Biting parakeet

[SaltBone]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but my 4-month-old parakeet(I just got them yesterday) keeps wanting to bite my finger whenever it's close to the cage or when I'm changing food Is this normal for a new bird or does it just hates me? He also bites the cage a lot even with chewing toys, I need to salvage this relationship
Also, does anyone else's bird follow their hand when moving around, and is it bad to like, play with it like this?

 

[Sparkles99]

Posting a picture of your set up may help with the cage question. Try holding millet instead of offering your bare hand.

 

[SaltBone]

Posting a picture of your set up may help with the cage question. Try holding millet instead of offering your bare hand.

Posting a picture of your set up may help with the cage question. Try holding millet instead of offering your bare hand.

This is the cage we have right now but we ordered one that's 21.5x31x50in ish and we're getting more toys It also sometimes bites my hand when I'm holding food, but idk if it's mistaking my hand for food or smth else?

 

[SaltBone]

also does anyone know if he will get annoyed at me for sitting next to him for too long

 

[Sparkles99]

Looks like a GCC! I think @Emma&pico has those.

I forget the username of the person with several dozen of them. They’re very popular.

They might feel better if their cage was totally against one wall. They probably feel very vulnerable right now.

Are you planning a DNA test for gender?

 

[Sparkles99]

@April @Mizzely

They’ve had GCCs too, I believe.

 

[SumitaSinh]

also does anyone know if he will get annoyed at me for sitting next to him for too long

If you sit quietly, reading a book or doing something like that, I don't think your bird will get annoyed. In fact that's a good way to start a relationship. You can sing a song softly to make her comfortable.
As for the hand, birds sometimes do not understand that hands are part of our body. They think it's a predator or potential threat if you move your hand fast or try to grab them from above. I make some beak like movements with my thumb and index fingers to any unknown bird, instead of just shoving my hand towards them.I found this trick from a video of bird whisperer.

 

[SumitaSinh]

also sometimes bites my hand when I'm holding food, but idk if it's mistaking my hand for food or smth else?

My mini mac Pestaa is not friendly and does this. To me, it means " I'm obliging you by accepting your offerings, but don't forget your position ".

 

[Mizzely]

@webchirp is the Greenie Queen

Green Cheek Conures can be a bit nippy, especially if they think their body language is being ignored or they are scared. You definitely can't judge the relationship on one day! Try to be as respectful of their space as you can; getting a larger cage will certainly help. If you can get one with feeder doors, that will help ensure you avoid bites while feeding too.

Biggest thing would be to slow down and give them time to decompress

 

[SaltBone]

If you sit quietly, reading a book or doing something like that, I don't think your bird will get annoyed. In fact that's a good way to start a relationship. You can sing a song softly to make her comfortable.
As for the hand, birds sometimes do not understand that hands are part of our body. They think it's a predator or potential threat if you move your hand fast or try to grab them from above. I make some beak like movements with my thumb and index fingers to any unknown bird, instead of just shoving my hand towards them.I found this trick from a video of bird whisperer.

ohh thank you for the advice!! It's just sometimes she will stare at me or bite at the cage in my direction when I'm sitting here and I'm still trying to learn their body language hahahah

 

[SumitaSinh]

D

ohh thank you for the advice!! It's just sometimes she will stare at me or bite at the cage in my direction when I'm sitting here and I'm still trying to learn their body language hahahah

Don't stare directly at her. It's sign of predator. I think she's measuring you

 

[Emma&pico]

@Sparkles99 right you have a gorgeous green check conure yellow sided I think but pictures not very clear
I also agree with @Sparkles99 the cage is too open for a baby new to your home could you maybe move the cage so one side and back covered by a wall will make your baby feel more settled
Sitting by cage chatting and offering treats is a brilliant start
Gcc are nippy especially when young you have to show/teach them what you think is appropriate so if they are biting too hard say no bite and either put bird down or move your hand away they absolutely love attention and will soon get that biting = no attention
It’s good to watch videos on utube of their body language because they will normally give you a warning before a bite might be a subtle changed it feathers etc but they do give you one unless your bird is just exploring with their beak at min which you just need to say no bite or be gentle

dowel perches aren’t the best for their little feet especially if it’s main perch could you maybe get some more natural perches around too ?

 

[April]

View attachment 445519
This is the cage we have right now but we ordered one that's 21.5x31x50in ish and we're getting more toys It also sometimes bites my hand when I'm holding food, but idk if it's mistaking my hand for food or smth else?

What a gorgeous little greenie! My greenie Nala was the sweetest bird ever truly but the only time she'd beak at me not quite a true bite was when I'd try to hand her a foot toy or some food. It was like she just couldn't help herself but other wise she'd never even attempt to use any pressure on me.

I think once you have a bigger cage,more fun to destroy toys(balsa is so soft and fun to tear apart) and a wider variety of perches (high recommend Grapevine and birch for fun to chew at barks) and space to burn off some steam he'll probably settle down some as yall spend more time together and start to bond more.

I highly recommend sitting by him and reading allowed to him. I did that for all of my birds and it definitely helped to get them used to my voice and my body language and being close to them.

 

[SaltBone]

@Sparkles99 right you have a gorgeous green check conure yellow sided I think but pictures not very clear
I also agree with @Sparkles99 the cage is too open for a baby new to your home could you maybe move the cage so one side and back covered by a wall will make your baby feel more settled
Sitting by cage chatting and offering treats is a brilliant start
Gcc are nippy especially when young you have to show/teach them what you think is appropriate so if they are biting too hard say no bite and either put bird down or move your hand away they absolutely love attention and will soon get that biting = no attention
It’s good to watch videos on utube of their body language because they will normally give you a warning before a bite might be a subtle changed it feathers etc but they do give you one unless your bird is just exploring with their beak at min which you just need to say no bite or be gentle

dowel perches aren’t the best for their little feet especially if it’s main perch could you maybe get some more natural perches around too ?

Thank you for the great insight!! Do you think I could cover the back of the cage with fabric so it feels like a wall? If not I could definitely find a different place to put the cage

 

[Emma&pico]

Thank you for the great insight!! Do you think I could cover the back of the cage with fabric so it feels like a wall? If not I could definitely find a different place to put the cage

You could try cover black and one side but you would have to make sure it’s a safe fabric incase it’s chewed plus I wouldn’t cover top as you still want light so they can tell difference between day and light maybe you could tie wrap fabric on @Pixiebeak any ideas ?