Whether you have a hand fed baby or a wild caught adult, your pet bird will have some natural behavior that is undesirable in your home. You can prevent some problems by providing your bird with toys and adequate space and accommodating his natural schedule. Understanding the natural behavior of birds will help make the relationship with your bird more enjoyable for both of you. 

You can prevent common behavior problems by keeping your bird in his or her cage for a part of every day. During cage time, talk to your bird often while you are going about your household chores so the cage is NOT associated with isolation. Whether your bird is in or out of the cage, speak to him and stop and scratch or feed him when he is playing quietly. Avoid noticing him suddenly if he screams or tries to climb down from his play area. This inadvertently teaches an attention seeking bird to do these undesirable things more often. Don't spend all day with your bird when you first bring him home if you won't be able to do so forever. You don't need to stick to a strict schedule. In fact, it is best to vary his schedule slightly so that he will remain adaptable to change while offering a few things each day that he can count on.

Offer your bird an opportunity to spend time with you away from his cage when he is looking for social activity. For birds this is normally at sun rise and after noon. Birds like to eat throughout the day but especially first thing in the morning. Fill your bird’s bowls before you go to bed so that he can find food in the morning. Birds usually prepare for the night as the sun sets by grooming and snuggling with their favorite friends. 

Consider the types of people and places that will be in your bird’s future and introduce them early and gradually. Plan for experiences in the car, at friends’ homes, and at the vet and kennel. Be sure your bird is comfortable with a variety of situations including children, other pets and people who wear beards, hats and glasses. You may buy a harness and leash for your bird and accustom your pet to outings with the family. Be sure to keep your harness in good repair and watch your bird while wearing the harness so that he does not break or remove it and escape. Just to be certain, your bird should have his flight feathers regularly trimmed if he does not live in a flight cage. 

Birds can get into dangerous situations if left unsupervised. Birds injure themselves in ceiling fans, toilets, and on mirrors if they are allowed to fly indoors. Birds might also escape from your home and be lost. Avocado pits, coffee, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, and mold from soiled bedding or food can make birds sick. Heated non-stick cookware, self cleaning ovens, bug spray, paint and household cleaners give off fumes that are lethal to birds. Keep your bird’s cage away from electric wires and cloth that he could pull into the cage. 

Birds can be suspicious of new objects. Introduce new toys while your bird is outside the cage. Be cautious when carrying large or strange objects near the cage such as a fluttering towel or TV antenna. If your bird becomes frightened, laugh it off by showing confidence. Becoming overly concerned can increase a bird's fearfulness. Remember, birds are flock animals and very adept at sensing anxiety from those around them.