erlabella
New member
Hello
So my neighbour has a blue masked lovebird, that bites a lot. They are on a vacation for the weekend and I’m taking care of him/her for them. I have two budgies, so I know about basic bird care, though I’m not a proffesional. I’m having trouble on reading his/her body language and I would like your help.
I don’t know yet what’s causing his/her biting behaviour but I’m guessing it’s either territorial aggression, hormonal issues or fear. He/she chirps a lot (high pitched), especially when I’m in the room. He/she will usually follow me as I’m walking around, climbing on the cage bars, and I don’t know what it means. I offered him/her sunflower seeds through the cage bars and he/she didn’t seem aggressive at all, and ate them straight away. Then I tried offering him/her treats inside his/her cage and he/she acted strange. He/she puffed his/her feathers raised his/her wings a bit (not fully) and bit me. He/she did not lunge at me, but rather bit me (or munched me) a few times (a bit hard). He/she took the treats in my hands, bit me a few times and went back to eating the treats in my hands. I didn’t react in any way, as I’ve read it reinforces the behavior. I talked calmly to him/her and removed my hand slowly away from the cage. I don’t know if I’m doing this right but as I said, I’m not a proffessional.
I’ve seen this behavior in one of my budgies before. Offering him treats and bites me a few times while eating. He is a very nervous and frightful little bird, and I think he bit me because of fear.
I don’t know anything about his/her past, only that the previous owners sold him/her because of aggression. Please help! If anyone knows what this behavior means and how to prevent it feel free to tell me and to ask questions.
So my neighbour has a blue masked lovebird, that bites a lot. They are on a vacation for the weekend and I’m taking care of him/her for them. I have two budgies, so I know about basic bird care, though I’m not a proffesional. I’m having trouble on reading his/her body language and I would like your help.
I don’t know yet what’s causing his/her biting behaviour but I’m guessing it’s either territorial aggression, hormonal issues or fear. He/she chirps a lot (high pitched), especially when I’m in the room. He/she will usually follow me as I’m walking around, climbing on the cage bars, and I don’t know what it means. I offered him/her sunflower seeds through the cage bars and he/she didn’t seem aggressive at all, and ate them straight away. Then I tried offering him/her treats inside his/her cage and he/she acted strange. He/she puffed his/her feathers raised his/her wings a bit (not fully) and bit me. He/she did not lunge at me, but rather bit me (or munched me) a few times (a bit hard). He/she took the treats in my hands, bit me a few times and went back to eating the treats in my hands. I didn’t react in any way, as I’ve read it reinforces the behavior. I talked calmly to him/her and removed my hand slowly away from the cage. I don’t know if I’m doing this right but as I said, I’m not a proffessional.
I’ve seen this behavior in one of my budgies before. Offering him treats and bites me a few times while eating. He is a very nervous and frightful little bird, and I think he bit me because of fear.
I don’t know anything about his/her past, only that the previous owners sold him/her because of aggression. Please help! If anyone knows what this behavior means and how to prevent it feel free to tell me and to ask questions.