Will this bitter-tasting spray stop my cockatiels from destroying my plants?
9.3.2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Anika Schulz
My feathered flatmates have taken quite the shine to my plants. Let’s see if Versele-Laga’s No-Pick spray can protect my greenery.
Spring has sprung. Which, for my four pet cockatiels, means: energy! Anarchy! With their favourite spring pastime being nibbling my houseplants to shreds. Rio, Cookie, Pebbles and Finni poke around my plants like little landscape gardeners: «Ah, there’s a leaf in the wrong place here. I guess we’d better bite it off the plant just to be on the safe side.»
I initially tried shooing them away from the plants, but it didn’t work. Two plants have already bitten the dust, and I’m heartbroken. But that’s not the only issue; many houseplants are poisonous to pets. Which is why I’ve already swapped most of my real plants for artificial ones. But there’s just no holding back my floofs, who peck the plastic plants to pieces in no time at all. I’ve had enough.
After doing a little digging in some cockatiel forums, I found a recommendation for Versele-Laga’s No-Pick spray. The bitter-tasting spray’s actually designed to prevent birds from plucking out their feathers. However, it apparently helps protect your plants – real or otherwise – from being shredded into oblivion.
Eugh, that’s nasty…
I spray some of the No-Pick onto my hand and lick it off. Bleurgh! An hour later, the bitter taste is still lingering in my mouth.
A look at the ingredients reveals that the spray consists mainly of water. The second most prevalent ingredient is denatonium benzoate, a substance which, even in small amounts, tastes super bitter. That’s why you also find it in anti-nail-biting varnishes made for us feather-free beings. If I spray this horrible stuff on my plants, it’s bound to stop my cockatiels from chewing on them, right? RIGHT?!
…but unfortunately, only to me
As I’m spraying my houseplants, some of the No-Pick’s bitterness creeps into my nose and throat. Satisfied, I leave the living room and sit down at my computer to work. Only to some hear suspicious nibbling noises emanating from next door a little while later. I then find Finni sitting in the middle of a newly sprayed artificial plant, tearing the leaves to pieces.
I give up. I take the plant through to the kitchen and stash the No-Pick spray in the cupboard. Frustrated, I go looking for reviews of the product online. Lo and behold, although most bird owners are satisfied with the spray, there are some negative reviews too. Including the likes of «Doesn’t bother my cockatiel in the slightest» and «My parrot just keeps on chewing regardless». I can relate.
Maybe the spray really is better at combatting feather plucking. Who knows? Luckily, my cockatiels don’t have that problem. One thing’s for certain though: the spray couldn’t save my indoor greenery.
Alternative anti-nibbling solutions
So, what can be done? If your cockatiels are crazy about plants too, you could give these tips a go:
- Birds often react to the colour green. If you offer them something tasty like lettuce, apples or fresh herbs such as parsley, they’ll be distracted.
- Try out some alternatives to vegetables, including wood, cork or scraps of paper. My lady cockatiel, Pebbles, is crazy about cork. But please don’t use a cork from a wine bottle. You can buy bird-friendly blocks of cork instead.
- If none of this advice helps, move all of your plants – artificial or otherwise – out of reach. You’ll be able to put them back once autumn hits, when your birds go into winter mode and become calmer.
Do you have any tips on how to stop parrots from nibbling on plants? Let me know in the comments!
In a nutshell
Tastes gross, doesn’t do much
The bitter-tasting spray didn’t stop my four cockatiels from attacking my plants. In fact, I was more disgusted by the spray than they were.
Pro
- Pungent taste
- Reportedly stops birds from plucking their own feathers out
Contra
- Fails to prevent bouts of plant nibbling
Header image: Anika Schulz
Anika Schulz
Teamleader Editorial
Anika.Schulz@galaxus.deAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.
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