Despite the endearing tail wagging, hand licking, ball fetching friend that is the dog, pet owners looking for a new best friend need look no further than the cage. Bird cage, that is. Regardless of the many misconceptions surrounding birds-all they do is squawk, bite, and eat-birds are actually quite emotional and can make for fantastic pets. With the proper care, birds can develop intimate bonds with their owners; so much so they will even regurgitate their hard earned food for you! Like dogs or cats, birds are fun, intelligent pets that have been misunderstood for years and are simply looking for a loving owner.
In order to establish said relationship with your feathery friend, an owner must first understand the behaviors and physical attributes displayed by their bird. The most important thing to keep in mind is that your bird is an intelligent, emotional, and living creature. It will experience a range of things from boredom, to attachment, to jealousy and anger. None of these mood swings should make you upset or confused. Simply take some time to observe and understand the behavior sand what triggers them, and you and your bird will be able to respect each other in no time.
When owning a bird, you may notice a few gestures or behaviors that occur repeatedly or from time to time. As a responsible owner it’s always a good thing to understand what these things mean to ensure that you don’t agitate your already angry bird, or stop the bird from cleaning itself. Often when birds become excited their eyes may dilate in and out, which is called eye pining, or flare their tail feathers. This usually isn’t the best time to stick your finger near their faces, especially if their clicking their beaks. While it usually it merely means their excited, beak clicking can also be a warning to keep your distance.
Some other movements may not indicate any excitement and rather serve functional purposes. Feather fluffing occurs when birds have finished cleaning themselves in order to rid of the excess debris that’s collected within the folds of the feathers. Feather fluffing is also done to keep a bird warm, though, so if your bird seems to be doing an excessive amount of it, it may be ill. Birds may also wipe their beaks on a perch or on the cage after their done eating to rid of extra mess.
Some behaviors are bird-specific. If your bird has a feather crest atop it’s head, it may flare it when it’s experiencing certain emotions whether it be agitated or happy. Take note of when it happens and try to understand what triggers it. Other birds, such as the Quaker, are named for their unique behavior. Quakers shake frequently for no apparent reason, and some birds will bob their heads out of anxiousness, excitement, or agitation. Most birds will shake after a bath regardless, due to an involuntary muscle spasm in their chest, but take note if your bird seems to do it when in a particular mood.
Other traits you may notice include the bird grinding their beak right before they fall asleep. This hints to contentment. Birds will also preen their feathers to keep them straight and clean, and this is only cause for worry when the preening becomes excessive. If your bird seems to be biting or plucking their feathers out, something is wrong and the bird may be ill. Regurgitation, not to be confused with vomiting, is also a typical behavior found with birds. Regurgitation occurs when a bird becomes attached to another bird, hatches some eggs, or even establishes a strong bond with its owner. The difference between regurgitation and vomit is that the vomit will stick to the beak and feathers of the bird, making it quite messy and obvious.
Consider, then, providing them with some toys and giving them a day or two to fly around a room. If they are bored with their cage, you may see them flapping repeatedly as an attempt to get some exercise or in an attempt to take off. Birds also enjoy naps during the day, and this only becomes worrisome if you notice your bird napping while standing on two legs and extremely fluffed. Usually this means their cold and unstable and thus feeling ill.
Other normal behavior includes aggression, whether it’s possessiveness of the cage or jealousy or another pet, as well as hiding, freezing, or begging. Believe it or not, dogs are not the only ones who resort to being adorable when they want something! Any kind of behavior, such as begging, that needs to be changed can be just as soon as you figure out what is triggering it. As with any pet, it takes time to build a bond of trust and friendship with your bird. But once you do, understanding and appreciating their quirky behavior can lead to a life-long friendship with your bird.
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