Some bird behaviors are quite normal for us to see but some bird behaviors can be quite off to us humans.
If your bird is showing behavior that is odd to you, if the bird is holding onto its cage with its beak, then this article will help you figure out why.
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Bird holding onto cage with its beak:
Some odd bird behaviors that birds express can be quite dangerous while other behaviors may simply be odd. Here is why your bird may be holding onto its cage with its beak:
Bored/wants to exercise:
Domesticated birds come from a long line of wild birds who were entertained in the wild and could fly around freely at any time they wanted.
Your birds may not need this much freedom but they still need stimulation, exercise, and need to explore by flying.
If the toys in your bird’s cage have been there for a while and the bird isn’t let out to exercise then the bird may be bored and be want to let out, that is why it is clinging to the cage.
What to do:
Allowing your bird some time to be out of its cage is the recommended solution and so is getting the bird new toys for when it is inside the cage.
Letting the bird out will allow it to exercise and giving the bird some toys will get it stimulated.
Preferred sleeping position:
If your bird is only holding onto its cage with its beak at night then this can mean that the bird wants somewhere high to sleep.
Many birds are quite light so gravity doesn’t affect them as it does humans. Birds will hold onto their cage with their beak, lock their legs into the cage and sleep there.
They prefer high places to sleep as it keeps them safe from would-be-ground predators.
What to do:
You don’t have to worry about the bird if you are in this scenario, it’s simply a sleeping preference.
But, if you are worried you can place a perch high in the bird’s cage and see if the bird will choose to sleep there
Too weak to perch:
Perching is very important for birds, these birds don’t stand, sit or lie down like us humans do so they will perch instead.
However, if your bird is hanging on the side of its cage with its beak then this can mean that the bird didn’t have the energy to perch or that perching is painful for her.
There is a variety of reasons why this may happen with your bird including trauma, stroke, issues with the bird’s cardiovascular system, fume exposure, or a variety of other things.
What to do:
Taking your bird to the vet is the recommended course of action in this case.
Because there are so many things that can be the underlying cause of a bird doing this it isn’t advised that you diagnose the bird yourself. A vet, or better yet, an avian vet, will be able to diagnose and treat the bird
If you can’t immediately get the bird to the vet then you can get her comfortable until you can get her to the vet.
Do this by making sure she is eating enough calories, making sure she is kept warm, keeping her hydrated, and ensuring that she is safe and isolated. You can move her to an aquarium with soft towels at the bottom.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Budgie Going Crazy In Cage, Why Is My Cockatiel Flying So Much, Should I Leave The Radio On For My Budgie?, Will My Bird Forget Me After A Week, Can You Keep A Bird Without A Cage, Cockatiel Flapping Wings Like Crazy, Parakeet Going Crazy In Cage
