Biting Budgie

[Dee]

Hi, my girl Will O'Wisp started biting me about a month ago. I had been putting my hand in the cage and resting it on a perch to allow her to get used to my hand. She was coming over and gently chewing on my hand. She was getting more comfortable with my hand. I messed up and stopped for a few weeks. I went to put my hand in there a month ago and she bite the heck out of my hand leaving a mark. I've left her alone until today. I put my hand on a perch she wasn't on and she went to the perch just to bite me. What can I do? 

[Hezz]

Unfortunately you are going to have to go right back to the beginning of your training with her. For what it is worth, my opinion is that you picked the perfectly worst time to stop interacting with her, and then to back off again for another month has only reinforced her thinking. Not purposely, I understand, but now the damage has been done.

Actually you are probably going to have to start from behind the starting line, this second time round, because she now has the expectation that if she bites you, you will leave her alone for ages, so then you will come back to interact with her again in a short time and she will be thinking you haven't gotten the message, so attack even more! What you are going to have to do is try bribery with millet, or anything else that might take her fancy, try to get her to see that your hand comes bearing gifts, and is something to look forward to, not try to scare off. It is going to take a while, I think, if she is a determined little thing; I know just how stubborn hens can be. This could be a real battle of wills you are in for. Don't react to her biting, don't get angry with her, stay calm and focused, be persistent and very, very patient. If she comes out of the cage at all, try interacting with her out of the cage first - she is trying to protect her domain (the cage) from the horrible big predator (you). Something that might also be part of her problem - is that a round cage she is in? Birds shouldn't be kept in round cages as it gives them nowhere to retreat to in times of stress. They need to be watchful in all directions with a round cage, and can never fully relax. To help with this, a rectangular cage is best, but if a new cage is not do-able at the moment, you can try putting the cage in a corner and covering half of it up, so that she only needs to watch out one way for danger.

[Dee]

Thanks for the advice.
And that is the cage she was put in right when she came home. She is not in that cage anymore.

[Daisy]

I love all the hints and advice on this forum. Although I never had a round cage, I didn't know they weren't suitable for budgies!
I have a hen, Smokey Jo. Hand reared, she was handled and 'entertained' from the moment I got her. Biting has become a recent problem, since we got her a mate. Before that she was fine, except when on my shoulder and I turned my face to her, and she would peck my face. It seemed really hard but I thought it was that my face was more tender then my hand. I stopped her by not looking at her when she was there!
She nips my hand whenever it is within reach now. I will try the 'treat treatment' very soon!
Hope you don't mind me stealing your hints?
Daisy

[Hezz]

Glad to hear that this one is not her home any more.