How to tame sadistic bitey parakeets?

[LsLH]

Hello guys,

I'm new to the forum and to owning birds so I need some advice. I got my first pair of Orange-Chinned Parakeets recently and one of them was pretty friendly the first day I got him and would perch on my fingers(he seemed hand tamed) but then after one day he suddenly turned to bite my fingers whenever he saw it.

The other guy was aggressive from the start and bit even harder but I started giving him sunflower seeds as a reward for not mutilating my fingers and he's starting to understand. I'm not sure if I'm doing this right through. I usually show them my fingers from outside the cage(they attack as soon as they see it), if they don't try to peck me I give them the seed right away. They even started expecting a seed after staring at my finger for like 1 sec. Should I start showing them my finger for longer periods of time before giving the reward? Or am I teaching them something bad? Will they always perceive my hands as free food? Also, is it normal for a friendly bird to suddenly turn into Satan? I haven't been aggressive with them.

P.D. They like to stick together but would occasionally peck at each other as well, especially after biting me
-They are also noisier when somebody is near and they don't seem scared of humans at all.
-According to the guy I got them from, they're 4 months old:01:


I'm still learning so I might be wrong, please feel free to correct me. Thanks in advance.

I just noticed I posted this on the New Members Forum instead of Behavioral xD

 

[NightEule5]

We have a budgie that's exactly like this (The other one that isn't hurt). She will aggressively bite us if we put our hands into the cage (even to feed her) or by the cage. And she bites HARD for a little budgie. Then if she was threatened and there was no hand close she would bite the other budgie.

We've separated the two because of the one's injury, and now this one just tries to bite the bell in the cage.

I think what caused it was my sister's friend (little at the time). We didn't let her hold the bird so she just waited until we weren't looking and grabbed her in her fist saying, "Look, it likes me!" as the poor thing screamed!

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is maybe your bird had a traumatic experience in their past? Something to think about...

Welcome to this forum by the way! There are plenty of people here with more experience than me that can help you better than I can!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums! I have no experience with parakeets, but many members do and can share specific techniques.

If you'd prefer, I can move this thread to the Behavioral forum - just send me a PM if desired!!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Here's a great treatise by one of our resident 'keet experts, reeb.

http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/72068-taming-bonding-budgerigars-tips-beginners.html

Welcome! Glad you're here!