Parakeets are social birds that make great pets. Once a parakeet has formed a strong bond with its owner, it will spend most of its time close to its owner. Therefore, when taking care of your parakeet, physical interaction like petting and holding it are necessary.
So, why does my parakeet close his eyes when I pet him? Your parakeet is closing his eyes during petting sessions because they are comfortable and trust you. Most pet birds have predators in the wild, and they need to be alert to survive. When a parakeet closes its eyes, it will not see predators. Therefore, your parakeet knows that it is safe when close to you and that it can enjoy the interaction without getting attacked.
Parakeets are among the most popular pet birds in the United States. Their cheerful and social personality is the reason why many people prefer to keep parakeets in their homes. Read on to find out more if parakeets like being held or touched, if parakeets love to cuddle, and why your parakeet closes his eyes when you talk to him.
Do Parakeets Like Being Held or Touched?
Parakeets are lovely birds that make great pets. They enjoy interaction with other parakeets and also human beings. Once you bond with your parakeet, there are few ways the birds would like to show love to their owner and receive it.
Parakeets enjoy being held or touched by their owner. A tamed parakeet loves its owner’s attention and will allow the owner to pick them up or touch them. Parakeets are social and affectionate, but it does not mean that they will allow you to handle them immediately after getting them from the pet store. You have to gain their trust first before you can handle them.
If you want your parakeet to bond with you, you first have to prepare a comfortable environment for your new pet bird to live in. Make sure it is safe, and there are no stress-causing factors such as loud noises.
Do not clip your parakeet’s wings. Clipping wings is painless, but the experience will not help you gain your bird’s trust. Use feeding time as an excuse to interact with your parakeet. You should also give your parakeet time to adjust to your presence before trying to handle it.
Do not handle your parakeet too much. If you notice your bird is trying to free itself, take it back to its cage. Limit your interaction with the parakeet within the first few weeks and only increase the time when the bird fully trusts you. Too much handling can cause your bird to have stress which can lead to severe underlying health conditions.
To handle your parakeet, put your hand in its cage and hold your index finger out in front of your bird and let it hop on it. If your parakeet does not hop onto your finger immediately, you can encourage it by slowly and gently pressing your index finger against the bird’s belly.
Once the parakeet is on your finger, you can take it out of the cage, however, do not take it to an unfamiliar room. Talk to your bird through the process to reassure it that you do not mean harm. You can even offer your parakeet some snacks to encourage it. After spending some time with the parakeet, you can take it back to its enclosure.
Some parakeets take time to allow their owner to touch or pet them. Do not give up or forcefully handle them. Parakeets are social birds, eventually, they will trust you, and you will pet them. If you have a large family, everyone has to spend some time with the bird before petting it.
Do not let guests pet your bird if it shows signs of fear or aggression when they approach it. You should also watch where you pet your parakeet. Sexually matured parakeets get stimulated when touched around the head; therefore, avoid that area when petting it. A sexually frustrated parakeet can be moody and destructive.
Do Parakeets Like To Cuddle?
Parakeets are high maintenance pets that require physical interaction with their owners every day. When it is time to interact with your parakeet, you might ask yourself if your bird might enjoy a cuddling session.
Parakeets like to cuddle but not in the same way you would cuddle a cat or dog. Parakeets are small birds, and if you squeeze them too tightly, you might harm them. A parakeet will cuddle with you by resting on your lap or chest. Parakeets can also sit on your shoulder or fall asleep on your shoulder or hands.
Parakeets need attention from their owner for a few hours each day, and you can provide them with attention through cuddling. If the parakeet lives in a home with many people, the person who gives it the most cuddles will probably be the bird’s favorite person.
Cuddling helps reduce loneliness, especially in the first few weeks and when the parakeet fully trusts you. Before cuddling, you should check your bird’s behavioral changes. Hormone imbalances in birds can suddenly render them unfriendly, and your parakeet might even bite your hands during the cuddling session.
Not all parakeets enjoy cuddling; it depends on the personality of each bird. Some parakeets will cuddle with you for hours, while others will only do it for a few minutes before they start showing signs of discomfort. If your parakeet is friendly and allows you to cuddle it, you can make it your daily activity while watching television. If you notice your parakeet does not like cuddling, do not force it. You can find another way to spend time with your bird.
Why Does My Parakeet Close His Eyes When I Talk to Him?
When spending time with your parakeet, it will react to you talking to it by repeating some words you say or closing its eyes. Some people might think the bird is bored by your stories, but there is a good reason why your parakeet is closing its eyes while you talk.
Your parakeet is closing its eyes when you are talking because it feels safe around you. Parakeets love their owner’s attention, and constantly speaking to your parakeet assures them that you are around. In the wild, animals such as snakes and monkeys hunt and kill parakeets. Therefore, they are always alert to avoid getting killed by predators.
When a parakeet trusts you, it can let its guard down by closing its eyes while you talk to it. In addition to making sounds, birds also use body language to communicate happiness or displeasure. Closing their eyes is one sign of happiness.
Sometimes, a pet parakeet will keep one eye open when you are talking to it. Keeping one eye open signifies that your parakeet does not fully trust you and needs to keep one eye open. The parakeet will keep one eye open, usually the one further away from you to spot any dangers.
Therefore, you need to make sure your parakeet feels secure around you. Remove everything that will cause your bird to be nervous and look out for other people or pets that might be making your bird nervous.
Sometimes, keeping the eyes closed might be a sign of illness. Most parakeets will close their eyes when you touch or talk to them. When you stop, they keep their eyes open. If your parakeet keeps closing its eyes even after you have stopped talking to it, there may be something wrong with its health. Take your bird to an avian vet immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
Another sign that shows you your parakeet feels comfortable and safe with you is proximity. If your parakeet voluntarily wants to be close to you all the time, it means your bird knows you will not harm it. Another sign is your parakeet will become excited and loud when you come back home. Your parakeet will also feed on your hand without running away.
Some signs show your parakeet is scared, such as flapping or flying in the cage while making a lot of noise. If your parakeet poops watery poop when you approach, it means it is scared. You should observe your parakeet each time you interact with it to ensure it feels comfortable and safe.
Lastly
If you notice your parakeet closing its eyes while you pet or talk to it, just know the bird is having the best time. Therefore, you should keep petting and talking to it. The more the bird interacts with you, the stronger the bond becomes. If your bird keeps one or both eyes, you should improve its environment and spend more time with it to assure it that you mean no harm.
Parakeets enjoy cuddling and being held but only from people they trust. As soon as you get your parakeet from the pet store, start the process of bonding with it. Depending on their personality, some parakeets can bond with you within days. While it can take weeks or months for others, you just have to be patient.
