Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/27/2007

Question
Hi! I have had my budgie for a few months now. I've researched budgie behavior, and am concerned that my budgie isn't really displaying "normal" behavior. He's always been a rather quiet bird, and doesn't really chirp much except in the evening or when nobody's around. I could also never teach him the step up. My bird has always preferred arms, and doesn't like for me to reach into his cage to get him. He prefers to come out first, and then will willingly step on to my arm when I put it in front of him. Also, he has a very difficult time with new things. I have gotten my bird a new perch and toy since I got him, because he seemed to play with the toys he has less and I thought he might be bored of them. I made sure to let him see the toys first for a while outside his cage, hoping to get him used to them, and when I put them in he didn't seem so afraid of them, but he has not once even touched the new objects. And lastly, my bird loves chew on me. It started out as gentle nibbling, but now he's getting more aggressive, tugging at my skin the same way he chews his toys. I don't think he knows the difference between my arm and a toy. Are these behaviors healthy? Is there a way to stop the chewing? Thank you!

Answer
Hi, Melissa,

He might be a she!  Tell me the color of your bird's cere (the colored area above the beak).  Females tend to be more quiet than males, they chirp but don't "sing" like a male would, etc.  Lots of birds don't make much noise when their humans are around because they are more interested in what you are doing.  It's normal for your bird to not like you to reach inside its cage to bring her/him out, and you are doing well to allow s/he to come out on his/her own.  Perhaps you are not buying toys that your bird enjoys.  Budgies enjoy swings, things they can climb on/in/through.  Maybe the toys you've chosen are too big for your bird or too small.  Some birds simply don't like toys.  You may have to try different toys to find ones your bird likes.  

Birds have a natural instinct to chew on things.  When your bird chews your skin and you don't want s/he to, tell the bird "NO" and place the bird on the top of its cage if you have to in order to stop the behavior.  After a few minutes, pick the bird back up again.  You have to control your bird...not allow your bird to control you.  You have to teach the bird what is acceptable behavior and what isn't acceptable behavior.  You do this by rewarding or not rewarding the bird.  Always reward positive behavior and never reward negative behavior.  Be consistent, too, so as not to confuse your bird.  Since your bird prefers arms, it seems the bird is afraid of fingers.  Therefore, you should try to get the bird used to your fingers.  Try handfeeding the bird its favorite treat from your fingers in order to try to get the bird used to them.  Then you should be able to teach the bird the UP command by placing your index finger up against the bird's chest and saying "up."  To satisfy your bird's natural instinct for chewing, perhaps your bird needs some soft wooden toys to chew on, a mineral block, or something similar.

You haven't given me any reason to believe your bird isn't a normal bird.

Chrys