10 Reasons Why Your Parrot Is Hissing

Parrots are one of the most beautiful and intelligent bird species out there that tend to be quite vocal. If your feathery pal has been hissing a lot recently, it indicates that something is not quite right and there may be multiple reasons behind this behavior.

Why is my parrot hissing? Parrots usually hiss when they are unhappy or discontent with something, and they use the ‘hissing’ as an expression of their dissatisfaction. This usually indicates that your parrot is feeling scared, intimidated, distressed or annoyed.

Since parrots are known to be one of the most communicative of all the bird species, their constant hissing indicates that they are unhappy or feeling threatened, and you need to identify the reasons behind their hostile behavior if you intend on keeping them happy and healthy in the long run!

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Reasons Why Your Parrot Has Been Hissing

Pet owners are often quick to misjudge the behavior of their pet bird and wonder why they received a bite in return. As mentioned above, hissing is a way your parrot is expressing that they are displeased about something or that something is bothering them.

Just like we humans convey our displeasure by getting angry or upset, our feathery pals do the same by hissing to express their resentment.

After all, parrots are one of the most intelligent bird species out there, thus they are great communicators as well! Here are a few common reasons why your feathery pal has been hissing a lot lately.

1. They feel frightened or threatened

Parrots are often found hissing when they sense an intruder or a stranger nearby. They feel frightened or threatened when a complete stranger steps closer to their cage, and thus in response, they hiss to keep the intruder away from their site.

If your parrot seems to be scared all the time but you are not sure why or not sure what to do, we recommend reading the following articles:

2. They do not wish to be touched or patted

Some parrots do not like to be patted or touched too often, thus they hint their owners to stop with the patting behavior by hissing. This may also result in a bite, therefore it is important to identify the reason behind the constant hissing to avoid any injuries.

3. They feel intimidated by another bird or animal in your vicinity

Have you just bought in a new pet to keep your bird company? Perhaps, that is exactly why your bird has been hissing a lot lately. Birds often feel intimidated or threatened by other animals, and therefore start hissing to keep the animal away.

4. When you have placed a foreign object in their cage

Parrots are often quite picky about their surroundings, and they may or may not like anything you place into their cage. They start hissing to hint you to remove that particular item. It could be anything, from a ball and some bells to a swing.

5. They do not like the food you’ve been feeding them

Parrots can be quite finicky when it comes to their food. They will be quick to express their displeasure if they do not like the food you’re giving them.

In addition to that, they may just stop eating altogether – this will hint you if food is the problem. You can then experiment with different foods to find the best one for your feathery pal.

6. They are in the mood

Yes, it is quite possible that your parrot is just in the mood to hiss! Some parrots just like making different awkward noises to make their presence felt. As mentioned earlier, they are quite chatty by nature, so you can expect them to make such sounds while playing around.

7. When a female parrot is nesting

Female parrots tend to become quite aggressive when they’re nesting or about to lay eggs. Most of them won’t let you anywhere near the nest if they’re about to have babies.

This is a natural protective instinct, which is why many of them may get extremely aggressive if you go near their cage or nest. Once their eggs have hatched, they may leave their hostile behavior behind and get back to their old friendly selves.

8. They are naturally anti-social

Just like humans can be antisocial, birds, too, can be antisocial. This will become quite evident with their behavior when they’re around people or other pets.

IF they remain constantly aggressive when around people, it can be a sign that your pet does not like much interaction and prefers to remain in solitude.

If your parrot has suddenly become aggressive, there might be another reason for that. Read this article to learn more about sudden aggression in parrots!

9. They want to come out of their cage for some playtime!

Some parrots are quite interactive and fond of playing, so they may be hissing to remind you to bring them out of their cage.

10. They do not want to go back into their cage

If your parrot starts hissing at you when you’re trying to put them back into their cage, this indicates that they are not willing to go inside just yet and are looking for some more playtime ahead.

What Should I Do if My Parrot is Hissing?

The initial step to take would be to back off and stay far away from your parrot until it calms down. Since hissing is their way of expressing anger, it is best to step away to avoid any injuries, as the bird may even lash out at you.

The best thing to do would be to give your pet pal some room to unwind. Make sure that you do not force any interactions, as this can cause your parrot to become even more agitated.

Your parrot probably wants some ‘alone’ time and does not want any more humans hanging around their cage. The goal here is to make your feathery friend feel happy and at home. Also avoid feeding your parrot when it is hissing, as it may attack you out of fear or frustration.

Once your parrot has calmed down, try reaching out to them in their cage and signal them to jump on your hand. When they do, reward them by giving them their favorite treat.

This way they will learn to trust and rely on you, leading to a healthier and happier relationship in the long run!

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