Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Quaker Parrot Biting

Why do Quaker Parrots bite?
"Don't bite the hand that feeds you"
 
Many people are concerned when they experience their Quaker Parrot biting them.
It is important not to take natural behavior this personally.
A quaker parrot may bite for a number of reasons.
Most likely if a parrot tries to bite you they are:

    1.    afraid
    2.    confused
    3.    stressed out
    4.    acting out of instinct





All species of animals need some way to convey that they need space.
Just like humans, quaker parrots do not always want to be touched.
It is important to respect the boundaries of your parrot friend just as is expected of humans.

How can I prevent biting?

1.) Don't punish your Quaker Parrot
Parrots do not learn by punishment because they do not understand what they've done wrong.
Quakers learn best by positive reinforcement.

2.) Stay calm
It's important to remain calm if you've been bitten (this is sometimes easier said than done).
Losing your temper will make appear unstable.
Quaker parrots need the assurance of a calm loving figure who respects their boundaries and needs.
With this said though, trying to baby your parrot after they've bitten you should be avoided as well.

3.) Don't antagonize your quaker parrot, and don't let others antagonize either
If your quaker parrot bites someone who is putting their fingers in their cage, don't make a game out of it by continuing to poke.
Your parrot will continuously warn/bite the person which will stress them out.
The mentality will form that the parrot needs to defend their personal space.
This can increase stress in the parrots life which will increase biting.

4.) Learn to read your parrot's body language and behavior
It is important to learn the different moods of your parrot.
Are they happy, sad, bored, excited, agitated, defensive?
These are all things to keep in mind.
Learn to read your parrot and respect their boundaries and you will likely have a long healthy relationship.

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