Other reasons a bird may bite are if it is startled or scared, in self-defense, if it associates your hands with negative consequences (such as if you use your hands to shoo the bird away), or if it doesn’t like what you are doing. [3] X Research source Once you’ve figured out what your bird is communicating, you’ll be able to better anticipate its needs and avoid being bitten in the future.
If the cockatiel was abused or neglected in a previous home, animal shelter, or pet store, it may be prone to biting.
You’ll need to be patient with a biting cockatiel. Animal behavior does not change overnight, and it may take weeks for your pet cockatiel to stop biting if it’s grown accustomed to the behavior with you or another owner.
Slightly tipping the bird off balance does not harm the bird in any way, and is not mean or abusive. This is simply a gentle form of showing your bird that it’s not allowed to bite you. If the bird is on your arm or shoulder, lean a little to shift the bird’s balance.
Pet birds have few other means of communicating with their human owners, and so biting serves as a default communication signal. Watch for signs that the bird is about to bite you. The bird will look at what it is about to bite, open its mouth, spread its legs apart or grip its perch, or even charge at you. [5] X Research source
Do not reach into your cockatiel’s cage and wake it when it’s sleeping. All pet birds should be left alone while they are resting, and a rudely awakened bird may be angry and bite.
The bird will soon learn that its biting will not result in positive attention.
If you haven’t trimmed your bird’s wings before or do not feel comfortable trimming them yourself, take the cockatiel to a vet who can perform the procedure. Trimming your bird’s wing feathers will also prevent them from being able to fly away.
If this is your first time owning a cockatiel, plan to buy it a medium to large cage. Cockatiels have impressive crests and large tails, and so need more space than you might think. A cockatiel’s cage should be at least 20 inches (51 cm) wide, 20 inches (51 cm) deep, and 24 inches (61 cm) tall. [9] X Research source
To encourage your cockatiel to spend more time playing in its cage, try giving it items you can find around the home, including: toilet paper rolls, large Lego bricks, buttons, and shiny objects like metal bells. If your bird tries to eat plastic perches, remove them immediately and replace them with stainless steel perches.
As an example, if your house is usually 75 °F (24 °C), lower the temperature to about 65 °F (18 °C) in the room where you keep your cockatiel. Don’t lower the temperature too much though, or the bird could get sick.
