Very Different

[kellie13060]

I just purchased a Alexandrine Parakeet from a very reputable breeder. We got her yesterday so we have only had her for about 24 hrs. We have gotten two other birds from her and both have been AMAZING. Very tame, loving, and cuddly. This new little girl is very scared, or at least seems to be. She will come out of her cage on to our hand but them immediately starts biting us, she is drawing blood each times she bites. We have started letting her step on to our hands with a towel so that we do not get bitten as much. I am very worried about her and why she is so scared of us. We watched her with the breeder yesterday and she was as sweet as could be. Can anyone offer some advice as to what I could do?

[KimberlyAnn]

Congrats on your new baby!

She's just scared right now. She just moved for the first time in her life and things are so different from what she knew before. Sounds, smells, people and the environment has changed. She just needs time to soak it all in. Just like people, birds are individuals. Some are friendly, but more shy and need time to warm up.

Go slow with her while she us adjusting to her new home. Feed her treats without picking her up or just talk to her softly. Wait to pick her up for awhile, but let her spend time out of the cage. Maybe only pick her up when you need to put her back in. I bet you will see a huge difference in a few days.

A lot of people talk about clicker training. I will let them respond about that. It seems to work well.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Every bird reacts different when they are bought to a new home. Your new bird is just unsure of you for the moment. Try not to step up with her just yet unless necesasary or perhaps offer treats through the bars when she's in the cage so she can't get too much of a bite. It might help to associate the hand with something good.

Its important not to react too much to the bite (I know this is hard) but simply to place the bird down somewhere- preferably not back in the cage maybe just on top.

Otherwise, just keep her quiet and avoid handling too much for a few days. Make sure she's in a quiet room but talk to her softly and be very slow and cautious around the cage. No sudden moves.

I'm sure she'll settle in.

[JaydeParrot]

I agree with the other two, changing home without warning must be very confusing/worrying for her and it's generally in a parrot's nature to bite if they feel intimidated/scared.

The best thing you can do for her is to just keep her in her cage for the first few days, maybe with her cage door open at certain times, let her watch you interact with your other parrots and go about your daily routines.

That way she'll get to learn that you're not a threat, what the average daily routine is, how the two parrots interact with each other and how the parrots interact with you.

If you were taken to different country where you didn't know anybody and weren't too sure how to act around others, I'm sure you'd be pretty worried and confused too. Just give her some time, she'll soon calm down and figure out/ learn from your other two parrots how to behave appropriately within her new home.

[Pricey_boy]

just be loving and caring a bond could take weeks or months. this doesnt happen by forcing your love onto your bird it happens by you loving but also respecting your parrots space. eventually your bird will learn to trust you. just imagine growing up with your loving parents and for no reason being put into a cage wouldnt you be scared?