Why is my molting bird biting? Will he be less nippy post-molt?

Thanks for reaching out about Rico. Try training to approach the cage, giving a reward, and setting down near the cage. Then go another step, work it slowly. Its all works around trust. Birds are generally grumpy during molting, so attitude might change when molting complete. Good luck.

Preening is just the act of a bird grooming themselves -- you may be thinking of molting where the feathers are lost and then replaced with new ones. In both cases, the beak is usually not affected. If the beak itself is cracking or crusting, there could be an issue such as a parasite or infection of the beak or surrounding it, or even a nutritional issue that is causing the beak to crack. Keeping an eye on it and making sure you are feeding a balanced diet can help. If the crusting continues, worsens, or becomes bothersome, or Blueberry shows other signs of illness, having a vet take a look in person is best. As for taming, time and patience are key. You've only gotten him recently, so spending more time just being together, offering treats, etc can help encourage him to trust you more. If he gets too nervous at sitting on you, spending time at the steps he is comfortable at before trying again can help.

If Tootoo was otherwise happy and calm around family, but recently began to bite there are a few possibilities. One can be pain or underlying illness, which may cause behavioral changes such as sudden aggression as a way to hide illness. A vet checkup to rule out any health issues is always best. Being startled or scared by something may also cause a bird to lash out or become more aggressive, such as if a new family member or pet was introduced, new items, or even loud or strange noises. Giving Tootoo some time to relax and settle down, and then gradually regaining trust with treats and toys may help decrease aggressive behavior. Birds that want to mate may become aggressive toward family they see as "competition" to a mate (or someone they consider a mate, such as a family member). Discouraging this behavior by stopping contact when he becomes aggressive, not giving attention to perceived mating behaviors, or using toys and treats to discourage and distract from bad behaviors may help.

It is possible he's a bit bored or anxious, and that's why he's continuing to bite you even with training. You can try offering him a treat or toy to put into his mouth while you handle him to give him a chance to bite down on that instead of nibbling on you! Keeping him on your arms away from your face or shoulders and away from perches where he can reach down and bite you may also help reduce it. If the behavior continues, talking to a local animal behaviorist near you may also help. It's also a good idea to rule out any health issues if the biting came on suddenly, or if you're noticing any other changes in behavior or health status.

Hello! I'm sorry to hear about Champ's biting. Parrots are complex and intelligent animals, and sometimes it can be difficult to figure out why they exhibit certain behaviors. Luckily, Champ is a young bird, and can hopefully be shown that hands are not threatening or dangerous. One of the most important pieces of advice I can give you when training a bird is to be very cautious about punishing him for biting. Yelling, scolding, or hitting a bird for biting will only reinforce whatever fear he has of your hands, and give him more reason to bite. Some birds are also very protective of their cage, so entering his cage first thing in the morning when he is still groggy may be startling for him. Try giving him some time to wake up and exit the cage on his own time before attempting to handle him. Try approaching with a food item slowly, and allow him to take it from you, if he wants. Once he is taking the food item without hesitation, try putting your hand next to him while giving him the food item with your other hand. Then, put your hand between him and the food item (so he has to get on your hand to reach it). Champ will probably get off your hand immediately the first few times, but don't be discouraged. It will take some time to build up trust. Even after he is getting on your hand with regularity, there will be times where he will still try to bite you. This is just the way birds are. The best thing you can do is completely ignore him when he bites you. Birds do crave attention, and if he starts to associate biting with being ignored, hopefully the incidence will decrease. Be patient, consistent, and remember - birds are very smart, and understand more than you think. If you're upset, he will know. Do your best to stay calm, use a soothing voice, and only reward behaviors that you deem acceptable. Never force him to do anything he doesn't want to do, and he will learn to trust you. Good luck, and I hope that you and Champ develop a life-long friendship!

It's possible he could be hot or stressed. Moving Smelborp to a cooler location, or providing a shallow dish to bathe in may help. You can also use a water bottle filled with cool water on a "mist" setting to help give him a shower (and a chance for both of you to bond). Offering a favorite treat every time you interact with him may also help him feel better and make him less likely to bite- if the weather is hot, a nice chilled piece of fruit may be enjoyable! A stressed or tired budgie may bite if they wanted to be left alone. If you suspect this is the case, giving him some time to himself to relax and rest before attempting to interact again is best.

Birds can sometimes bite or nibble if they're exploring something, and may also bite if they are feeling stressed out or unsafe in the situation. If Cheeya is just nibbling or exploring, she may just be checking out her environment. Adding in some new toys, offering her a treat or moving her to something safe she can chew on may help with this behavior. If she's biting aggressively, it may be she isn't feeling safe in the situation or is overstimulated. Giving her some time to calm down and relax in her cage or another quiet area, and then trying to interact again can help her settle down. If she does get rowdy, the time out can also let her know that the fun stops when she gets too naughty.