Handling Birds : Section 4

ABOUT BIRD BITES AND BEING BITTEN

- How hard does a bird bite?

The answer obviously depends on the type of bird.

Some cockatoos, macaws and parrots can bite very hard. Some of the bigger birds break open very hard nuts, others chew through branches.

It is best never to find out just how hard they bite, but it is important to know that they can bite hard! One can easily imagine them being capable of breaking a bone in your finger.

- Which bird Hurts?

This depends on where you are being bitten as well as the type of bird.

Virtually all parrots, lories, lorikeets, cockatoos and macaws can hurt with apparent ease! Female budgerigars are often bad enough, especially if they bite into the crevice beside a nail. Surprisingly male budgies rarely hurt. Some parrots such as Princess parrots usually but not always bite ÒrelativelyÕ gently, whereas the smaller peachfaces and rainbow lorikeets bite with a vengeance. Parrot finches and house sparrows can bite hard enough to make themselves felt, but are unlikely to break our skin.

For more indepth knowledge on this topic click on "buy this section" below or log in to make an appointment with Dr Ross Perry.

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