My budgie bites when I pet it. How to tame budgies & stop food fights?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Female | 5 months and 27 days old | 35 lbs
My budgie has started eating from my hands but when ever I try to touch him he bites. I have a pair the female is afraid to come on my hand to eat so may be it scares the male budgie. How should I tame them? Also they bite each other while eating what should I do to avoid this?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on September 28th, 2017
It will take time. Allow him to keep eating from your hand. Use treats to coax him onto your hand and when you pet him, do not come in from above. This can be a threatening motion for birds. Approach at or below eye level and move slowly. The female will require a bit more work in getting acclimated to your hand. You can do the same though. Use treats and rewards. Keep your hand near her, but don't try to touch her, for ever increasing periods of time. Provide additional food and water bowls to prevent resource protection.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 13th, 2018
She may be curious, nervous still or stressed. When she begins to bite, drop your hand about 2-3 inches rapidly. This will put her off balance and distract her from biting. Do it each time and she will learn biting is not allowed. Praise and reward her each time if she stops biting. If not, place her back in or on the cage until she settles down then try again.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 22nd, 2018
Time. Patience. And Treats! Take some time every day to just sit near Star's cage without interacting. Once she seems a bit more comfortable, you can start to offer a favorite treat such as spray millet from your hand, or tossed into the cage. From there, you can work up to offering it from your hand, or petting her gently while she eats it. If at any time she becomes too scared, revert to the previous part that worked (IE going back to offering from your hand) until she is comfortable again. This takes time, and likely won't happen overnight. It can take weeks or even months to bond with a new bird, so remaining patient and giving her time to get more and more used to you can help.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 4th, 2019
If the chick is eating on it's own, you can pull it and place it in a separate cage. If not, you can still pull it, but you will need to hand feed it. This can help create a bond. If you don't have experience hand feeding, ask your veterinarian or an experienced breeder for help. To tame it, spend as much time as possible each day with the bird. Move slowly and talk softly when around the cage. Gradually acclimate him or her to your hand. This is done by placing your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Hand feeding will help because the bird will be used to handling and will associate you with food. Be patient and be consistent.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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