Bird chewing is a totally normal and natural behavior. With pet birds, however, it is important to be sure that the chewing is directed toward items that are appropriate for the bird and not destructive to your home. Bird chewing can also become excessive or dangerous if your bird is constantly seeking new (and potentially hazardous) things to chew. Obviously, if your bird chooses to chew on your furniture or carpeting, it can not only be hazardous to the bird but to your home as well. Properly directed bird chewing will help keep everyone safe and happy.
While out of their cages, birds can be tempted to chew on a great variety of things in your home. Many normal household items can be extremely hazardous to birds. Take care that your bird never chews on electrical cords which could result in electrocution. Many common household plants can be toxic to birds. A bird chewing on even a small amount of a philodendron, for example, can become very sick or even die. If you have birds that spend unsupervised time out of their cages, consider growing wheat grass or other safe plants on which your birds can chew. Sprouting bird seed in shallow dishes can provide a simple and easy fresh plant for safe bird chewing.
Birds that do not have appropriate items to chew on will sometimes resort to chewing on their own bodies. Obviously, this is not desirable behavior. The best thing to do in these cases of bird chewing is to provide your bird with appropriate perches and chew toys as an alternative. Given more interesting things to chew on, the behavior should cease. If the bird chewing continues, you should consider behavior modification through positive reinforcement. Completely ignore your bird while he is actively chewing himself, and lavish him with praise when he doesn’t. He will soon associate the positive reinforcement with not performing the chewing behavior, and the self-chewing should stop.
