I've had my parakeet for about 2 years, he is very friendly and sociable but has never let me hold him or pet him. He sits on my shoulder, eats out of my hand, plays with me, and will sit on my knee while we nap together. But no holding or petting, he just nips at me if I try. Is this just part of his personality? He was hand fed as a baby, so I find this strange.
2006-09-25 18:08:57 · 14 answers · asked by St. Louis Girl 3 in Pets ➔ Birds
Yea, I don't really mind that he won't let me pet him, but I was just curious becuase I thought very tame parakeets will usually let you.
2006-09-25 19:19:01 · update #1
I breed budgies. I handle the babies all the time but some wont let me pet them when they get older. Mostly its because birds don't like it and that's just the way it is. But occasionally a normally friendly bird who previously enjoyed being held and preened may have developed an aversion to it due to a fall or other accident whereby he may have damaged the wings and they are tender, this could be the case so carefully check between the feathers.
2006-09-26 01:22:29 · answer #1 · answered by Silly-Junos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you were his size and he was your size, would you feel comfortable letting that giant finger get too close to you? I mean, it's quite obvious that hand could crush you to death in a second if it wanted to.
Animals generally are very skittish about being close to a creature much larger than itself. It is a nervous tension they need for their survival, so you can't really blame them. My Steve used to say that the reason cats are so fascinated with humans is they can't figure it out: why doesn't he eat me? They eventually come to recognize individuals (I don't know whether a parakeet can recognize an individual), but they remain rather stressed by the whole idea. No memory to speak of, so they continue to wonder: why doesn't he eat me?
2006-09-26 01:20:07 · answer #2 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had a budgie for about a year and a half and she won't let me pet her. She will either fly away or step on the finger I'm trying to pet her with. I'm hoping that with a lot of time and work she will let me. Be patient and don't give up, it may just be that your bird doesn't like or doesn't know what is going to happen and is scared
2006-09-26 16:37:04 · answer #3 · answered by trtlekltz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He seems pretty tame to me. They really aren't "cuddly" pets. You get them out, walk around some, maybe teach them something cool, then back in the cage. I don't know what else you want from the little guy.
Do remember that your fingertip is as big as his whole head.
Birds groom their feathers and can be picky about how they lay down. Like if you just brushed your hair the way you like and someone ruffled it up for no reason other than they wanted to. You wouldn't be too pleased.
Just enjoy him. And his quirks.
2006-09-26 01:56:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say it's just his personality. Parakeets are funny birds, some can be really picky about things. My keet would allow me to pet him around the neck and head but would not allow me to touch his back. I guess they're just funny that way. He would lay on his back in my hand and allow me to pet his chest and stomach, but if i went to touch his back while standing he'd get fierce and nip at me. So I just accepted that as a place he didn't want to be touched and we got along fine.
2006-09-26 01:26:13 · answer #5 · answered by xeuvisoft 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My parents hand raise parakeets, and the first thing that they do is cover them with a towel, or washcloth, and clip at least one of their wings. You have to be careful not to clip too high up into the vein in the feather though, or they will bleed. That prevents them from being able to fly, and helps in the taming area. After clipping their wing, we can hold them, pet them, and hand feed them. The first few times they will nip at you, but pulling away is the worst thing to do. It works best if you tell the bird no, instead of pulling away, because they can sense your fear. Your bird, however might just have a terrible temper, and clipping him might not help, since he already sounds fairly tame. Good luck and I hope this helps.
2006-09-26 01:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by biggsbabygirl 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have parakeets as well, and I have found that patients and slow movements are what works best. each day I play with my birds but it took a while for them to get used to me, expecially my female, but over time they let me touch them and interact with them. if you want to pet them, just slowly start with touching their beak, do this for about a week, just touch it slowly as if your petting it, then try a foot, pet the foot for about a week or so, as they get used to it, move to the wing, they will let you know how comfortable they are with your touch by moving away or flenching. just be patient and consistant and eventually they will be loving your touch. Good luck and enjoy your parakeets.
2006-09-26 09:19:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because he doesn't like to be touched. Just like some people... Birds tend not to be cuddly. If you want cuddly, get a dog or cat.
2006-09-26 05:29:56 · answer #8 · answered by thorkitty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a parakeet when i was young. it was a cool pet!! mine didn't let me approach them either. (i had 2) but they would approach me. i think they felt threatened? didn't have a chance to find out cause my cat ate them while we were at church. opened the cage and had dinner. we got the cat back though. whe accidently went for a ride in the dryer and almost died. that cat never slept in the dryer again!!! you made me ramble.
2006-09-26 01:18:43 · answer #9 · answered by martiniac 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Cuz you show fear...drawing your hand back has worked before...so...he nips...you back off!
Keep young and growing birds lower than your eye level. Grab his beak between your finger and thumb when he pecks at you. Let him know youre the boss bird. ;)
2006-09-26 01:18:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋