Birds are intelligent and playful creatures and yes, they do like being petted, but you need to know the right way to pet them. They are quite different from a cat and a dog, so need a different approach while socializing.
So, let’s get to know the different strategies that you need to apply for a good experience while keeping a bird as a pet.
How to Approach a Bird for Petting?
Let’s get to the guideline that will help you to understand how you can approach a bird for petting.
Avoid Physical Contact on The First Meet
Remember that not every bird would enjoy your physical contact and each bird has its own personality and way of socializing. So, based on the species of bird you want to keep as a pet you must learn the petting techniques. You have to visit the bird multiple times before you can touch it to gain its trust.
Focus on How You Approach a Bird
Approaching a bird for petting also differs from your bird to every other bird you meet. So, if you have a bird as a pet, then they would interact with you in a different playful manner, whereas other birds would have a different approach. You can interact with your pet bird by playing games or allowing it to learn new tricks and there are also abundant activities to choose from.
Keep a Positive Attitude
If you want to pet a bird, you have to walk up to it and your approach should be a positive one. You must allow the bird to see you walking towards them so that they are aware of your presence. At first, spend some minutes or hours talking to them, interacting with them and this would make the bird conclude that you are not a threat and they would be comfortable and they would not react when you try to pet them.
Learn the Body Language of the Bird
You need to watch and learn the body language of the bird as they don’t communicate the way humans do or a cat or a dog, so you need to understand what are the situations that can put a bird into a cooperative situation. If you notice that the bird is not in a mood to interact with you, then respect its feelings and give it some time and space.
Have Patience
When you approach a bird, if you find it bending their head or ruffling their feathers or even inviting you to play with them, then this is just the beginning and they have started to trust you. Go through the signs and if they seem to be agitated, then move away from them otherwise they may even try to bite you. Also, you have a long way to go before you can pet them.
How Can You Pet a Bird Properly?
Here are the dos and don’ts listed while petting a bird:
- You must never pet a bird below the neck as they don’t prefer somebody touching their neck which is also considered to be a mating ritual. The bird might also find it difficult to understand whether you are petting them or trying to be a mate.
- It is the first time that you have started to pet a bird, then start around its beak, and this would help them to understand how you are going to interact. You would also be able to figure out what kind of interaction the bird finds itself being comfortable with.
- You can also try to pet them from tail to beak which most of the birds enjoy. It might seem unusual but this petting of the opposite direction of feather growth is mostly liked by the birds as they start to trust you.
- When you find that you have established enough trust and comfort with the bird, you can move to the side of the head or behind their beak or ear and pet them. After a while, when the bird completely trusts you then you can begin patting the back of the head, but always be careful not to confuse that with petting below their neck.
- Remember the entire petting aspect needs time and patience, so you have to put in more effort than it might seem to gain the trust of a bird.
Why Should You Avoid Petting the Neck of the Bird?
The neck of the bird is part of their mating ritual, and so if you pet them, below their neck they might consider you to be a potential mate, which can further lead to behavior issues, such as screaming, pulling their feathers, and the aggression, regurgitation of food. If any of these aspects concern you and the behavior issue gets worse, then you can consider consulting with an avian veterinarian. Also, you must be careful with the bird during the hormonal season as petting them in this phase can make them sexually frustrated.
How Can You Bird-Proof Your Home?
It is necessary to let the bird out of the cage often, but at the same time, you need to ensure that they are safe and comfortable. So, here are the guidelines that you need to follow:
- Check all the escape areas of the room, ensure that all the doors and windows are closed and that there are no sharp objects or pointers in that room.
- Close all the cabinets so that the birds do not get stuck in them.
- If there are blinds or curtains you need to remove them otherwise the bird’s wings can get tangled in it.
- If the room has any plants with toxic compounds which if ingested by the bird can cause digestive issues, then you need to remove them.
- You must also remove any kind of cleaning product from the room and instead include toys, mirrors, ladders, perches, or swings for the birds to play when they are outside.
Do Birds Live Happily in a Cage?
If the bird has been raised away from the flock from a very small age, they would appreciate living in a cage as they get enough food, water, and learning activities that keep them busy within the cage. The owner should also provide the bird with enough mental and physical development exercises so that they do not get bored. You also need to let the bird out of the cage for some time of the day to allow it to get used to its surroundings and learn how to fly. Otherwise, the bird might show behavioral issues with time. Also, the birds need to interact with the world outside the cage which meets their mental, physical, and social requirements. However, you must not shift the food or water outside the cage but it should remain inside.
Do Birds Like Their Owner?
Birds can form emotional bonds with humans if they have known the person for a long time. They are very affectionate and loyal pets and these can also be seen in their behaviour towards their humans. If the bird has been raised away from the flock within the human, they would develop an attachment which would create a sense of trust and love between the bird and the human.
