Has your parrot been attacking your feet?
Regardless of whether you have an aggressive bird at your hands, you are bound to get bitten by it!
The thing is, it is completely natural for parrots to bite.
Your parrot could go into attack mode whenever it comes across your feet–and it may hurt.
So, why is your parrot acting this way?
Many parrot parents have the same question and have been looking for the answer.
The truth is, no one knows why parrots attack a person’s feet.
In this blog post, we will look at the possible reasons, “why does my parrot attack my feet?” and try to help you out.
Sound good?
Let’s get started.
What To Do When My Parrot Bites Me?
It is important to nib this behavior in the bud, or you could end up unknowingly reinforcing it and causing yourself more pain in the long term.
Here are ways in which you can curb this.
Parrot Meet Feet: The Introduction
One of the best ways to keep your parrot from attacking your feet is to introduce your feathered friend to them while he’s still young.
This will help you ensure that your parrot isn’t scared of your feet and doesn’t see them as toys.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Another great way to keep your parrot off your feet is to keep them hidden.
This means you’ll have to stop walking barefoot or wear sandals for a while. This little hack has worked for several parrot owners.
Let us know in the comments if it has worked for you, too!
Avoid Yelling At Your Parrot
Screaming “Ouch!” seems fair when your parrot is attacking your feet.
However, experts recommend that you do not scream profanities at your feathered friend as this could, in turn, reinforce the behavior!
I know it’s easier said than done but try your very best to hold in your scream!
Distract Your Bird!
Move your parrot’s attention away from your feet and to another thing as a way to train him to keep off your feet.
This technique takes a little time for your bird to learn but always helps in the long run.
Why Do Parrots Bite Their Owners? Why Does My Parrot Attack My Feet?
Let’s take a quick look at a list of possible reasons why your parrot may be attacking your feet.
Let’s get started.
Your Parrot May Be Exploring the World
Young parrots, like human children, explore the world by using their bodies.
Birds use their beaks to interact with the world around them, and parrots aren’t any different.
Your feathered friend may be mouthing at your feet as an attempt to try and see whether or not they’re edible.
Of course, your parrot may not understand that this could be hurting you!
They’re Playing With You
This is one of the most common reasons why your parrot may be attacking your feet.
Your feathered friend may have mistaken your feet for a toy and could have attacked them to play!
In this case, it’s important to let your parrot know that your feet are a part of your body–not toys.
Your Parrot May Be Scared
It is natural for baby parrots to be scared of new things in their environment.
Your parrot may simply not understand what your feet are–and that they’re a part of your body.
So, it can attack them out of fear.
Over-stimulation
Over stimulation or excitement is another reason why your parrot may be attacking your feet.
This is common in active parrot species.
How Do You Discipline a Bird for Biting?
Honestly, I would not recommend you discipline your parrot
I mean, they don’t understand that your feet is part of your body
It’s in their nature and it’s something they’re doing unintentionally
Even if they are doing it intentionally, disciplining your parrot in a harsh way can lead to negative effects
The bond you have with your parrot will have a bad impact
Your parrot might become scared of you
It’s not worth it as they are other things you can do as I mentioned earlier
Anyways, if you do want to take the route of discipline
There are two things you can do to discipline a bird for biting.
Take a look.
Ignore your bird and stop giving it attention
When your bird bites your feet, you should give your bird a time out from playing and getting attention for a few minutes instead of reacting or screaming out in pain.
This technique works as it removes something your bird likes (your attention), thus reducing its likelihood of repeating the behavior that caused it.
Punish your bird by adding an aversive stimulus
You can also add a mildly aversive stimulus (spray of water, firm voice, loud bang) as a punishment to stop your parrot from attacking your feet.
You should add the punishment every time your parrot comes for your feet for the best results.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t punish your parrot unless it is the last resort
Hopefully by doing what I’ve mentioned will stop your parrot attacking your feet
Related article about parrot behavior which you may find interesting – Why does my parrot bite my nails?
Wrapping It Up
Were we able to answer your question?
The truth is that no one really knows why parrots hate feet so much!
Some parrots go as far as attacking their own feet.
Of course, parrot bites can hurt.
But we can stop this behavior as we have talked about in the article
One of the best things you can do is to keep your feet as far away from your bird as possible–that’s one thing most parrot parents will recommend.
However, there are other things you can do as well as mentioned in this article
Still have any unanswered questions or concerns? Feel free to leave them in the comments section, and we’ll get back to you.
