Quick Answers
There are a few common reasons why birds bite each other’s feet:
- Establishing dominance – Birds have a social hierarchy and biting feet can be a way for one bird to exert dominance over another.
- Territorial behavior – Birds can bite to defend their territory or resources from another bird.
- Redirected aggression – If a bird is frustrated or angry, it may bite whoever is nearest, even a flockmate.
- Boredom/stress – Inadequate stimulation and stress can cause abnormal behaviors like foot biting.
- Overcrowding – Too little space per bird can lead to increased aggression and biting.
Understanding Bird Behavior
Many pet birds are highly social and intelligent animals. In the wild, they live in large flocks with established social structures and hierarchies. The desire to establish dominance is instinctual in birds, and behaviors like biting feet are ways birds communicate and establish the “pecking order” within a flock.
Even in captivity as pets, these natural behaviors still occur. So it’s important for owners to understand normal bird social behaviors, which often involve biting. Providing multiple food, water and perching spots can help minimize confrontations over resources. Having a large enough cage, an area birds can call their own, is also key in reducing territorial issues that can lead to aggressive biting.
Causes of Foot Biting In Birds
Establishing Dominance
Biting feet is thought to be a display of dominance in the bird world. In the wild, biting feet is a way for one bird to assert itself over another. This behavior can still happen between birds kept as pets.
Often there will be one more dominant “boss” bird that may routinely bite the feet of other birds in the flock. This lets the less dominant birds know their place and who is in charge. The bird whose feet are being bitten will communicate submission by crouching down and allowing the biting.
Territorial Behavior
Birds can be very territorial animals. In the wild they defend their nesting areas and resources vigorously. Captive birds may bite feet as a way to defend their space, food or perches from another bird.
Biting may occur if one bird gets too close to another’s territory or resource. It’s a way for the bird to communicate “this is mine, back off!” This is more likely if space or resources are limited, so providing multiple food bowls, water dispensers and perches can help.
Redirected Aggression
Sometimes a bird bites simply because it is feeling frustrated, anxious or angry about something else. This is called redirected aggression. The bird may want to bite a human or another pet in the home but can’t reach them. So instead it bites the feet of a bird nearby as an outlet for its feelings.
This can happen if there are stressful changes in the home, like moving, construction noises or new people/pets. The bird feels irritated but lacks a productive way to express it, so it takes its frustration out on a flockmate. Providing environmental enrichment and minimizing stressors can help prevent this.
Boredom and Stress
Foot biting may also stem from boredom, stress or anxiety in birds. Birds are highly intelligent and need constant mental stimulation and activity. Without adequate outlets, abnormal behaviors like foot biting can develop. This may indicate the bird needs more environmental enrichment.
Stress and anxiety can also facilitate feather biting. Changes to the bird’s environment, schedule, or social structure can be stressful. Providing routines, interactiving positively with the bird and minimizing abrupt changes are some ways to reduce anxiety-related biting.
Overcrowding
When birds don’t have adequate physical space, aggressive biting is more likely to occur. Crowding too many birds into a small cage increases confrontations and fights over limited resources.
Each bird needs enough space to engage in normal behaviors, have some personal territory, and escape confrontations if needed. Providing the largest suitable cage possible, with ample horizontal space, can help minimize biting from overcrowding.
How To Stop Birds From Biting Feet
If your birds are excessively biting each other’s feet, there are some steps you can take to curtail the behavior:
- Separate birds immediately if biting is severe and causing injuries.
- Determine and address the underlying cause, such as overcrowding, boredom, etc.
- Ensure each bird has its own food and water sources to decrease resource guarding.
- Provide more perches, toys and enrichment activities to decrease boredom and stress.
- Give each bird some individual time out of the cage each day.
- Consider clipping wings temporarily to decrease aggression and chasing.
- Use positive reinforcement to reward non-aggressive behaviors.
- Consult an avian vet if biting persists to check for underlying illness.
When To Seek Help For Biting Birds
Occasional minor biting may be normal as birds sort out social dynamics. But if biting seems excessive and fails to improve with changes in management, seek input from an avian vet.
See your vet promptly if the biting bird draws blood, causes injuries or significant feather damage. Also seek help if biting is paired with other signs of illness like:
- Loss of appetite
- Fluffed up feathers
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Breathing changes
Medical issues like pain, gastrointestinal or skin infections can cause birds to bite more. An avian vet can perform a physical exam and diagnostic tests to check for underlying health problems contributing to biting.
Conclusion
Biting is a common if annoying bird behavior. Mild biting may be normal as birds establish social order. But frequent, hard biting warrants intervention. Addressing the root causes and making changes to housing, enrichment and stress levels can curb biting. Seek veterinary help if biting causes injuries or doesn’t resolve with improved care. With patience and proper training, birds can learn to live together with minimal biting.