So You Want Your Bird to Stop Chewing Your Furniture
Does your bird constantly chew up your walls, curtains or furniture? Tired of cleaning up the mess from the destruction? Here are some tips and tricks to help keep your home safe and your birds happy.
Birds chewing on furniture is a common issue that many bird-owners face. Birds can also chew on woodwork, closet doors, and fibers on furniture and carpets. This behavior is natural and driven by their instinct to forage, nest, and keep their beak healthy. But the destruction of your furniture need not be the norm in your home, and with some safe toys and tricks, this behaviour can be addressed in a healthy manner. By providing appropriate outlets and engaging activities, you can redirect their chewing away from your furniture and onto safe, satisfying alternatives.
Why do Birds Chew?
- Foraging: In the wild, parrots chew through wood to find food and bugs.
- Nesting: Many parrots hollow out tree trunks to create safe nesting spots. Your furniture is a substitute for a cozy tree trunk.
- Stimulation: Parrots are highly intelligent, and chewing provides intellectual engagement. Birds always need to be doing something to do to keep their brilliant minds busy.
- Beak Health: Regular chewing promotes healthy, trimmed beaks.
Furthermore, birds have a high metabolism and are very active. They need to stay busy to burn off all that energy, so your furniture ends up at the other end of their excitement.
Which Birds are the Most Avid Chewers?
- Low activity: budgie, cockatiel
- Medium activity: lovebird, conure, quaker, senegal, caique, eclectus
- High activity: amazon, african grey, macaw, cockatoo
Many parrots nest in hollowed-out trees and use their tough beaks to crack nuts and rip bark off branches. Smaller birds nest in softer wood trees. Since birds have high metabolism rates, they need to stay busy and if we don’t provide ways for them to do that, they will find things to chew. Bird hormones also impact chewing wood in your house. Smaller birds may become hormonal and breed more frequently, and they like to line their nests with soft wood and fibers. Similarly, large birds bite chunks of wood and turn them into chips for their nests.
When Chewing Becomes Unsafe
Parrots chewing on wires and electrical cords can create a safety hazard. Parrots might also swallow harmful things like paint or toxic plants, which can make them very sick. That is why it is essential to give your parrot safe things to chew on and keep them away from dangerous objects to protect both your bird and your home.
Things to Keep an Eye On
- Wooden furniture: Chairs, tables, and shelves…anything within their reach can become a chew toy.
- Window sills and door frames: These are easy targets for parrots, especially when made of soft wood.
- Baseboards, moldings, and soft wood doors: These are prime chewing spots, especially when the bird thinks to make a nest in a nearby closet.
- Electric cords: These are dangerous. Birds may be drawn to their rubbery texture, but they can get shocked or burned.
- Under furniture: Parrots often explore and chew under couches and beds, and the damage may go unnoticed until someone looks underneath.
- Carpets and fibers: Parrots like to pull and chew on carpet fibers. Any soft material may be shredded to build a nest.
Putting these areas out of bounds can help protect your home from bird chewing.
Tips for Parrot-Proofing your Home
1) Provide Safe Alternatives for Chewing
It is in the bird’s nature to chew. You can offer different kinds of safe toys to keep your bird occupied.
- Wooden blocks and wooden block toys
- Leather chew toys
- Puzzle toys
- Foraging toys
- Clean shredder rolls
- Hard shell nuts
- Natural perches
- Calcium and mineral blocks, cuttlebone
2) Manage the Environment
Sometimes, it is best to keep specific items out of reach. You can create barriers with wire shelves or move things up to higher closet shelves to protect your belongings. Setting your parrot’s cage away from walls and woodwork can also help.
3) Supervised Time Outside of the Cage
Letting your bird go outside the cage is important, but it is best not to leave them unattended. Supervised out-of-cage time gives your bird time to explore safely. This way, your birds cannot sneak off to chew on your favorite couch when you are not looking.
4) Training
Training your parrot to sit on a stand or come when called can make a huge difference. It is easier to teach them what to do as opposed to what not to do. This can also be a fun way to bond with your bird while reinforcing desirable behavior. Your parrot will feel like a brainchild and your furniture will be all the better for it.
Use positive reinforcement to train your parrot to chew on the right items. Reward them with treats and praise when they choose toys over furniture.
5) Increase Time Outside of the Cage
Spend more time interacting with your parrot outside the cage. The more playtime and social interaction they get, the less likely they are to engage in destructive behaviors. A well-exercised parrot is a happy, well-behaved parrot!
6) Use Protective Covers
Cover your furniture with protective materials like slipcovers or blankets to make them less appealing to your birds.
7) Monitor Hormones
Keep an eye on your parrot’s hormonal cycles. Sometimes, changes in hormones can lead to increased chewing. At those times, you can provide extra toys, enrichment, and an early bedtime to help your bird through their cycle.
Some Final Thoughts
Understanding and addressing your parrot’s natural chewing needs is crucial for preventing destructive behavior. By providing appropriate outlets and engaging activities, you can protect your home while keeping your parrot happy and healthy.
Join the Conversation! Share your tips and stories in the comments below. Let’s help each other keep our birds happy and our homes intact!
