How to Stop Lovebirds from Biting (8 Best Tips)

Last Updated on April 29, 2022 by Ali Shahid

Your lovebird may not seem so sweet if he bites you. Despite this, a lovebird rarely bites without a good reason. When you determine why he’s biting, it’s no longer necessary to ask others, how to stop lovebirds from biting. You wouldn’t believe how many lovebirds bite each other. Birds bite each other all the time.

This article is not intended to mean that all birds are aggressive, but to serve as a warning to those who are considering getting a lovebird or another type of pet. There’s a good chance that you’ll get bitten at some point and it would be painful. Here is how you can stop your lovebird from biting.

Why Does My Lovebird Bite Me?

An angry bird biting you is upsetting, no matter your experience with birds. Various reasons can lead lovebirds to bite. These include the following:

• There are times when lovebirds bite out of fear
• To protect their territory, lovebirds bite
• The raging hormones in male birds may cause them to bite as a result
• Some birds bite as a result of frustration with their environment
• Lovebirds bite because of the small cages in which they live
• To get you to leave it alone, a sick bird might bite you Insecure birds will bite the hands that approach them or their cages impulsively, in response to their insecurity

The majority of these bites are more like a shotgun-type reaction and do not indicate a mean spirit on the part of your bird. I am a behavior specialist who deals with lovebirds. 

So from my point of view, I can tell you that birds bite either to gain something that they wish to receive or to avoid something that they dislike or are afraid of. This is what we call finding out the purposes of certain behaviors.

8 Best Tips to Stop Lovebirds from Biting

1. Read Body Language of Lovebird

To teach lovebirds not to bite, one has to not be bitten themselves. The action of biting usually results in getting what the bird wants. It is best to walk away if it bites you.

Moreover, you will likely make a big deal out of a bird’s bite, which can attract the lovebird, which is attracted to drama. It would be better not to let it happen rather than reinforce it.

The first thing you need to do is to learn how to read your bird to be able to assess the situation properly so that you can leave before it bites.

• Distraction Method

If you want to stop your lovebird from biting, it is a very good idea to try to distract it from doing so. If you place a thin strip of untanned leather on your lovebird’s feet, or even an unscented tissue, you can cause your lovebird’s attention to shift from your skin to the unscented leather.

You may encounter some resistance from the bird at first. It takes just seconds for your bird to recognize the item as his own, so play with it as if it was his toy.

• Holding the Beak

When a lovebird is insistent about nibbling, holding the beak with your thumb and forefinger may prove helpful. This does not mean that you pull or hit the beak. You are just gently holding the beak for a second or two while you give the instruction, “No biting, please!”

• Stick Training

There is an easy way to prevent getting bitten by your lovebird (or even a pet sitter) with stick training. When my birds go through the hormonal period, I love stick training because it helps them through the challenging time when they can’t help themselves.

Your bird will be able to stand up on a stick once it is taught to do so. When you see your bird step up on the stick you immediately reward it with a yummy treat or some praise as soon as it reaches the top.

• Stabilize the hormones

When it comes to breeding season’s biting time, the best way to prevent abnormal hormonal swings is to stabilize the hormonal levels.

I suggest you stop feeding them so that they will not be tempted to breed, eliminate all dark corners where they can nest, cover the cage for a minimum of 12 hours per day to create the illusion that there is more of a night, etc.

Moreover, if you do them all at once, you will get a much bigger return.

• Keep the bird entertained

It is crucial to remember that a frustrated lovebird is also a bored one. No matter how much he loves his owner, he will certainly bite. Therefore, it is important to keep the bird engaged and happy by providing him with enough entertainment. Make sure to play with him every day, give him toys to play with, or play music or TV with him.

• Don’t Make Lovebird Afraid

When a lovebird is afraid, he bites. Rough handling or nervousness can trigger his fear. Do not stress him out if he is afraid. Don’t handle him too much until he becomes accustomed to your presence.

Pick him up in a small towel when removing him from his cage. People who don’t have experience or children should avoid handling him, since they may not realize how rough they are being. Slowly, he will learn to trust you if you are patient with him.

• Increase Social Interaction

A lovebird that is jealous of another will sometimes bite members of their family or guests. There is a wide range of species of these birds that mate for life, so a pet will often develop a bond with only one person, usually the one who plays with him the most.

As soon as he sees someone he perceives as a threat to his relationship, he might bite him. If this is the case, you should show him that engaging in social interactions with other people can be fun and that they do not pose a threat.

If possible, have him sit on a perch while the rest of the family or visitors fuss over him and feed him treats. Over time, he will learn to appreciate being around people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do lovebirds bite their feet?

Lovebirds excessively bite their feet as a reaction to the irritation caused by inflammation and infections. Consequently, they excessively bite their feet in an attempt to relieve the irritation.

The cause of many of these infections is the avian herpes virus. Birds, especially lovebirds, are highly susceptible to this disease and it is transmitted primarily through physical contact.

Why does my lovebird bite my toes?

If you have a playful and energetic lovebird that gets excited easily, the whole thing could just be that they have bitten at your feet because they are so thrilled to say hello to you.

Does a lovebird bite hurt?

 I find that the most painful part of a lovebird bite is not always the bite itself, but rather burying your teeth in and holding on rather than letting go.

Do lovebirds bite humans?

Biting lovebirds are aggressive. Lovebirds would indeed bite humans who approached them in a bad mood.

Conclusion

There is no harm in lovebird biting, however, hard and hurtful bites must be addressed as soon as possible because they represent a concern and need to be resolved at the earliest opportunity.

One thing to keep in mind here is that you don’t have to rush the process. You need to take your time. It would be necessary to start by gaining the trust of that particular lovebird if nothing else works for that particular bird.

Gain the trust and do not let it slip away. It is also extremely important that the bird does not bite again.