Budgie biting problems

[fizzi]

Pepper is my 7 month old budgie that I got a few days ago, she's grown to like me quite a bit since she's now starting to sit on my shoulders, hands, head and arms. Her previous owner claimed her mate Salt had passed so I'm planning on getting her a lil' pal to talk to (instead of the plastic bird that she sits next to and rubs against). She's been biting me a lot and left red marks on my head on cheek. I've tried ignoring her biting but that's not doing much. I've also tried putting my finger near her beak to stop her biting but that's not doing well. I'm autistic so my flesh-hold is very weak and her biting hurts me a lot. Any tips to stop her biting?

[OP]

Your post is far too faint for me to see.

[jellybean]

Hi fizzi, welcome to the forum. I think at 7 months old this is classed as the 'Teenager' stage in a budgies life.
My boys are 2 years old and still occasionally bite. I hope others might be able to help with a solution.

[Hezz]

May 7, 2016 15:31:01 GMT OP said:

Your post is far too faint for me to see.

Me too, OP, so I have fixed the colour, sorry if that offends, fizzi

[Hezz]

As jellybean has said, this is quite normal for budgies, particularly in that first 12 months, but be prepared to be bitten at odd times over Pepper's life. She is a budgie, after all, and that is what they have beaks for. To help her out, does she have anything else to chew on? Chew toys are essential for beak health and great boredom breakers as well. Pieces of balsa wood, can be bought online, natural tree branches for perches - willow and apple are great - paper and cardboard can be shredded as well.

Generally the birds grow out of their bitey stage, but I have to ask if she is biting you and then taking off, or is she checking you out and biting a little too hard at times? There is a difference there. If she is happily sitting on your shoulder and nibbling on your hair, clothes, ear etc and then there is the odd nip, this is not a malicious, get-out-of-my-space nip, it is just that she needs to adjust her preening so she doesn't hurt. This will come with time. If she is sitting on your shoulder then suddenly reaches out and bites you and flies off, this is naughty behaviour and she needs to be taught that it is not acceptable. Whether you use time out, chastisement, rewarding good behaviour, or whatever, find a way that seems to get the best results and be persistent. You will not kick the habit straight off; it will take her a while to learn. Some take seemingly forever, but hopefully it is simply that she is going through her teen stage and grow out of it. There is no sure fix; what works for one bird may not work for another.