Billi is Bitting his Cage

[GodsGirl]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here and to Amazons. In my introduction I explained a little about myself and my new bird. He seems to be ajusting very well. He talks alot and really likes to clean himself. I do have one question that I can't seem to find the answer to.

Why does he bite the corners of his cage? This is only on the top corners when he is out and about. I let him out of his cage everymorning and he is free to travel in and out all day. Sometimes I notice that he will grab ahold of the corner a bite really hard. At first i thought he was just grabbing hold to go somewhere but the more I watch him - it looks like he is bitting it? Any thought? Thanks!

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Birds do lots of things that may seem odd. I wouldn't be to troubled about biting or chewing the cage - if it is chewing or letting out aggression that seems like a pretty good target. Auggie eats doors. Yes, doors - and door frames. I'll never get my security deposit back.

I wouldn't be concerned unless he is severely obsessed about it. If its a favorite spot of his to go and chew on something that seems fine. If he makes a bee-line every time the cage opens and doesn't do anything else while he's out then redirecting him to other activities may be good. But all in all this sounds like its in the normal healthy range of parrot idiosyncrasies.

 

[ScottinVentura]

They'll chew on the cage, and that's why the type of cage you get is very important. Make absolutely sure that the cage has NO zinc coating on it, not even under the paint. Zinc is a common anti-rust compound that's put on metal, and it's poisonous to birds. If you're not sure, check with the manufacturer. Any kind of "galvanized" description, and you need a new cage, right now.

You can reduce the amount of cage-chewing by given them something else to chew on. Boo has a wide range of toys always in and on his cage. He can ring bells, chew up sticks (and throw the splinters everywhere) toss his rattles, and he does all of it. I keep a wooden bucket hanging from the top of his cage, and he'll pull everything out because the toy he wants to play with always seems to be whatever is in the very bottom.

He didn't really know how to play when I first got him, and he was deeply troubled by the toys. I had to go to his cage and play with them myself for a while. He warmed up to them when he saw they were harmless, and now he's used to getting something new once a week or so.

 

[Ecclipse]

Hugo chewed a hole straight through my ceiling....boy did I have to sweet talk the groundsman...lol. When I took Hugo to the vet she said she would x-ray him to make sure that there was nothing in his stomach as sometimes they chew the bits of the cage and it gets stuck in their stomach - Hugo is always nibbling on all sorts in his cage area and the x-ray came through clean. I wouldnt worry about it unless other than loosing appetite, you need to do some serious smart talking to get your ceiling plugged before the maintenance manager sees it The only reason Hugo was x-rayed was because he has been sick - sinus. Other than that I would of not worried. Good luck with your parrot, welcome!

 

[bird perch]

Just wanted to second the comment and making sure that your cage is zinc free. What brand is your bird cage and how old is it?