Correcting Bad Behavior in Birds

Correcting Bad Behavior in Birds
When asked why she believes that birds are descended from dinosaurs, an acquaintance of mine who owns a Scarlet Macaw will readily reply: "Would you like to see the scar on my arm?"

Beliefs about the origins of birds aside, most can agree that some parts of a bird's anatom can deliver quite painful attacks if our pets become angry with us. Indeed, the instincts and inherently wild nature of our avian companions can bring forth many behaviors that are undesirable in the home. Dealing with these issues can be especially trying for bird owners, given that their feathered friends are such highly sociable and emotionally sensitive creatures. Read on for tips that will help you gently but effectively convey your displeasure toward undesirable behavior in your pet bird. 

The Rules of Avian Discipline

Although at times your pet may behave in a way that annoys you or makes you downright mad, it's important to remember these rules when responding to the transgression: 

• Never hit a bird. Birds are extremely fragile creatures and even the slightest force can cause severe injury or death. Physically abusing a bird can also lead to irreversible psychological problems, and can promote aggression and viciousness. 
  
• Don't hold a grudge. Birds are extremely intelligent, but also very sensitive creatures. When you express displeasure with your bird's behavior, make the lesson short and sweet. Prolonged negative attention can cause undue emotional stress for your pet. 
  
• Never compromise your bird's health. "Punishing" a bird by witholding food or neglecting cage cleaning  is never a fit way to deal with a behavior problem. Such actions are not only cruel, but can cause serious physical and emotional damage for the pet.

Responding to Bad Behavior

In order for your bird to understand you when you catch him acting up, it's necessary that you remember the correct way to respond. While a normal "human" response to an unpleasant discovery would be to loudly declare your grievance, a bird can interpret this reaction and body language as excitement -- meaning that he may actually think you are praising the behavior. Conclusively, dealing with a bird's behavior problem can be just as much about training yourself as it is about training your pet. 

In order to respond properly to undesirable behavior, it's helpful to keep the following steps in mind. With consistency and patience, you may find