Red Bellied Parrot Questions

[falconut]

My local bird store has a female red bellied parrot that is a little over a year old. They keep their birds in boxes with plexiglass fronts. So, to interact with them, you must ask them to take them out. My wife went over to check her out and she did step up on her finger. But she did occationally bite her, one time was hard.

Another store my wife spoke with said that they don't get in red bellies anymore because they would get nasty. And they'd get stuck with them. But, most of the online reading I'm done has them as nice personalities. Which is correct?

Does this sound like normal behavior for these birds? I really don't want to get something that is going to be a problem. But, I also don't want to shy away from a bird that could be great. My son is 11 and my daughter is 8. My son is the one that would be holding her from time to time (other than my wife and I), but does get nervous if the bird is a biter.

Any experience would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Craig

[zazanomore]

Honestly, I think it has a lot of variables. It depends on the bird's personality. It also depends on whether they were handfed, parent-raised, or wild caught.

There's a few red-bellied owners. From what I've heard, they do make really sweet pets.

I believe that with a lot of patience and love, any bird can make a sweet pet.

If you are first time bird owners, maybe you should try an easier bird. Cockatiels, Bourkes, Lovebirds, Linnies, Budgies, green cheek conures and parrotlets are some good starter birds.

Good luck, I hope this helps!

[Kathleen]

I think you will encounter biting/nipping with any type of bird you get. People who solve, overcome, reduce or avoid these problems have well raised, extremely well socialized birds or understand body language and use training and other methods to solve the problem.

If you obtain a bird that is well socialized and well raised (no matter what species it is), and/or use training to solve any possible biting problem, it will be fine, but if your family members are continually interacting with the bird, they may inadvertently teach the bird to bite more. You should make sure your family members are patient and responsible, and that they will handle the bird properly. You should make sure they will continue using the methods that you introduce to avoid or solve biting. They should learn the training techniques or be instructed to handle the bird properly so that biting can be prevented or reduced greatly. If biting or aggression issues arise, such as due to territorial aggression, hormonal behavior, inadvertent teaching to bite, you can address the problem. You can make the decision about who handles the bird at certain locations or certain times, or solve the problem with training techniques or other methods.

In summary, every bird will bite, but if you deal with it properly, it can be generally be reduced or avoided.

[lzver]

I have a 5 year old female Red Bellied parrot ... I've had her for almost 4 1/2 years.

Lucy was almost 1 when we got her and she was the sweetest little bird ... anyone could handle her. She did go through the 'terrible twos' starting around 2 years old and she became very aggressive and would bite even if you just put your fingers into her cage.

She did get over that and she's a great bird now. However, she's a very independent bird. She's not cuddly and only tolerates being handled for short periods of time. She's more content when left to do her own thing. All birds will have different personalities. Just because my Lucy is like that doesn't mean you can't get a RB that enjoys cuddles.

Unfortunately, if you own birds, its unreasonable to expect that you're never going to get bitten. If you're willing to spend time socializing and training your bird, your chances of having a problem are a lot less. Another thing to consider is it takes time to build a bond with a bird and for them to trust you. This won't happen over night.

Hopefully Natacha will see this post and provide you with her input. She has a male and female Red Bellied parrot ... who happen to be siblings to Lucy, my Red Bellied.

[falconut]

We do own a cockateil, who is great. Just trying to find another bird.

[Mona]

Hi:

You know, this is just my opinion. I don't have a red belly but I do have three Senegals which are very close cousins to red bellies. As far as "family birds" go....every body here has given you good advice because all birds are individuals; however, the smaller birds have quick metabolisms.

If it was me....and this is just based on my birds.....if I was looking for a "family bird"...I'd probably go with a well socialized grey. I have a Timneh and she is absolutely a hoot. If you want a well socialized bird that isn't likely to bite, you have to be willing to spend a lot of time with them and you have to be extremely careful with anybody that handles the bird. You have to be quick to protect the bird from any sort of an aversive experience....but if you do spend the time and training....you can have a really wonderful family companion. The advantage with the greys is that they try to "model" the family and seem to have a little slower metabolism....which means not as quick on the "fight or flight" reflex if you work to modify that. I play a lot of "hands off" games with my birds and my greys are really fun.

I love my poi's....absolutely...but I also watch how they interact with each other and even if they are preening and feeding each other, one inevitably does take a nip at the other. As birds, they read each other well and can also fly away from each other so they avoid getting hurt....but because we are not birds but we are people handling these little guys, we often miss those subtle signals, We also don't have fluffy down to cover and protect our skin...and so, we get bit. It isn't purposeful on the birds part. Birds use their beaks ALL OF THE TIME...just like hands. They also have to be taught NOT to bite down hard but to be gentle when they use their beaks. I just find it easier to teach a grey to do that.

You can't judge a bird by what it does coming out of a container and being handled because that poor little guy is just reacting to circumstances. If you really think about it, we'd all probably bite down in those circumstances. Put yourself in the birds' feet. Consider, you are isolated in a tub....a hand comes down and picks you up, you don't know if you WANT to be picked up and you have no idea what that hand is about (because it isn't a familiar hand)....You are a little bird that would be somebody's lunch in the wild...What would you do?....I know I'd probably bite. It's a very reasonable survival mechanism and it is probably the reason why this species has been successful in the wild for 1000's of years. To me, that's an indication that this bird is alert and thinking....it's not a bad sign.

Poi's are highly intelligent. It is amazing how intelligent they are....and they learn and change all of the time. So, I wouldn't judge the red belly by the bite that you described....but I still think I'd look at a grey if I was interested in a "family" companion....just because greys tend to be a little slower to react and I think it's easier to modify that bite reflex....

Thanks!

Mona

[pchela]

I agree with Mona. The pois are awesome and there is a chance you could get one that loves everybody, but probably more likely not. I have a Senegal who will go to anybody and a Red Belly who bites anybody who isn't me. It's all down to individual birds but you can increase your chances at a nice family bird by getting a bird already known for its socialbility such as a conure. The best you can do it research them all, meet them all and choose the one that interacts well with your family.

As for the Red Bellies, I do believe they have an undeserved bad reputation because there are many, many sweet ones out there but they are still Pois and there is a high chance of one person bonding.

Another option would be to find local bird rescues and go meet adult birds. With an adult, you know what you are getting... if it will go to everybody in your family then it will probably continue to do so at home. A baby may go to anybody but then develop its personality and become a one person bird. You just never know.

[falconut]

Thanks everybody. I went to see her last night. The owner is selling the store and is trying to sell the last of her birds. She was telling me that she was a he, but there was no red on the belly. She said that he had the red but lost it over time. From what I've read, that's what happens to the females. She said that she is much better than she was about 3 months ago. She was telling me that she wasn't bitting, she was just feeling around. She said this as she would grab her beak (saying give me your beak) and then kiss her. No, I think she grabbed the beak to keep from being bit. She would step up, most times without bitting. But, I couldn't even pet her, if I tried she would bite hard. She drew blood. Yeah, she's not a match for us.

As far as Conures, they're beautiful, but the noise is an issue. They have a super nice Blue Head Conure at another local place, but they can be loud. So, I'm going to check out Pionus, they're supposed to be less noisy birds and nice birds on top. I haven't seen any yet, other than photos, but I'm sure they'll eventually have some in locally.

[lzver]

Definitely sounds like a female Red Belly. They all have red bellies as babies and the females loose it as they mature.

Sorry to hear that its not going to work out for you and this Red Belly. Personally, I wouldn't not take a bird because it bit me under those circumstances, but that's just me.

Good luck with your bird search though.