Did You Know? The bird you just brought home with you is most likely very young, just a few months old. While it may seem like they're biting and being aggressive at first, it's usually a combination of fear as well as them simply exploring with their beak. Just like other baby animals, it can take awhile for them to learn how to be gentle.
Real bites are usually preceded by other behaviours or cues indicating that the bird doesn't want to be handled or interacted with, so it's a good idea to learn what those cues look like - and respect them before your bird resorts to biting to get his or her message across! Permission-based training is a great way for you and your new bird to get yourselves on the same page when it comes to understanding one another, and can greatly reduce the frequency of bites. One of the ways in which you can do this is to learn how to ask your bird to step up onto your hand, instead of grabbing or otherwise forcing them.
BirdTricks offers a great introductory video on how to ask your bird for a step-up (while still allowing your bird to say "no") that's completely free and a must-watch for all new bird owners:Â
This knowledge will get you well on your way to developing a solid relationship with your bird, allowing you to safely handle them on a regular basis.