Question:
I have recently bought a cockatiel and although she was hand raised, when you put your hand down for her to hop up onto, she usually bites you. Is there anything I can do to stop this habit?
Nadine, via e-mail.
Answer:
Nadine,
Your little feathered friend may have previously been frightened or handled roughly, but now this biting has become a reflex action whenever you offer a hand, a habit you have to persuade her to kick! The best way to approach this is gently. Don’t push things. Start by trying to give her a treat of a nut or seed a couple of times a day at roughly the same time.
Birds like routine and you can teach her to have ‘owner and treat time’, which she will learn to look forward to. Gently talk to her while you do it and wash your hands beforehand so you don’t smell like anything threatening.
When she is comfortably taking the treat, just touch her for a second, on the chest, not the head (don’t try to grab her). Gradually the contact can be for longer, but if she seems frightened, back off a notch. You can also then hold your hand still and put the treat on the back of your hand so she needs to climb up to get it. Slowly you will build up trust and she will associate being handled with yummy things in her tummy, which she’ll be all for!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
