If a few weeks have passed and you feel like you are not bonding well with your new parakeet, you may have started pondering, “maybe my parakeet hates me?!”…
Some people believe that parakeets are solitary birds, and they can live happily without any interaction with humans. However, for parakeets bred in captivity, this is not true at all! Parakeets who have had human interaction since birth thrive off of it.
If you don't interact with your parakeet often enough, it may become agitated or depressed.
There are many reasons why your parakeet may dislike you. One of the most common reasons is that they are simply scared of you.
However, there can also be other factors involved, such as a change in environment or a new person coming into their life, etc.
In this post, we are going to discuss some ways you can bond with your parakeet so that you never have to worry about whether or not she hates you!
1) Quality Time.
Spend time with your bird daily. If you can set aside just 15minutes a day to spend time with your parakeet, you will notice that it can help them become more socialized and also gives them the opportunity to interact with you on their own terms. Use this time to stroke, hold, talk (or sing if you are any good at it) to your bird.
The key here is being consistent as she will begin to recognize this pattern and look forward to it.
2) Proper Handling Techniques.
Proper handling technique is especially important if you are new to birds. If your parakeet is scared of being touched or held by humans, then make sure you do not grab them suddenly and hold onto them tightly. Rather, approach slowly and wait for your pet to fly up into your hand if they are comfortable doing so. You should only take a few seconds to gently hold them and then release them.
Parakeets can usually develop some fear of human handling if they have been handled roughly, typically by a child. Or if you have adopted her recently, she may be coming from a bad home and will take some warming up before she trusts you.
Just be patient and take your time when handling her.
3. Socialize Your Parakeet With Other Birds.
If you have a parakeet that has only ever been in contact with humans, it is important for their emotional well-being to socialize them with other birds of the same species as they will be able to make friends and learn new behaviors from these peers.
4) Feed Your Parakeet.
I know this goes without saying, but it must be mentioned! The best way to keep your parakeet from hating you is by making sure they are fed every day with food that's high in nutrients. Give them treats now and then but do not overdo it with the treats.
Your parakeet would appreciate some mealworms and diced cucumber now and then as a treat but do not go too overboard; you do not need to overcompensate by spoiling her.
Most importantly, you should never leave her days without food… unless you want her to hate you.
5) Play, Play, Play.
Play games with your parakeet every day – again, just 15 minutes is enough, but the more you play with her, the better. Parakeets love to play, and there are so many ways you can play with them. If your parakeet hates you, it is likely because you do not take the time to play with her. This brings me to my next point.
6) Rotate Your Parakeets Toys.
Keep things interesting for them by changing up their toys every now and then. You do not need to go crazy buying cage toys, and you can actually DIY man toys if you have the time. But switching things up or even simply moving things around in the cage can make a world of difference.
7) Speak Calmly To Your Parakeet.
We all know that tone matters, and this is no different for your parakeet. If you are having a bad day or if something has just happened to make you mad, avoid talking to your parakeet until you have calmed down. When speaking calmly with them, do not forget to use positive reinforcement as well.
8) Don't Tease Your Parakeet.
Many owners (especially those on YouTube) tease their parakeets. They do this by placing a tray of mealworms outside their glass enclosure with their parakeet inside. They do this just to watch their parakeet try to eat them and peck at the glass. While this may be amusing for a human, this is stressful for the parakeet, and it could also hurt itself.
Similarly, having your parakeet peck at digital files on your phone or tablet screen, again, is not fun for her and more stressful than anything.
9) Don't Try To Feed Your Parakeet These Things…
- Onion and garlic
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Sugary, high-sodium, and high-fat foods
- Sugar-free candy (it contains xylitol, which can be toxic to animals)
- Peanuts (they can be moldy and cause severe respiratory or digestive problems in parakeets)
- Dairy products
- Coffee or caffeinated tea
- Comfrey
- Mushrooms
- Crackers
- Tomatoes
- Any fruit seeds or pits
- Bread
- Grit
Worldbirds.org has stated that these foods are toxic to your parakeet and should be avoided.
In addition, don't give your parakeet any other food that you wouldn't eat yourself or that would be unhealthy for you. Not only will these things harm your pet's health if they eat them in large quantities or too often, but they may also discourage the bird from eating its regular diet of seed mix.
There is no telling how the hormones in the food might affect your parakeet and its mood. A parakeet that has an upset stomach due to its owner's negligence is most certainly a hateful one.
10) What Not To Do Around Your Parakeet.
Do not tease your parakeet (I have already explained how and why not)
Do not make loud noises around your pet, especially sudden ones.
Do not talk too loudly to it or pick it up and put it down for no reason.
Do not play loud music very close to it.
Do not leave it without food for days on end.
Conclusion
Remember – Parakeets that are busy having fun and enjoying themselves have no time to hate their owners! If you focus on maintaining their happiness, all will be well!
Start with the basics. You will be amazed at how a few simple steps can help your parakeet start to like you!
Remember, all it takes is some effort on your part and time and patience to show results. Feeding, grooming, bathing – these are all basic but essential tasks that need attention every day in order to keep your pet happy and healthy.
