When it comes to handling your pet bird, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and minimize stress. Learning how to hold a bird safely is essential for both their well-being and your own.
Whether you’re a new bird owner or looking to enhance your handling skills, these five expert tips will guide you towards a positive and secure interaction with your feathered companion.
How to hold a bird safely? If you’re not sure how to do it, don’t worry. This article will guide you towards it!
01 Teach "Step Up" Command to your Bird
Most of the bird owners are not professional bird trainers. But they must teach their pets some basics to remain healthy and happy.
The most important is the famous Step-Up Command, a simple to-teach “trick” that quickly coaches your bird to step on your finger.
Teaching this command to your bird will make it much easier for you to remove your pet from its cage without the process turning into a ‘free for all’ chase.
02 Be Careful with your Bird
You should be aware if your bird is frightened when it is sitting on your shoulder, it could be harmful to you if any part of your body comes in contact with the bird while it is scared and wary of you.
It is necessary to train your bird how to sit, climb, stand, ride and sit on the shoulders sometimes; it isn’t suitable for many reasons.
Firstly, permit your bird pet to sit on your shoulder, allowing your partner to approach your eyes, ears, and the other sensitive part of your face.
03 Always be Gentle with your Bird
Never Shake, Strike or Squeeze your Bird. Birds are the most loving and assembled creatures. They are only born for flight. They have a beak to capture food and protect themselves from other creatures.
Because birds are such highly specialized creatures built for flight, they have anatomy like others but are somewhat different. It would be best if you always were gentle and calm to your pet bird.
Birds are not made to be squeezed, do not do so, as birds’ bodies are susceptible and fragile.
You can learn how to hold or grasp their body and the bonding techniques that will help you without any hesitation or issues.
04 Use a Towel when Needed
Once in a while, you face difficulty in trying to hold your bird if you want to manage the growth of nails and wings and want to trim it, so the solution is you can use the towel for both of you in these situations.
Toweling can help to calm your feathered friend and prevent when it is essential; remember, toweling is not suitable all the time because it can boil your bird as the blood of birds is very warm, so use it only for less time.
05 Never Hold a Bird
Never hold a bird by its wings, legs, or tails. If your bird does not start flying, it is never right to try and catch the wings, legs, or tail, not even a part of them, if you can help it.
It will not only be harmful to your pet but also damage any part of your pet bird and frighten you.
This causes trauma, broken bones, or any other injury; if you must pick up a bird who refuses to step up, do it carefully by grasping the bird in a small towel or with some padded gloves that will protect your fingers from bites or scratches.
Common FAQs
01. How Do You Hold a Bird for the First Time?
When holding a bird for the first time, approach them calmly and use a confident yet gentle grip. Support their body securely but avoid squeezing or applying excessive pressure. Gradually increase handling time as your bird becomes more comfortable.
02. How Do You Get a Bird Used to Being Handled?
To help your bird become used to being handled, start by offering treats and positive reinforcement during short handling sessions. Respect their body language and gradually increase the duration and frequency of handling, always ensuring a calm and stress-free environment.
03. What Is the Best Bird for Handling?
Birds known for their gentle nature and sociability, such as budgies (parakeets), cockatiels, and lovebirds, are often considered good choices for handling. However, it’s essential to remember that each bird has its own personality, so individual temperament may vary.
