Bird Biting Own Feet? Here’s What To Do Immediately

Why Is My Bird Chewing Its Feet?

Bird chewing feet can be a sign of pain, stress, or illness

Bird foot chewing is less common than feather plucking, but when it shows up, it’s a major red flag. While there aren’t exact percentages for all species, here’s what avian experts and behavior studies suggest:

• Most often seen in: African Greys, Cockatoos, some Amazons
  
  
• Common causes include: nerve damage, injury, mites, boredom, fungal issues, and chronic stress
  
  
• Self-mutilation behaviors (including foot chewing) occur in about 3–10% of parrots in clinical studies

Birds usually don’t chew their feet unless something is very wrong. It’s not just a quirky behavior — it’s a sign of pain, irritation, or deep anxiety.

Important: Unlike feather plucking, foot chewing can escalate fast and lead to serious wounds or infections. It’s a behavioral emergency and needs immediate attention.

🚩 Quick Take: It’s not super common, but when it happens, treat it like a health emergency.

We also recommend reading: Why Is My Parrot Biting Its Feet?

How to Tell If Bird Foot Problems Are Serious

Look for signs of an emergency

Some foot chewing is mild and stops quickly. But if the foot looks angry, swollen, or bloody, it’s time to take it seriously. Here’s what to check for:

🩸 Bleeding or open wounds
🔴 Redness or swelling
🦶 Missing nails or scabby spots
🐦 Limping or avoiding pressure

Bird's are experts at hiding pain so you'll have to be a detective to tell if they're sick.  

Step 1 – Clean the Foot and Calm Your Bird

Handle with care

Wrap your bird in a soft towel and gently inspect both feet. Apply cornstarch or styptic powder to stop any bleeding. Rinse with warm, filtered water or bird-safe saline.

Speak softly — stress makes chewing worse.

Step 2 – DIY Salt Soak for Bird Chewing Feet

Soothe irritation fast with this easy salt soak

What you'll need:
1 cup warm water + 1/8 tsp plain, non-iodized sea salt + clean shallow bowl; You may add 2 T Aloe Juice to improve the antiseptic properties if you have it on hand.

Gently dip the affected foot for 30–60 seconds. If your bird freaks out, soak a soft cloth or cotton ball in the solution and dab the foot instead. Pat it dry—no rubbing.

⚠️ Only do this once or twice a day, and never let your bird drink the solution.

Step 3 – Apply a Bird-Safe Topical Treatment

Use only parrot-safe products

✔️ Aloe Vera (pure)
✔️ Vetericyn spray
✔️ Manuka honey (dab only)

❌ Avoid Neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or scented lotions

Step 4 – Protect the Foot From Further Chewing

Create a healing environment

Move your bird to a soft-surfaced recovery cage. Use flat or towel-wrapped perches. Keep your bird warm and thelights low. Add a bird-safe soft collar if needed to block access.

Step 5 – Understand Why Your Bird Is Biting It's Feet

Time to play detective

Ask: Is something hurting? Is my bird bored out of its mind? Did something change—like a new pet, loud noise, or weird sleep pattern? Is this a species that’s prone to self-chewing, like a Cockatoo?

Write down everything you notice. It’ll help you—and your vet—get to the bottom of it faster.

Step 6 – Make Habitat Tweaks That Support Healing

Fast environmental fixes

🧽 Clean & disinfect cage and perches
🧸 Add enrichment toys
🌡️ Raise humidity slightly if needed
🤫 Keep noise and stress levels down

Step 7 – Call an Avian Vet + Summary Checklist

Don’t skip this step

Even if you calm the chewing, your bird still needs a vet. Look up certified avian vets on aav.org or call a local exotic vet.

Emergency Foot Chewing Checklist:

✔️ Clean and inspect foot
✔️ Try salt soak or aloe
✔️ Apply safe topical
✔️ Limit movement and stress
✔️ Use a soft bird collar
✔️ Book a vet appointment

In Conclusion:

So knowing that your bird needs calm, wound care, and behavior support is one thing — but actually helping them heal takes the right tools. That’s where we come in. Our vet-trusted wellness products and soft recovery collars were made just for birds like yours.

Related Posts:

Why Is My Parrot Biting Its Feet?

How to help a sick bird

Stabilizing your sick bird and when to see a vet

8 ways to tell if your bird is sick

References:

Jenkins, D. (2011, March 19). Pain and the Avian Patient. Dr. Exotic. https://www.drexotic.com/pain-and-the-avian-patient/

Lender, S. (n.d.). Toss in Some Turmeric. O, The Oprah Magazine. http://www.omagdigital.com/article/Toss+in+Some+Turmeric/2457141/0/article.html

Lightfoot, T. L. (2020, January). Lung and Airway Disorders of Pet Birds. Merck Veterinary Manual.

Link to this blog

https://birdsupplies.com/blogs/news/bird-chewing-feet-emergency-care

Diane Burroughs, LCSW, brings over 30 years of experience helping bird lovers build stronger, healthier bonds with their parrots. With a foundation in psychotherapy and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Diane combines proven behavioral science with simple, real-life strategies anyone can use. Through her books, behavior consultations, and UnRuffledRx parrot wellness products, she’s dedicated to helping real bird owners create trust, confidence, and a lifetime of positive experiences with their feathered companions.

Diane's products been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at ExoticsCon, a national conference for exotic animal veterinarians. Her bird collars and supplements are trusted by avian vets and stocked in vet clinics across the U.S. With thousands of individualized behavior plans under her belt, Diane’s mission is simple: to help parrots and their people thrive together.

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