5 Signs that your Budgie HATES YOU

We all want to believe that our pets will love us from the minute we get them from the store. But things don’t always work out that way – sometimes they don’t like us and in some instances they flat out hate us. And budgies aren’t any different – they can hate you as passionately as they can love you.

So the sooner you figure out whether your budgie hates you, the sooner you can avoid further altercations. That’s why we have decided to use today’s post to discuss signs that your budgie hates you. So if you don’t know what to look out for, you’ve come to the right place – here are 5 signs your budgie hates you:

Flying and jumping in the cage crazily

If your budgie constantly flies and jumps around in their cage erratically whenever you come around, you should be concerned. This is usually a sign of fear and is commonly observed when you first bring a budgie home, particularly when you reach out for it.

But if you’ve had your budgie for a while and he is already hand trained, chances are that he hates you. If the flying and jumping around persists, you’ll have to reduce your trips to your budgie’s cage first as you try to get them to warm up to you.

Biting your fingers

Budgies and other birds don’t regularly bite the fingers of their owners. So if this is what is happening with your bird, you should look into it. It could mean that the bird is in pain or discomfort, warranting a visit to the vet.

On the other hand, it could be a sign that your bird is stressed, afraid, or feels like it should defend itself against you. In such cases, this behavior is usually accompanied by them lunging toward you. So if your budgie exhibits this behavior and has no underlying medical condition, there’s a chance they hate you.

Getting nervous when you enter the room

When a budgie hates you, they feel nervous when you’re around and generally do everything they can to get away from you. This desire can make them stick to the corners of their cages when you come around, especially when you stretch your hands toward them. It can also make your budgie:

• Refuse to eat when you’re around because they feel like lowering their neck to do so makes them vulnerable to attacks from you
• Tremble and pant
• Pass liquid poop
• Widen their eyes

Flapping its wings when you approach

It’s normal for budgies to flap their wings from time to time. They do this in the morning to stretch and can also do it as a form of exercise. However, if they only do this erratically when you approach, it’s a sign that they hate or at least dislike you.

Screaming a lot

Another sign that your budgie hates you is that they scream a lot whenever you’re around them. This usually means that they are scared of you or view you as an intruder. Whichever the case, you’ll need to find a way to get this sorted out.

Why does your budgie hate you?

Once you establish that your budgie hates you, it’s time to figure out why. While sometimes you can figure this out on your own, sometimes you’ll have to get a vet involved. Some common reasons include:

Unfamiliarity

Budgies take a while to adapt to change – they shy away from unfamiliar people and situations. So if you just got your budgie, they are going to be unsettled and scared for a while before they get used to you. Insisting on playing with the uncomfortable budgie will only make them hate you more and more.

Mistrust

If a budgie mistrusts you, they will hate and reject you. Fortunately, hand-reared budgies who have been seeing you around are usually trusting. However, old budgies are a whole different story – they take a lot of time to trust people.

Triggers

Budgies can hate and reject you simply because you trigger them in some way. Something as minor as wearing a shirt in a color they don’t like is enough to get them to dislike you. So to maintain harmony, it is best to keep track of your budgie’s triggers. Some common ones include:

• Mirrors – these can confuse budgies
• Earthquakes
• Sounds from predators
• The smell of dogs, cats, and other pets that live in your home
• The death of a flock member

Introversion

If your budgie is introverted, they may not like being touched and petted by humans, regardless of whether they are their owners. So if you have been constantly doing this, it may be the reason that they don’t like you. In such cases, it is best to get your budgie another budgie to be their friend.

Trauma due to abuse

Budgies have a good memory – they don’t just disregard their past. So if your budgie has been abused before, it will affect how they behave today. In fact, this experience can make them short with you and make it easier for them to act hatefully toward you.

What should you do if your budgie hates you?

Even if your budgie hates you, all’s not lost. There are some things you can do to win them over. These include:

• Be gentle and patient with your bird. Wait for a while before you approach your budgie
• Feed your budgie a variety of foods, see which one they like most and use that as a treat
• Familiarize your bird with your hands so that they can see there’s nothing to be afraid of. You can start by showing them your hands for a few minutes every day – keep this up for 1 to 2 weeks. Once they’re comfortable you can start feeding them treats using your hands
• Always reward your budgie’s good behavior with petting and treats. Remember to speak softly to them as well
• Don’t cuddle your budgie when they’re uncomfortable
• Introduce a new toy to your budgie slowly – place it outside the cage for a few weeks first