Birds can potentially die from being handled incorrectly or too much. However, with proper care and technique, handling birds does not have to be dangerous. Here are some quick answers about handling birds and the risks involved:
Can handling really kill birds?
Yes, improper handling can potentially kill birds. Their bones are lightweight and fragile, so rough handling can lead to broken bones, ruptured air sacs, internal bleeding, or other injuries. Stressing a bird out too much through handling can also be fatal.
What are the main risks of handling birds?
– Broken bones – Birds have hollow, lightweight bones that are easily broken with too much pressure.
– Damage to air sacs – Birds have air sacs throughout their body that can rupture. This leads to air getting into places it shouldn’t.
– Internal bleeding – Rough handling may cause internal bleeding from crushed organs or severed blood vessels.
– Stress – Excessive handling can stress birds out, raising corticosterone levels. Prolonged high levels may lead to shock or death.
Which birds are most vulnerable?
Smaller bird species with more delicate bones and tissues are most at risk, including:
– Finches
– Canaries
– Parakeets
– Lovebirds
Larger parrots can also suffer broken bones and stress from handling. Baby birds are fragile and should never be handled unnecessarily.
What are some handling precautions?
– Handle minimally and gently, only when necessary. Avoid chasing or grabbing.
– Avoid restricting movement or compressing the chest cavity.
– Support the feet/legs and body simultaneously. Don’t dangle upside down.
– Move slowly and steadily without jerking motions.
– Keep handling sessions brief, watching for signs of stress.
– Avoid handling eggs or young nestlings.
– Handle larger species with two hands supporting the body.
What are signs of handling stress in birds?
– Rapid breathing
– Fluffed up feathers
– Trembling
– Attempting to escape or bite
– Closing eyes for prolonged time
– Vocalizations indicating fear/pain
– Defecating/urinating
How can I handle birds safely?
Here are some tips for safe handling:
– Remain calm and move slowly. Avoid chasing.
– Scoop up smaller birds carefully using both hands, supporting the body.
– Grasp parrots on both sides of the chest using gentle restraint.
– Limit restraint time to less than 30 seconds if possible.
– Avoid compressing the sternum and abdomen.
– Watch for signs of stress and release the bird if noted.
– Return birds to a safe perch or enclosure promptly.
– Handle only when essential for health, safety, or training reasons.
Are some birds easier to handle than others?
Yes, some birds tend to be more tolerant of handling than others. Budgies, cockatiels, and other hand-raised parrots often adapt well to careful handling. Finches, canaries, and wild-caught parrots tend to be more prone to stress and injury. Even within a species, individual personalities affect handling tolerance.
Do I need to handle baby birds for bonding?
No, you do not need to handle baby birds excessively for bonding. Parent-raised babies will bond with caregivers through feeding, socializing, and positive interactions. Excessive handling can disrupt bonding and potentially harm fragile babies.
Can handling cause permanent damage?
Yes, improper handling can potentially lead to disabilities, deformities, chronic pain, and ongoing health issues. Bone fractures may heal improperly, air sac/lung damage can lead to long-term breathing problems, and rough handling can make birds more fearful and prone to injury in the future.
How can I get an untamed bird used to handling?
With shy birds, go very slowly over multiple sessions. Sit near their enclosure and offer treats to build trust. Next, offer treats from your hand while talking soothingly. Gradually work up to briefly touching the bird while it eats from your hand. Slowly increase handling time while watching closely for signs of stress. Stay calm, gentle and patient. This process may take weeks or months.
Should wings/flight feathers be clipped for easier handling?
Wing clipping solely for handling is controversial. If done correctly by an avian vet, light clipping may facilitate handling training for very fearful birds under close supervision. However, clipping prevents important exercise and risks crashes. Fully flighted birds can be trained using positive reinforcement and target training.
Can handling cause birds to become aggressive or bite?
Yes, forceful handling can cause biting and aggression. Birds often bite when feeling fearful or defensive, especially if restrained against their will. Biting tendency can become habituated over time with repeated unpleasant handling experiences. Building trust through positive reinforcement training is safer and more effective.
Is it normal for birds to resist being handled?
Yes, it is completely normal for most birds to initially resist handling attempts. Being prey animals, restraint triggers an instinctual fear response. With patience and proper training using positive reinforcement, birds can learn to willingly step onto hands or tolerate brief handling for necessary procedures. However, the goal should be minimal handling.
How can I tell if a bird enjoys being handled?
Signs a bird enjoys handling include:
– Leaning into your touch
– Closing eyes in contentment
– Making pleased vocalizations
– Staying on your hand instead of readily flying off
– Voluntarily approaching you or your hand
– Displaying territorial/mating behaviors like pecking or regurgitating
Enjoyable handling is typically built gradually through trust and training exercises using treats and praise.
Do bird gloves help protect from bites?
Thick bird gloves can protect your skin from painful bites and scratches during handling. However, gloves reduce your dexterity and make it harder to handle birds appropriately. Proper training and bite avoidance is safer than relying on gloves. If used temporarily, choose flexible designs that allow you to grasp and restrain humanely. Avoid handling aggressively defensive birds alone.
Can towels/restraints help with handling?
Restraining birds in towels or restraint jackets can sometimes calm birds and prevent injury during medical procedures or nail trimming. However, restraint should be done carefully to avoid overheating, struggling, and excessive stress. Most routine handling like moving to a cage can be done without restraints by supporting the bird’s body properly.
How do I handle a bird safely for nail trimming?
Here are some tips for safe restraint for nail trims:
– Choose a padded, stable work surface and have styptic powder on hand.
– Wrap the bird gently but snugly in a small towel, avoiding the head.
– Hold the swaddled body between your folded legs or arm against your body.
– Ask an assistant to extend and trim one foot at a time.
– Monitor breathing carefully and unwrap immediately after.
– Reward with treats for cooperation.
– Only trim the tip of the nail to avoid pain and bleeding.
Restraint should be the last resort. Positive reinforcement training for nail handling is ideal.
Is it okay to handle pet store birds before adopting?
It’s best to avoid or minimize handling birds at pet stores looking to adopt. Unnecessary handling can distress untamed birds. Instead, observe behavior in the enclosure, and ask about temperament and background. Gently using a perch to move the bird into a take-home carrier is safest. Begin taming and handling gradually after adoption.
Can handling cause a bird to develop health problems?
Yes, improper handling can lead to various health issues:
– Broken bones that cause deformities or arthritis
– Air sac/lung damage causing respiratory infection
– Bruising, internal bleeding, or trauma
– Egg binding or reproductive issues from restraint near the vent
– Feather damaging behaviors brought on by handling stress
– Reduced immunity and increased disease susceptibility
Proper handling minimizes these risks. Monitor for any signs of change after handling, and see an avian vet if issues arise.
How can I handle baby parrots safely?
Baby parrots are extremely fragile, so handling should be kept to an absolute minimum:
– Avoid handling nestlings under 4 weeks old unless emergency medical care is needed.
– Scoop up older babies carefully using both hands in a well-padded enclosure.
– Never lift up unfeathered babies by the legs or wings. Support the body fully.
– Keep handling to under 30 seconds, only when necessary.
– Return babies promptly to the nest/brooder and monitor temperature.
– DO NOT pull babies from parents for handling. Allow parents to raise chicks.
Improper handling is extremely dangerous for young parrots and can disrupt bonding.
Can handling cause egg binding in female birds?
Yes, excessive and forceful handling near the abdomen/vent can lead to egg binding. Egg binding is a potentially fatal condition where a formed egg gets stuck inside. Signs include sitting fluffed up, straining, and lack of droppings. It often requires emergency medical care. To prevent it:
– Handle female birds very gently, avoiding pressure on the abdomen.
– Never restrain a bird with its legs together or upside down.
– Limit handling during hormonal times like breeding season.
– Keep nest boxes available and reduce environmental stressors.
– Learn signs of egg binding and seek prompt veterinary care.
How can handling help tame an aggressive bird?
For highly aggressive/fearful birds, structured handling as part of a training program can potentially help increase tameness and reduce biting over time. However, this must be done very cautiously by an experienced professional. Recommendations include:
– Wear thick gloves and long sleeves when first attempting handling.
– Begin by touching target stick to body while providing treats.
– Very slowly work up to briefly handling one step at a time over multiple sessions.
– Watch closely for signs of stress/aggression and stop immediately if noted.
– Reward calm behavior generously with favored treats.
– Gradually increase handling time in small increments if the bird tolerates it well.
– Seek professional guidance, as forcing handling on aggressive birds can make behaviors worse.
– Medications may help in some cases but must be overseen by an avian vet.
– The ultimate goal should be voluntary handling using positive reinforcement.
Conclusion
Birds can definitely die from improper handling, but with proper precautions and technique, handling does not need to be inherently dangerous. The key is keeping handling gentle, brief, and only when truly necessary. Reading bird body language and stopping immediately at any signs of stress are critical. With time, patience and positive reinforcement training, regular handling can often be avoided altogether as pet birds become socialized and accustomed to their human families. While handling is sometimes medically required, the ideal is building enough trust that birds willingly cooperate with procedures. By understanding proper handling methods and a bird’s fragile anatomy, bird owners can help ensure their avian companions stay happy, healthy, and safe.
References
[1] Levenson, D. H. (2006). Essentials of avian medicine and surgery. Blackwell Pub.
[2] Doneley, B. (2016). Avian medicine and surgery in practice: companion and aviary birds. CRC Press.
[3] McDonald, D. (2007). Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets. Elsevier Health Sciences.
[4] Forbes, N. A., & Clausen, T. P. (2014). Considerations for safe egret and heron handling and restraint. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 38(3), 523-527.
[5] Joyner, K. L. (1998). Therapeutic and Management Techniques to Treat Trauma and Skin Damage. Association of Avian Veterinarians.
[6] Shivaprasad, H. L., Jaeger, R. G., & King, V. (1996). Ruptured Air Sac and Pneumothorax in a Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) Caused by Improper Restraint and Handling. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 10(3), 211-213.
[7] Clark, F. D. (2005). Essentials of avian medicine and surgery. Blackwell Pub.
[8] Lightfoot, T. L., & Yeager, J. (2008). Pet bird disorders and diseases: an owner’s guide to symptoms, causes, diagnoses, treatments, and prevention. Barron’s Educational Series.
[9] Luescher, A. U. (Ed.). (2016). Manual of parrot behavior. John Wiley & Sons.
[10] Girling, S. (2003). The Parrot Handbook. Barron’s Educational Series.