by grabbing and shaking or flicking, you're essentially flirting with your bird and he'll only get more riled up.

Birds do not really understand physical punishment anyway; what they'll learn from it is that hands are scary, awful things and you'll end up with issues worse than biting. :\

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[info]geefunk
2004-11-29 02:45 pm UTC (link)
yes completely ignore it, and he should stop. birds do things because they get reaction.

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[info]crowyhead
2004-11-28 11:56 pm UTC (link)
Are they mean bites, or play bites? (not that it makes THAT much of a difference if they hurt!) My parakeet sometimes gently nips and preens me, which can get annoying, but is definitely different from when she's pissed at me.

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[info]staceface_08
2004-11-29 05:11 am UTC (link)
You can try tipping him forward when he bites you. But whatever you do, DON'T tap him on the beak. Don't touch him on the beak at all. When there are two of them together, that's how they tell eachother they like eachother; by rubbing their beaks together. See my icon.

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[info]banshea
2004-11-29 06:11 pm UTC (link)
I've had sucess with a quick burst of breath in response to a bite, just enough to ruffle the feathers slightly. I've never found a bird that likes that, and I've never heard of it hurting them in any way. If you're consistent about immediately responding to a bite like that, they'll get the hint to find another way to express themselves pretty quickly.

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[info]wingedkamui
2004-11-29 11:46 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for all the comments! :D

misshardt, I know it's a bit much name for a parakeet... but it fits well with the other household pets, who are all named after legendary figures.

Gemini_1985 and belacane, Gilgy thanks you for the compliments. I couldn't describe his color exactly, under the flourescent light in the pet store he looked bluish purple, but under my lightbulbs at home his markings are pale grey on even paler grey.

Tviokh, he starts to bite when he's out of the cage, and I'm trying to get him back in. When he's ready to go back, he flies off my finger and clings to the cage door, unfortunately I can't slide the door open until he moves. When I offer him a finger to step on, that's when he starts to bite. I understand that he wants back into his cage and doesn't want to be taken away from it, but if he's biting me that makes getting him back in more difficult and frustrating for both of us.
When I first got him, I noticed he got overstimulated when I took him out of the cage; now I make sure the room is calm, slightly darkened and with music he likes playing when he is out. (He loves VNV Nation and sings along happily.)

Crowyhead, since he does it when he doesn't want me to pick him up, I'd guess he's biting out of frustration... :( I have experienced his play bites, too, after taking my friends advice and tapping his beak... which considering everyone's great advice I won't do again.

Trashtiny and Banshea, I'll try both of your suggestions, thanks much! :)

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[info]sirdanabstinenc
2004-11-30 06:23 am UTC (link)
Well, we must ask the god Anu to tame Gilgamesh's wild heart by sending Enkidu to be his companion. This might curtail some problems... just keep them away from the Cedar forest and Humbaba (or Humwawa, whichever translation you choose).

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