Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/18/2008

Question
My parakeet loves to cuddle. i take him out of the cage and right away he comes and will nuzzle against my neck or jump into the pockets or hood of my sweatshirt. i want to know if this is normal. i have two other parakeets who hate being in smallish spaces, the sit on your hand and shoulder but thats about it. my mom thinks something is wrong with my new bird, and i once owned a parakeet who was sick and she acted that way. its a little weird. Thanks

Answer
Hi, Melissa,

For some reason, the person you sent your original post to could not answer.  I picked your question up from the question pool.  Please tell me who you sent your original post to.

This is perfectly normal for a tame bird that likes humans and has been properly socialized to humans.  This is the type of bird you want to own.  Perhaps your other birds are not very tame, don't like to cuddle.  Each bird is different and has a different personality.  Tame birds like to spend time with their humans.  Birds that aren't very tame don't like to spend time with humans.  Also, birds LOVE to fly around, so if you allow them free-flight in your home, this is likely why they don't want to sit with you.  Also, most birds prefer other birds to humans, so this may be what is happening with your other birds.  The one that likes to cuddle was most likely handfed as a baby and imprinted on humans.

Some sick birds are so sick all they can do is cuddle.  They like the warmth that cuddling provides when they are sick.  Think about when you are sick...don't you just like to lay around, stay warm, and cuddle with someone or something?!  I know I do!  Some birds know/learn that their humans will help them to feel better, so they cuddle up as a means of telling their humans "I'm sick, make me feel better."

Chrys