Why does my bird bite me?

Author: The Vet Shed   Date Posted:16 October 2019 

First of all you will need to determine whether your bird is nibbling or 'beaking' you, or is actually aggressivly biting you. They are two very different actions. If a bird is beaking you it means that they are using their beak like a foot or hand - which is to grasp things and maintain their balance. A bird may nibble you as a sign of affection. 

If your bird is aggressivley biting you, it is commonly due to fear. This may mean that you are moving your hand too close and too quick towards your bird, or this particular bird is untrustful of humans. To combat this problem you will need to take your time with the relationship and let them know that you are not going to hurt them. You can start by giving them a nice treat whenever you approach them. 

Another reason your bird might be biting you is due to over excitement. This happens commonly in larger birds that that are feeling overloaded and are ready to use anything as a fun foraging toy, including your finger! To stop this, watch your birds behaviour and try to steer clear of your bird while they are clearly over excited. Make sure that they have enough toys and boredom busters to take their playfulness out on at all times. 

Finally, if your bird is feeling tired or hurt they may resort to giving you a bite. Did you know that birds actually need 12 hours of undisturbed rest time to feel their best. If your bird is feeling ill it can be a common sign as they do not want to be picked up. Birds are very good at hiding illness' so if you notice a sudden change in behaviour you might be worthwile taking a trip to the vet. 

 

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