Why is my ringneck parrot scared, biting, and making strange noises?

Biting can happen if Bright is feeling stressed or scared, or just isn't tame enough yet to be handled. If she lives with other birds, it could be she is more bonded to them so may not bond with you as closely. A good start is to offer her favorite treat every time you approach the cage, by tossing it inside. Once she is more used to you coming by, you can then start to offer it from your hand, and then continue working on taming her from there. If at any time she becomes stressed out or bites, taking a break to let her relax and trying again later can help. It can take time for a bird to get used to their owner, so patience is key. Making sure Bright isn't too stressed out from her cagemates, and that she has plenty of fresh food, water, and toys to play with can help as well.

Thanks for reaching out about Keke. He might have become frightened when you reacted to his biting your ear. It might take some time for him to returned to a stress-reduced state and for you to win his trust again. If the behavior continues, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess health. Good luck.

It sounds like your bird may not be comfortable yet with being handled around the cage. Stress and feeling unsafe can cause a bird to lash out, and it may be that they feel you are intruding on their space or are going to harm them when you get close. Taking some time to bond while your bird is in its cage may help. If he or she has a favorite treat, begin by offering it every time you approach the cage, and only at these times. This will help your bird start to associate your arrival with good things, rather than scary. Once used to you just tossing in a treat every time you come by, you can then move on to opening the cage and offering the treat from your hand, petting your bird, etc. If they become too scared, try to bite, or seem very stressed out, move back to the previous step that worked and try again from there. Making sure the cage itself is kept in a stress-free and quiet environment where other pets, people, etc can't bother it can also help reduce stress and make the space more comfortable and relaxing. Bonding does take time, and it may take days, weeks or even months on each step to build that trust! Be patient, and try not to be discouraged if you don't see immediate changes.

If you just bought the birds yesterday they may still be a little stressed causing some fearful behavior and a reduction in appetite. Making sure their cage is in a calm, quiet place, is free from drafts or extreme temperatures and the food offered is appropriate for their needs is a good first step. If your bird continues to not eat, remains listless or has worsening symptoms, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.

She is likely screaming out of boredom. Birds are very social and require attention and engagement. Provide plenty of toys and puzzles. A lay area on top of her cage is also recommended where she can spend time out of her cage. When she screams, do not "reward" her by giving food. Ignore her until she is quiet then offer treats, individual attention and other rewards. Praise her and attention when she is quiet. Be patient and be consistent.

It's possible Mithoo is very bored and is acting out as a form of attention. Adding in some enriching toys that she can play with, chew on, or that she has to work on to get a treat from may help her get out some of this extra energy. Some parrots don't ever speak or mimic sound, and may instead be more interested in other activities such as puzzle toys or learning tricks. Finding other ways to enrich her environment may help. You can also help bond by offering a favorite treat every time you approach her cage so she stats to associate you with positive things, instead of trying to bite you. Birds are like toddlers, so if she is trying to get out, she is likely excited and wanting to explore her surroundings more. If she does like to explore, hiding treats or favorite food items in the area she plays in may encourage her to explore and get out some energy- just make sure the room she is in is safe for her to fly around. If extra activity doesn't help, or she shows any signs of illness, scheduling a vet check up to rule out any health issues that may be causing pain or stress is always a good idea.

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.