Ask Lafeber

Taming a Nervous Parakeet with Clipped Wings and Managing a Tame but Biting Companion in the Same Cage

Hi,

I recently got a new female parakeet named Mango from a pet store, and they had clipped her wings. Whenever I move too fast around her cage or when she gets scared, is very nervous, and sometimes flails around the cage. She isn’t hand-tame.

I also have another parakeet, Frosty, who is almost 5 years old. Frosty is used to hands but bites hard if a hand gets too close while I’m arranging perches or cleaning the cage. She has her wings unclipped and is generally more confident, but has some major biting problems.

Both birds are currently in the same cage. How can I work with both birds effectively, considering their different temperaments and behaviors? What specific tips or techniques can I use to tame Mango given her clipped wings and nervousness? Additionally, how can I manage and discourage Frosty’s biting behavior while encouraging gentler interactions?

Thank you for your help!

Hi,

It is unlikely you will tame either bird. It’s almost impossible to tame birds that share a cage. In the wild, they have one mate or close companion and do not have physical interaction with other flock members. These birds have each other as a companion, so they have no incentive to be a companion with you. Also, female parakeets are notoriously hard to tame. There are certainly exceptions, but when one already exhibits aggression and biting behaviors, it is unlikely she will even be tame. As for the clipped bird, keep your movements slow and give her time to adjust to you. Keep you hands away from her as much as possible. I’ll give you the links to our behavior and training pages. But if you want a tame bird, I would recommend getting a young male, hand fed if possible, and keep him far away from the females.

Pet Bird and Parrot Behavior

Teaching Your Bird

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda