Reasons Why Cockatiels Bite

Below are common reasons why a pet cockatiel may bite. Simply click on the biting topic below for more information. If you cannot determine why your cockatiel is biting with the information provided , please post your question on our parrot forum under the cockatiel section or head on over to our main cockatiel area.

Fearful Biting from a Cockatiel

Most cockatiels will bite when they're scared and they believe their life is in danger. It's that simple. Fearful biting is seen more in untamed birds than in birds that have been tamed. Biting is a natural instinct for birds and is a natural defense mechanism. In the wild, a bird will often bite if it fears attack and then quickly will make its escape. This behavior occurs mostly in untamed cockatiels that have been removed from an aviary and are undergoing a taming process. In handfed cockatiels, fearful biting is usually the result of the cockatiel being placed into a new environment or when the bird is expected to interact with a stranger it does not know.

Another reason that a cockatiel may bite is because it may fear an object that it perceives as threatening or may not understand. For example, a vacuum cleaner or ironing board can be scary objects to a pet cockatiel. Most cockatiels hate these items and can quickly become scared when placed near them. Smaller items such as new toys can also push the bird to bite out of fear. For this reason, a new toy should gradually be added to the bird’s collection to allow him to slowly become accustomed to it. Again, it’s important to remember that all birds react differently to situations; therefore, making it more necessary for owners to be aware of their birds reaction when introducing new objects to the cockatiel’s environment.

Other animals such as dogs, cats, or reptiles can also invoke a fearful response that can lead to biting.

Solution: Fearful biting takes time to remedy. The best approach is through positive reinforcement. If a new person wishes to hold the cockatiel, the bird should be allowed time to adjust before being handled. This can be accomplished by the person offering the cockatiel treats to gradually coax him to step onto his finger. It may take time at first for the cockatiel to comply, but eventually the cockatiel will step up when given a treat. This method can be very effective. The owner should practice this training technique with several people around; whereby, the bird will eventually become oblivious to its surroundings. It will begin associating a treat with this wanted behavior. Eventually the cockatiel will become accustomed to strangers and will see this behavior as natural.

If the cockatiel is scared of an object such as a new toy or an item within the room, the owner should place many treats around the new object. At first, the object should be placed across the room and far away from the bird as this helps to gradually introduce the new item without too much stress. The cockatiel will eventually see the treats and will then begin to investigate. This helps to condition the cockatiel and slowly introduce him to a new object. This should be a rewarding experience for the bird. It may take hours, days, or even weeks for the bird to totally accept the item. This is quite normal and the cockatiel should be given time as every bird is different.

It is important to understand that cockatiels are neophobic. This simply means they are scared of new objects that are unfamiliar to them. This can be counteracted by continually exposing the cockatiel to new items throughout its life then being rewarded for its efforts. Treats should always be used and the bird should never be rushed to accept a new object into its environment. Always let the cockatiel set the pace and stop when the bird feels scared.

If positive reinforcement is used as a means to correct this behavior, the bird will start to enjoy new people, objects, and environments. The owner should turn this into a game and eventually the bird will look forward to playing as it knows a treat is coming.

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