Nov 18, 2022 20:48:26 GMT
clow1988
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 44
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Biting
Jan 11, 2023 16:59:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by clow1988 on Jan 11, 2023 16:59:03 GMT
Hi guys,
Bo has become a bit bitey this week.. any advice on preventing it? Think he may be starting a moult but other than that not sure why he would be starting to bite now.
Tia for any advice
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Post by Hezz on Jan 12, 2023 6:55:43 GMT
First moult, first growth, first surge of hormones most likely, plus he is feeling comfortable, hitting his stride and testing the boundaries, just like a toddler. Tell him firmly “NO!” Or use a sound that I’ve found the budgies recognise immediately - a short sharp “A” sound. They do the same to each other if someone goes too far, they use an “akk, akk” and it can immediately cause them to pull back and take notice. Most budgies go through this biting stage a few months in but usually it doesn’t last too long, especially if you jump on it sooner rather than later. You can accompany this with a tilt of your hand at the same time. He will be surprised and need to keep his balance thus taking his attention away from wanting to bite you.
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Nov 18, 2022 20:48:26 GMT
clow1988
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 44
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Post by clow1988 on Jan 12, 2023 14:31:06 GMT
Thanks Hezz, will definitely give these a go! Don't remember Boris ever biting me but he may well have done in the early days.. He's obsessed with my phone. Lands on my hand tapps away at the screen.. gives a good few bites. Tried to not react to it at first. He's exploring EBERYTHING with his mouth at the minute like a baby does.. will give this a try thanks First moult, first growth, first surge of hormones most likely, plus he is feeling comfortable, hitting his stride and testing the boundaries, just like a toddler. Tell him firmly “NO!” Or use a sound that I’ve found the budgies recognise immediately - a short sharp “A” sound. They do the same to each other if someone goes too far, they use an “akk, akk” and it can immediately cause them to pull back and take notice. Most budgies go through this biting stage a few months in but usually it doesn’t last too long, especially if you jump on it sooner rather than later. You can accompany this with a tilt of your hand at the same time. He will be surprised and need to keep his balance thus taking his attention away from wanting to bite you.
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Post by Hezz on Jan 13, 2023 1:06:57 GMT
The point of not reacting doesn’t work for those of our birds that are happy to be with us. Where it should be used is where a bird is afraid and bluffing - making out that it is going to bite so you leave it alone, and that is the aim, to be left alone, so you reacting and pulling away tells bird that its bluff (or bite) has worked. Once that bird realises that biting that hand doesn’t achieve anything, but also nothing bad happened to it, the bird, either, then it will often just move out of the way and watch you closely. The other thing to do is be proactive rather than reactive. If there is a certain routine you are noticing for when he bites, step in before and either move him on, put him down, offer him a treat … anything to distract him away from the trigger that brings the bite into play. There is a saying “the best bite is the one that doesn’t happen”. If he sits with you for some time and then suddenly bites, don’t let him sit with you for as long, again, move him on. He’ll get the idea, birds are far from being the bird-brains that they are reputed to be. If you do miss a cue or leave it too late, then use the telling off that his cage-mates would give him, if he had any. So you have two pieces of arsenal up your sleeve - get in before he does (I should have mentioned this yesterday, sorry), but if you don’t sometimes, tell him off, and put him off. Put him down immediately. If he tries to get back onto you, make him wait, and talk to him, let him know that if he does that again, he can’t sit with you. Be firm, no cutesy voices, treat him like the toddler he is. Good luck - go tame that monster-bud.
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Nov 18, 2022 20:48:26 GMT
clow1988
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 44
|
Biting
Jan 29, 2023 14:52:17 GMT
via mobile
Post by clow1988 on Jan 29, 2023 14:52:17 GMT
The point of not reacting doesn’t work for those of our birds that are happy to be with us. Where it should be used is where a bird is afraid and bluffing - making out that it is going to bite so you leave it alone, and that is the aim, to be left alone, so you reacting and pulling away tells bird that its bluff (or bite) has worked. Once that bird realises that biting that hand doesn’t achieve anything, but also nothing bad happened to it, the bird, either, then it will often just move out of the way and watch you closely. The other thing to do is be proactive rather than reactive. If there is a certain routine you are noticing for when he bites, step in before and either move him on, put him down, offer him a treat … anything to distract him away from the trigger that brings the bite into play. There is a saying “the best bite is the one that doesn’t happen”. If he sits with you for some time and then suddenly bites, don’t let him sit with you for as long, again, move him on. He’ll get the idea, birds are far from being the bird-brains that they are reputed to be. If you do miss a cue or leave it too late, then use the telling off that his cage-mates would give him, if he had any. So you have two pieces of arsenal up your sleeve - get in before he does (I should have mentioned this yesterday, sorry), but if you don’t sometimes, tell him off, and put him off. Put him down immediately. If he tries to get back onto you, make him wait, and talk to him, let him know that if he does that again, he can’t sit with you. Be firm, no cutesy voices, treat him like the toddler he is. Good luck - go tame that monster-bud. Well he's upping his game with biting. It's becoming quite savage. He doesn't do it to my little girl it's only me.. he hasn't caused me to bleed but left marks and it does hurt. Nothing I do seems to work other than shaking him off! Tried blowing on him gently, the akk akk and distracting.. really hoping he grows out of this because its frustrating after him doing so well..
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