Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/12/2006

Question
He I wonder if you could help me, I have had my budgie for about 6 weeks (he is about 5 months old), he is lovely, he didn't bite only up until recently when every time he is out and he is sitting on us he just comes up and bites for no reason (you cannot trust him now), just because our fingers and hands get in the way.  Our son can do anything with him he doesn't seem to bite him.

He is everything we could wish for in a budgie he is not frightened of anything and plays on the floor with us.  He has got every toy in the world to play with inside his cage and outside.  As a family we do keep putting our hands in his cage because up to recently his likes a tickle, but that has all changed, he just bites us.  

I don't know what to do and the best way to go around it.  Please could you help me.

Answer
Hi, Bridget.  Thanks for posting!

Sounds like Bobby is bonded to your son.  Is your bird biting when you put your hands/fingers up to him to put him away or all the time?  Most birds don't like hands/fingers inside their cages.  Their cage is their personal territory, their safety zones, their space, and they don't like "intruders."  When you put your hand inside, the bird feels cornered and biting is his only way of being able to defend himself.  Allow him to come out on his own.  Biting is a learned behavior, so Bobby has learned that biting gets him what he wants or doesn't want.  When he nips/bites, you pull your hand/fingers back, so he learns when he bites/nips, you leave him alone.  Do the opposite to stop the negative behavior.  However, I really believe the bird has bonded to your son and may not want to interact with anyone else in the family.  Most birds tend to bond to one person in a family.  This depends on how they've been socialized during their lifetimes.  Perhaps your son spends more time with the bird than anyone else.  Also, birds get a sense about people.  Perhaps the bird knows your son doesn't fear him and perhaps others in your family tend to fear being biten by Bobby (and I don't blame you).  This plays into the whole scenario.  The bird can sense the fear and takes advantage of the situation.  They are very smart when they need to be!  

About all you can do is reward positive behavior and not reward negative behavior.  Do not allow him to know you are afraid of his bites...I know being biten hurts, but try to grin and bear it and do what you need to do.  Scold the bird when he bites and give him a time out for a few minutes.  Try not to let the bird know that the biting is a problem.  It's like raising a child, same psychological principles involved.  

Come back with any questions.

Chrys