Percy chewing my clothing - why?

[MomtoPercy]

Percy spends a lot of time on me these days, playing on my lap or sitting on my shoulder to survey his kingdom...

He's become rather obsessed with biting/chewing my clothing! He especially loves tracksuit material and bra straps!

He doesn't intend to bite me but sometimes he nips me through my clothing and each time, I get such a shock that we both end up startled LOL! He is not put off though, he just shakes and carries on nibbling away. He has not bitten a hole through anything yet because I discourage him all the time or distract him with a toy. However, he's become sooo obsessed with this game, that it is becoming annoying.

Why does he do this? He doesn't chew any other material (like curtains, cushions or whatever) only material that's on me! How can I get him to stop? I'm concerned he will ingest fibres or something.

 

[SandyBee]

I think he's preening you, Bosley likes to nibble on clothes and skin. I just get Bosley to do it gently by pulling away if he does it too hard and saying ouch quite dramatically if he pinches me.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I'm not sure, but many parrots seem to enjoy chewing clothing. A friend of mine had a African grey who loved making holes in her shirts and robes, and I've read about members birds doing the same.

I feel very lucky that my birdies do not chew my clothes LOL

 

[strudel]

Do you have any pilling on your tracksuit? I've come to the conclusion that my girl is biting me because she thinks my freckles/moles are edible. Percy might be attracted by pilling on the fabric?

 

[Bundiibird]

Bundii does the same thing only it got to be the left hand side of your clothes. And only hubby and me. Everyone else's clothing is safe. Hubby has a whole drawer full of bird shirts that are missing the left shoulder section. Maybe Bundii is trying to start a new fashion craze.

 

[Betrisher]

The Beaks don't chew my clothing, but they do have a disconcerting habit of snapping my buttons in one bite! I have exactly one button left on one t-shirt and that's all! Thanks, guys.

Dominic likes to chew on my t-shirts. He likes the fabric and just chew along in a straight line for a while. Eventually, he'll get sick of it and move off, but he certainly seems to get pleasure from it. I think it has to do with the texture. Dunno... but I think it's cute.

 

[MomtoPercy]

That's what I think too, Trish. Percy is not making holes or even pulling off fibres. He just starts at one point and nibbles all the way down, especially on a pleat or fold in the fabric

 

[TessieB]

According to some pet birds, humans are the best bird toys ever! Our clothes are warm and pliable. And some of our outer wear contains these tiny threads and knots that are begging for a beak! Birds like to be busy. Some like to chew. Some like to preen. Most like to play, and the fact we sit quietly and allow all this play grooming to go on makes us the best chew toys ever!

 

[Kiwibird]

Parrots do seem to love chewing clothing. I think they see it as preening, or possibly as a way of saying "theres not a toy in my beak at this moment, so I'll chew whatever is near me".

When Kiwi chews on my clothes, I gently tap his beak and tell him "no", then offer him a little toy so he will play with that instead. Oversized buttons and beads (too large to swallow of course) are BIG hits with Kiwi when he sitting on me. I always have them in my pocket or laying around.