Budgerigars, also known as budgies, are often kept as pets because they are small, cute, and fun to play with. However, not all budgies are alike; in fact, the behavior of each bird can vary drastically. Many birds will not show any signs of aggression towards their owners at all, while some others may peck and bite at their hands or feet relentlessly. If you want to ensure that your budgie will never act aggressively towards you or anyone else again, read on to discover the different methods you can use to reduce aggressive behavior in your budgie.
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Let Them Fly
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If you want to reduce aggressive behavior in your budgie, they must get a little exercise. A cage with lots of room and toys can be an ideal environment, but too much time cooped up will only make things worse. Make sure they have at least an hour of open space every day so they can stretch their wings and fly a little. This not only lets them indulge their instincts, but it also allows them to burn off some energy—something you don’t want if you’re trying to curb any violent tendencies!
Train Them Early
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If you plan on adopting a young budgerigar, you must socialize with them at an early age. Exposing them to as many sights and sounds as possible will help them to develop into a friendly adult. If your pet has already developed aggressive tendencies, try exposing them again. They may have simply missed some lessons when they were younger!
Spend Time with Them
Spending quality time with your bird is essential. It’s important to spend one-on-one time with your budgie at least once a day; it gives them a sense of security and allows you both to relax. Spend 5 or 10 minutes playing, exercising, and bonding with your bird. You will be healthier for it, too!
Keep him busy and active
Most budgies need a lot of stimulation. In a cage, they will get bored and restless very quickly, which can lead to aggressive behavior. To keep your bird from getting too excited, it’s important to find safe ways for him to play. Swings or foraging toys are two good examples; you should be able to find them at any pet store or avian store. You can also try placing toys that swing above his head so that he has something exciting and new to do regularly. While these exercises should help your bird release some of his natural energy, you must give him plenty of time out of his cage so he can stretch his wings and socialize with other birds or humans.
Change his diet
A few changes to your budgie’s diet might do wonders for its aggressive behavior. One possible solution is to switch from a seed-based diet to a pellet-based diet. Many vets and owners also recommend giving your bird human food as an added dietary supplement, though you have to be careful about what you give him—otherwise, he might develop health problems such as obesity or diabetes. It’s also crucial that he has access to fresh water at all times. Teach it tricks: Another way to reduce aggression in your budgie is by teaching it tricks. For example, if it knows how to step up onto a perch, then it won’t feel so threatened when you approach it with food.
Know Their Personality
Each bird has a personality of its own and each bird owner should learn what that personality is. Keep an eye on your budgie’s mood, its body language, and how it interacts with you and other pets in your household. It will be easier for you to recognize when your bird is feeling aggressive and act quickly before things get out of hand. The more aware you are, the less likely your budgie will become aggressive.
Work on Caging Aggression
While your budgie may be aggressive toward you and other people, he’ll likely be just as aggressive toward other budgies. Some budgies will go out of their way to pick fights with another bird or even threaten humans; they simply don’t have a clue that they’re acting inappropriately. Often, these types of budgies were kept alone for an extended period before being acquired by a new owner—you should avoid doing that yourself if you want your bird to learn how to act properly around other birds and humans. The best thing you can do is keep your bird company at all times: a bonded pair is best, but one budgie is better than none!
No mirror
In most situations, mirroring your budgie’s behavior is a great way to bond with him. But, if he’s being aggressive towards you or others it can be dangerous. Mirroring his behavior encourages his aggressive traits and could result in your budgie becoming even more aggressive over time. Therefore, it’s important not to mirror your budgie’s behaviors when they are showing aggression. Instead, try ignoring him completely until he calms down; avoid eye contact and ignore his calls as well.
If your budgie is aggressive towards its reflection, take away all mirrors.