Happy, sociable budgie ... that bites :(

[simone]

Hi there. We have a 6 month old male budgie who is extremely friendly and sociable. When we are home he is permanently out of the cage and he loves to spend time with us - sitting on our shoulders, hands, and heads, playing with toys, flying around from family member to family member, "helping" while I am typing this etc! He's quite comfortable around strangers and will fly to and perch on new person's shoulder or chest immediately. Our only issue is with biting! I must stress that it's not biting in response to our actions (ie. putting hand in cage to trying to get him to step up). It usually him flying on to our hands and nipping at fingers while he is there, or nipping our ear lobes while on shoulder. It's quite frustrating as we love interacting with him but the bites are annoying and sometimes painful!

Most of the advice I have read seems to deal biting caused by fear (with the goal of with making a budgie feel comfortable or less timid and therefore alleviating biting response). But in every circumstance he bites, we are not approaching him - we are usually minding our own business while he climbs all over us! Therefore it doesn't seem like a fear response. It's almost as if he's treating us as he does his toys - pinching and grabbing and nibbling and pulling etc. What's the best way to handle this and to teach him we are not toys!?

[Marianne Marlow]

Ah Simone - nice to meet you and little bird!

Budgies do not only bite when they are scared or angry.

They also bite when they are trying to get your attention. He's still a youngster, so he's at "that" stage where he'll test the boundaries with you and see what he can get away with.

Some people blow on the bird, some tap them on the beak with a firm no.

I am sure that others will respond about their bitey beasts!

Could you upload a photo for us so that we can see the bird in question?

Also, what is his name?

Marianne

[Hezz]

As Marianne has so well put it, budgies bite for more reasons than fear. At this age, most budgies, male or female go through a bitey stage. Most, thankfully, grow out of it as they mature. You need to decide how you want to deal with it; time out, or in the case of a budgie, time in (the cage), a reprimand ..... you can't exactly bite him back so retaliation is out of the question. But mostly try not to react overly if he does surprise you with a bite.

[suesbird]

I have one going through this stage as well, nice as pie one minute and then the little so and so bites hard. Jo went through this stage and came out of it.

[simone]

Thanks for the responses, nice to know he might grow out of it! His name is Chirpy (named by my six year old). I believe he's a recessive pied. Oh and I think he might be closer to 8 months now I think about it! He's our first bird, and much adored (apart from the biting!).

[Marianne Marlow]

Another reason that your bird might bite is that it may be a she!
Judging by your photograph in your avatar that is.
But we'd like to see a clearer one just to make sure

[FFG]

I too have one that's 8 months old and very active when he is playing. I feel the same simone when he is on my hand that its more a playful thing, but yeah I agree it doesn't half hurt sometimes! I have tried putting him a bit off balance which does distract him from doing it a bit. I have another younger one that was so gentle but is now starting to do the same. I have just started blowing them a bit (only the last couple of days) and so far it seems to be effective.
I too would be grateful for any other advise people may have.

[starlingqueen]

My first thoughts were is he actually a she? The avatar does look a little like a hen, but as Marianne said, a picture would help.

[Marianne Marlow]

Well, Blithe does just as this bird does too.
He lands on our hands or shoulders and bites us.
He is definitely doing it for attention though!

[simone]

Jun 7, 2015 9:36:26 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Another reason that your bird might bite is that it may be a she!
Judging by your photograph in your avatar that is.
But we'd like to see a clearer one just to make sure

I have gone back and forth on gender but the cere is purplish-pink so I thought male? ... but I will post a clearer pic when I have one and get some feedback from the forum!

[Marianne Marlow]

Well he/she should have a clear male or female cere at 6-8 months old. If it was a male then it would be blue by now.

But some mutations don't get blue ceres which is why we need a clearer photo to work it out

Does he/she sing and headbob in front of a mirror or at you?

What is their behahiour like in general?

[Hezz]

Most go through this naughty bitey stage of life; it is when everything is a bite or considered a challenge - that is when you have to put real barriers in place.

FFG, with your boys, I think with what you are doing and the fact that they are boys, you will find that over a few months this will all turn around and before long will be wondering what all the fuss is about. If both the blowing and putting off balance ceases to be effective, then you need to head into more drastic mode ...... which I have only ever had to apply to a hen - Smudge!

[FFG]

Ok thanks Hezz, I will carry on and hopefully it will pass then or I'll be asking for the other advise from you later.

[fluffball]

Interesting to read this thread - I think Teddy is entering teenagehood as he started to occasionally bite (not a killer one mind) - usually when I am removing him from something unsuitable he wants to perch on. Not getting his own way syndrome! I ignore it completely - even if it hurts. Teddy had a tasting session on my hubby's ear - I was very unsympathetic and told him to just suck up the pain. The next day, Teddy tried to eat a mole on my cheek - now that was sore! Teddy hasn't bit ears or moles since, so I think ignoring him has worked ... for now

[Hezz]

It is funny thing about spots on our faces, or elsewhere ....... you really can't expect them to see them as any else but possible food, ie seeds. My original bud, Bluey (pops up in things like this with great regularly) would try to pull skin tags off my chest .... it wasn't a lot of fun, but he didn't mean anything nasty by having a nibble, he no doubt thought he was doing me a favour, cleaning me up, so to speak.