Nippy Birdy

[Blue Moon]

Moon is a very nippy bird. I have trained her to sit on a perch on command, and she is OK with my hand in the cage, as long as I dont get too close. I tryed putting my hand on the perch that she is used to , but she sees it, nipps, then climbs higher up in the cage. I dont know what else to do. Its only been the first day of re-training, but Im very persistant when it comes to training. What are some of the methods you have used with nippy budgies?:budge:

[abel]

Birds are territorial, so start by only offering Millet treats through the bars, or the doorway to start. Once she starts looking forward to that, you can gradually put your hand in a little way, then a little more, and a little more, until it's all the way in there.:)

[Budgiekin]

And also, as I mentioned in another post, consider taking the cage away when you work with your budgie. Without the cage nearby, your little one won't feel like she has to defend her territory and may be less likely to nip at you.

Remember that budgies usually nip because they are scared, threatened, or agitated. It may help to work with your budgie when she is in a quieter mood (feeling more mellow). Often they won't nip at you in that case. :p

[Blue Moon]

I am planning on getting millet seed tomarrow. I also noticed that Moon is higher then my eye level... she may feel like she is dominant, so I will try to bring her down to a lower shelving. I wont bother her now becasue she needs her sleep. :P Thank you guys for your advice!

Ps..is it bad for a budgie to nip out of the cage two?

[jayjay]

nipping is their only means of defense against you if they cant flee so if they feel threatened, they will use that defense. if you react to the nip, it will re-enforce how they feel about continuing to nip you. just stay firm and pretend the nip never happened. never back away immediately; even if you are doing nothing more than giving them space, they will begin to associate biting with telling you to go away. hold your hand where it is for a moment after the nip and move it away after a few moments. but in time, when they get more comfortable with you, the nipping should stop.

[Lace]

^^ nippy birdies can half a bit of an attitude problem, but this doesnt mean they cant be taught not to bite ~.^ what your going to have to do is not going to be to pleasant for your fingers, but to get her not to bite, you must show her that biting is really not hurting your, or effecting you. this why, they will learn that biting is not helping them scare you away at all. This will stop the biting, but only in TIME. It takes time to teach a nippy bird not to nip, for they are so used to it and find it as their defense. When you go to get her out of the cage and she tries to nip, let her nip you. But dont pull back, take it and show her it doesn hurt you. Heh, its going to hurt yea, but its usually the best way for for an attitude proned bird ^^