My lovable Arny who is nearly 18months old has become very nippy in the last couple of months. From what I can gather it's his hormones is it?

 

He used to be so loving and sweet and is still that way sometimes. For most of the day he's out of his cage and if he lands on my shoulder he's good for a few minutes...but then decides to give me a nasty nip on the neck. If he's on my hands he's okay for a few minutes but then keeps nipping me quite hard.

 

I don't punish him in any way, although I do get frustrated occasionally and put him in his cage to calm down for 1/2 an hour or so.

 

Help! is there anything I can do please?

Hi Judieau, apperently females are nippier then males

 

I found this on the net for you.... (its about Victor that famous budgie, not as good as mine tho..)

 

"I have had several budgies that have done just that. Nipping at lips. They don't usually do it to hurt or try to hurt you but because they are either excited about what you are saying or want you to talk more. I remember Victor use to nip at my lips during a training session if I stopped talking because he wanted to hear more. Usually after the first year or so, they get out of this phase if you tell them to stop and that it hurts when they do it. If they continue after a year you can put them in the cage for a while as punishment. Meanwhile the best way to protect yourself is put your hand over your lips if you are talking to them and they are close enough to sneak in a nip. Just remember that they aren't doing it because they want to hurt you. It is just their nature to be playfull like that when they like or love someone"

I personally would be careful about using their safe "home" as punishment but that is me. I always want my bird to go back into his cage because he feels safe plus after awhile he will be smart and when you go toward the cage fly off because he won't want to go in.

 

Merlin (who is a boy) does do the same thing. I agree keep your face away if he tends to be a nipper. I notice he will try and nip my lip if he is on my finger flirting with my thumb (Laughing out loud). I think he is saying this is my thumb so stay away.

 

If he is on my finger and he is biting me like crazy which he has done I will blow in his face lightly and say no or if I will take my thumb and flick his beak (very lightly) and say no. When the behavior stops reward with a favorite treat (have it there right away). If this doesn't work put him back on top of his cage or on a playstand off of you until he settles down.

 

Females and males can get stinky as I like to say but don't react, do simple steps to avoid the situations and use reward whether then negativeness and you will find it works.

Thank you both for your help

 

He settled down for a few days, but now he's obsessed with a toy ball. Its a plastic one with holes in it and a little bell. He just loves it and won't part with it. If he flicks it on the floor he'll go for our feet and nip us if we get near him. Just now I took it away from him and he's flying about trying to find it, chirping loudly.

 

Please help again! I don't know what to do as it seemed he treated it as his mate. I feel so sorry for the poor li'l guy.

 

Merlin did that with his ball too. Take it away for about a week and reintroduce if you find that he has the same attitude use the ball as now a reward. He can only play with it with you and don't leave him unattended with it . Balls are great toys and right now you have the advantage to play a fun game with him and give him some exercise too.

Thanks Elly

 

It is nearly a week so I will introduce it to him in a day or so and see what happens.

 

He has settled down heaps since I took it from him and he's much more of his sweet, gentle self.

 

He loves to flip coins off the table and then buries them in the vents in the floor heating! (Laughing out loud)

Do you recommend any other toys that I could give him?

 

 

~ Judy

just about anything that is not harmful can be turned into a toy. A piece of paper crumbled into a ball, toilet roll that is cut all the way through so he can't get stuck anything you can imagine .