Birds chew on objects in their environment for a variety of reasons. Chewing behaviors are completely normal for pet birds and do not necessarily indicate a behavioral problem. However, excessive or destructive chewing may signal that your bird is bored, stressed, or has a medical issue that needs to be addressed.
Common Reasons Birds Chew
There are several common motivations behind chewing in birds:
Exploration
Chewing is a way for birds to interact with and explore their environment. It helps them gather information about different textures, shapes, and materials. Foraging and curiosity-driven behaviors like this are important for mental stimulation.
Boredom
Birds kept in captivity need lots of enrichment in their environment. Without adequate mental and physical stimulation, they may resort to excessive chewing out of boredom or frustration. Make sure your bird has enough interactive toys and opportunities to exercise.
Teething
Young birds teethe as their beaks develop. They may chew on household items or cage bars during this period. Offer safe chew toys designed for teething birds to provide relief.
Beak Maintenance
Chewing helps birds wear down and maintain their continually growing beaks. Provide bird-safe branches, mineral blocks, and other abrasive surfaces to meet this need for beak wear.
Hunger
Birds begging for food may chew aggressively on nearby objects or hands. Ensure your bird’s diet has the right amount of calories and nutrients to avoid extreme hunger-driven chewing.
Stress and Anxiety
Chewing can be a self-soothing behavior that helps birds cope with stress or anxiety. Boredom, lack of sleep, loud noises, changes in environment, health problems, and lack of handling can all be sources of stress. Address the underlying issue to curb anxiety-related chewing habits.
Attention-Seeking
Some birds learn that chewing elicits attention from their owners. Ignore mild chewing behaviors and redirect your bird’s energy into more constructive activities to discourage attention-motivated chewing.
Territoriality
Birds may chew items in their perceived territory, especially around nesting or breeding season. This helps establish their space and exert control over their environment. It’s normal, but redirect the chewing to more appropriate objects.
Medical Causes
In some cases, chewing and biting can signal an underlying medical issue. Potential causes include malnutrition, parasites, allergies, arthritis, fungal or bacterial infections, and more. See an avian vet if chewing seems abnormally excessive or is paired with other symptoms.
How to Curb Problematic Chewing
While some chewing is inevitable, destructive or obsessive chewing habits need intervention. Here are some tips to control over-chewing:
- Provide more exercise and supervised out-of-cage time
- Rotate new bird-safe toys frequently to fight boredom
- Give your bird foraging opportunities by hiding treats in boxes
- Try deterrent sprays or materials such as bitter apple or plastic coverings
- Remove tempting chew targets like curtains or drawer handles
- Apply vinyl carpentry guards to furniture edges if needed
- Consider getting a bird-safe secondhand keyboard for typing time
- Train your bird to chew appropriate items only through positive reinforcement
- Keep handling consistent and use towels or a perch to manage nippy birds
- Diffuse any scented products that may irritate your bird’s respiratory tract
- Schedule veterinary check-ups to rule out underlying illness
- Use clicker training to teach more constructive behaviors
Safe Chew Toys and Objects for Birds
Having acceptable outlets for chewing is key to curbing destructive habits. Here are some bird-safe chewing options:
Mineral Perches
Perches made from mineral materials like calcium provide abrasion to wear down beaks and soothe the urge to chew.
Cuttlebone
A must-have source of calcium and minerals. Chiseling away at cuttlebone also gives birds an enjoyable activity.
Wood Perches
Natural tree branches and perches offer texture and let birds strip off bark.
Rope Perches
Cotton rope toys and perches can withstand moderate chewing from smaller bird species.
Bird-safe Balsa and Willow Wood
Wood blocks from untreated, non-toxic balsa or willow trees make great chew toys.
Cardboard Chew Toys
Simple cardboard toys let birds rip, tear, and shred to their heart’s content.
Paper and Phonebooks
Tearing through paper is enjoyable for birds. Non-glossy paper is safest.
Chewable Foot Toys
Foot toys with wood, acrylic, loofah, and mineral parts stimulate natural chewing instincts.
Edible Wood Treats
Some birds enjoy destroying wood toys made of bird-safe ingredients like yucca or seagrass.
Pine Cones
Large species can pick apart tough pine cones to get at the seeds inside.
Dangerous Items to Avoid Giving Birds
Some items are hazardous chewing temptations for birds. Make sure the following are out of reach:
- Sandpaper perches
- Lead, zinc, or copper metals
- Pressure-treated wood
- Houseplants
- Drywall or paint chips
- Wires, rubber bands, or string
- Human food with salt or spices
- Leather, plastic, or vinyl
- Furniture, books, or wallpaper
When to See an Avian Vet for Chewing Issues
Schedule an appointment with an avian veterinarian if your bird shows any of these signs along with excessive chewing:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Lethargy or increased sleeping
- Feather damaging behaviors
- Swelling around eyes, beak, or throat
- Wheezing, coughing, or labored breathing
- Discharge or redness around eyes or nostrils
- Gritty or bloody stools
- Loss of balance or coordination
Unhealthy birds often exhibit excessive destructive behaviors or aggression. Don’t delay veterinary evaluation when paired with any abnormal symptoms in your feathered friend.
Conclusion
From fulfilling instinctual drives to relieving stress, chewing is a normal part of parrot behavior. Providing acceptable outlets and appropriate stimulation is the best way to handle potentially problematic gnawing. If over-chewing reaches an extreme degree, enlist the help of an avian veterinarian and behavior consultant. With patience and the right tools, destructive chewing habits can usually be curbed.
