Why are birds so temperamental and violent?

Junho · Jul 7, 2016

So much effort is required to "tame" or "bond" with them, because they're so temperamental and violent.

Meanwhile snakes and lizards who make a living out of tearing fluffy animals to shreds only need to be touched or held once in awhile, and they won't bite you once in their lifetime.

1Spongebob · Jul 7, 2016

My birds aren't violent. They can be tempermental due to their high intelligence. A goldfish might not bite but he also can't tell you, "Good Morning. I love you." Perhaps you should stick to reptiles.

Kiwibird · Jul 7, 2016

Not understanding the point of this thread, but if you prefer reptiles to birds, stick with reptiles.

psychocircus91 · Jul 7, 2016

To say "violent" would tell me that it is something the owner is doing wrong, not the behavior of the bird.

With that being said, birds (parrots) are extremely intelligent animals. Not only are they intelligent, but they are socially and emotionally complex. When we take an animal like this from the wild, it requires A LOT of adapting on both ends (the human and the bird). It takes effort and experience to know how to meet the needs of such complex creatures.

SailBoat · Jul 7, 2016

The above Posts have provided great knowledge. Personally, I have found that Humans that have well socialized Parrots more commonly make better parents for their Human children. Both require a life-time commitment, are very bright, and neither seem to really grow-up! Well at least until they have their own.

You could say that we maybe a bit hard on your statement. However, having personally worked with End of Life Amazons that no one else wanted, some of which had been very ill, mistreated, and rightfully had no reason to trust any Human. I can say with clarity and history that you are wrong. With in each of the Amazons that have come to our home, all had huge hearts and only needed the Love and Understanding of a 'Human' for them to turn into the Loves of Our Lives!

Allee · Jul 7, 2016

Junho said:
So much effort is required to "tame" or "bond" with them, because they're so temperamental and violent.

Meanwhile snakes and lizards who make a living out of tearing fluffy animals to shreds only need to be touched or held once in awhile, and they won't bite you once in their lifetime.

Junho, please share with us, what kind of bird have you met recently to give you this strange impression? If pushed, parrots will defend themselves with their beaks but that's the fault of the human not the bird.

How are your budgies getting along, have you made progress bonding with them?

Dinosrawr · Jul 7, 2016

Interesting that you would use the word "violent", when parrots are inherently focused on socializing, interacting, and caring for those in their flock (or monogamous mate). Especially when considering their wild variants, who are rarely found alone at any point in time.

I certainly do not look at my IRN who preens/tries to feed my conure every minute of the day and demands nightly cuddles from me "violent". Nor do I consider my sassy or easily-pleased conure as such. Instead I view them as animal with a huge capacity to love and show their feelings the only way they know how: through vocalization, and if it should escalate, with physical force.

I'm with Allee on this. If a parrot is being so terribly violent, I would imagine the behaviour is warranted. Considering I'm two years bite-free with my IRN (though I know that will change at one point), I think I'll consider my feathered friends vibrant, vocal, and very, very adorable instead.

wrench13 · Jul 7, 2016

I think he was only making a comparison for argument's sake. Snakes and reptiles will never come and seek out your company because they want to hang out with you. You are either a heat source or the tree in the case of snakes. I have had hundreds of snakes and not one has ever come over to me or any person just because they like me. Reptiles are interesting to raise and to try and breed butt as far as any personality they Lac that capability.

Birdman666 · Jul 7, 2016

Another word for "violent" is "just not bite pressure trained." They don't know their own strength, and need to be taught how much pressure is too much. If you don't do that, particularly if it's an amazon, a large too, or a big mac...

There's a Hollywood Movie: "THERE WILL BE BLOOD."

Tempermental? A lot of their language is non verbal. If you ignore the warning signs, that say I'm getting upset and I'm going to bite you...

There's that movie again.

Dogs, cats, and lizards are PREDATORS. They aren't on everyone's dinner menu. BIRDS are PREY. Everything eats them including us. In order to allow you to handle them, they are quite literally trusting you with their lives. In the wild you would never in a million years get close enough to touch. Their instinct for self preservation is being over ridden allowing you that close to them... when was the last time YOU trusted anyone with YOUR life?!

These are high IQ and emotional and opinionated creatures. They have strong feelings about what they do and don't want to do. Sometimes they just don't want to.

ZephyrFly · Jul 7, 2016

Gunna call out the troll now.

Kiwibird · Jul 7, 2016

ZephyrFly said:
Gunna call out the troll now.

That was my first thought, but I checked and the OP has posted several legitimate sounding threads about his/her new budgies. I also wonder if the OP has ever seen the bites inflicted by a full grown 6' iguana (who are vegetarians, not even "fluffy animal destroying" reptiles) or worse, a mature boa constrictor or python

Definitely on par, if not worse than parrot bites since parrot bites can typically be treated at home while serious reptile bites typically require a visit to a doctor due to the kinds of bacteria living in their mouth.

Hoping the OP responds and gives us some further insight into what prompted this thread?

MonicaMc · Jul 8, 2016

Junho said:
So much effort is required to "tame" or "bond" with them, because they're so temperamental and violent.

Meanwhile snakes and lizards who make a living out of tearing fluffy animals to shreds only need to be touched or held once in awhile, and they won't bite you once in their lifetime.

I do believe it's something in their brains. I don't really remember the study, but it was how there are three different types of brains, and depending on the brain would result in particular behaviors of the animals.

https://www.quora.com/How-do-the-di...d-mammals-affect-their-cognition-and-behavior
Animal Intelligence Update 2013

Think it was something like this... although this may not be entirely true, based on other links...
?3-Brains-in-One? Brain | PsychEducation

In short though, animals have evolved differently over the years.

If parrots require too much time to work with, then perhaps they are not the species for you.

sonja · Jul 8, 2016

Snakes and most lizards do not tear fluffy animals to shreds.

Christinenc2000 · Jul 8, 2016

sonja said:
Snakes and most lizards do not tear fluffy animals to shreds.

wrench13 · Jul 8, 2016

Re reptile bites - I have had my hand ripped open by a 16 foot rock python who decided it looked more delicious then the rat said hand was offering. Same hand ripped open again by a Puerto Rican tree boa, an arboreal tree snake that has long fangs in front to get thru bird feathers and does just fine going thru people meat. Also been whip sawed by a Iguana tail and biten by a few. No reptiles are not fluffy people friendly pets. Interesting but not fluffy.

texsize · Jul 8, 2016

I think the thing to remember about parrots is they are not a domesticated animal like a cat or dog. They are closer to there wild side so to speak.
Also they are Prey animals and because they are on the menu of several predators they have natural and strong reactions ie.. flight or fight.
If your bird knows he can't fly due to wing clipping or whatever fight is all that is left for them. You can't expect an animal to know that you are trying to help it not hurt it.

I have had once or twice to rescue one of my birds from getting stuck. When getting them unstuck they bite hard but I expect that, all they know is something is grabbing them and they cant get away.
learn there body language and don't force yourself on them and you will usually have good results.
texsize

snowflake311 · Jul 9, 2016

I HATE Iguana! Awful awful heatless things that poop in water they like to swim in. I had to care for 5 large iguana it was not fun. I don't mind snakes and other lizard but iguanas are the worst.

Yeah it is Prey animal Vs Predator. Stop acting like a Predator and get the trust of a bird. Most of our "pet" birds are Prey birds. Birds are also A LOT smarter than Reptiles.

Why do reptile people think owning a bird is a good idea? Birds are nothing like Reptiles. Just because they are "exotic" does not mean you can handle one. Birds are very special. The friendship you get from them is amazing like no other and I am a dog person. It is not easy to get that friendship but once you do you get it.

psychocircus91 · Jul 9, 2016

snowflake311 said:
I HATE Iguana! Awful awful heatless things that poop in water they like to swim in. I had to care for 5 large iguana it was not fun. I don't mind snakes and other lizard but iguanas are the worst.

Yeah it is Prey animal Vs Predator. Stop acting like a Predator and get the trust of a bird. Most of our "pet" birds are Prey birds. Birds are also A LOT smarter than Reptiles.

Why do reptile people think owning a bird is a good idea? Birds are nothing like Reptiles. Just because they are "exotic" does not mean you can handle one. Birds are very special. The friendship you get from them is amazing like no other and I am a dog person. It is not easy to get that friendship but once you do you get it.

Hey, I like reptiles. but for very different reasons. apples and oranges.

Terry57 · Jul 9, 2016

psychocircus91 said:
snowflake311 said:

I HATE Iguana! Awful awful heatless things that poop in water they like to swim in. I had to care for 5 large iguana it was not fun. I don't mind snakes and other lizard but iguanas are the worst.

Yeah it is Prey animal Vs Predator. Stop acting like a Predator and get the trust of a bird. Most of our "pet" birds are Prey birds. Birds are also A LOT smarter than Reptiles.

Why do reptile people think owning a bird is a good idea? Birds are nothing like Reptiles. Just because they are "exotic" does not mean you can handle one. Birds are very special. The friendship you get from them is amazing like no other and I am a dog person. It is not easy to get that friendship but once you do you get it.

Click to expand...

Hey, I like reptiles. but for very different reasons. apples and oranges.

Well said! I used to keep many reptiles, and I have been bitten by them more times than I care to count...but I still liked them, and yes loved them

They are just a totally different experience than we have with birds.

snowflake311 · Jul 9, 2016

Hey nothing against reptiles. I like most of them. Just not Iguanas yuk. Snakes are cool beaded dragons are awesome. I just can't stand Iguanas sorry.

psychocircus91 said:
snowflake311 said:

I HATE Iguana! Awful awful heatless things that poop in water they like to swim in. I had to care for 5 large iguana it was not fun. I don't mind snakes and other lizard but iguanas are the worst.

Yeah it is Prey animal Vs Predator. Stop acting like a Predator and get the trust of a bird. Most of our "pet" birds are Prey birds. Birds are also A LOT smarter than Reptiles.

Why do reptile people think owning a bird is a good idea? Birds are nothing like Reptiles. Just because they are "exotic" does not mean you can handle one. Birds are very special. The friendship you get from them is amazing like no other and I am a dog person. It is not easy to get that friendship but once you do you get it.

Click to expand...

Hey, I like reptiles. but for very different reasons. apples and oranges.

Why are birds so temperamental and violent?

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Stop parrot to land where he not suposed

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