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Post by CarolynB on Jan 12, 2015 13:24:52 GMT -5
Hello, I am new to parrots. I received my first one, a Quaker for Christmas. I placed his cage beside my chair and I talk to him constantly. He has recently started coming to the front of the cage where he can be close to me, but if I open the door he retreats to the back of the cage and if I put my hands anywhere near him he climbs the side of the cage and screams. I don't want to do anything wrong so I am in search of help. I have read every parrot book I can find and they give good advice on everything except what to do if your parrot doesn't let you get close enough to him to teach him how to set up. I appreciate any help you can give me. |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 12, 2015 17:42:20 GMT -5
Hi CarolynB, welcome  . I would just leave the cage door open and let him decide if he wants to come out and approach you. It sounds like his cage is his 'safe place' for now, so I would keep my distance. It might be worth noting how close you are to the cage when he starts to look uncomfortable, then regularly go to just outside that distance (but no further). I just think he needs time to trust you. I wouldn't try to force him near your hands at all, yet, as he is still adjusting to his new environment. Is he a baby or an adult? |
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Post by CarolynB on Jan 13, 2015 7:13:21 GMT -5
He is 8 months old. He will eat from my hand as long as it is outside the cage, but if I open the door he retreats. I will open the door today and see if he comes out. Thanks for the help.
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Post by easttex on Jan 13, 2015 7:24:47 GMT -5
How have you been able to get him out of his cage before? You mention that he will take food from you there. Does he come out on his own? Like Biteybird, I recommend you not force him out and do give him some time to adapt to his new environment. Many birds object to hands in their cages and it is best to leave some decisions up to them, when you can. As Dani suggested in another post, you could try placing a perch on the outside of the cage, close to the door. From there, he may be less inclined to see your hands as foes.
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Post by Carolyn B on Jan 13, 2015 9:39:03 GMT -5
He has been out only a few times and I used a towel. Suggestion from another parrot owner. I held him close to my chest and rubbed his head and talked to him for about 30 minutes each time. But the towel made him freak out each time so I stopped. I was worried I was scaring him more than taming him. He has picked up laughing because each time I ask him if he is a good boy he would shake his head and I would laugh. He is trying to say Good Boy and Peek a Boo. You can tell that is what he is saying but it is not really clear yet. My husband is a little jealous because I spend every chance I get talking to him.
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Post by easttex on Jan 13, 2015 10:18:16 GMT -5
I'm a big fan of force-free training. (See Barbara Heidenreich videos for examples.) Toweling should be something he is trained to accept with positive reinforcement. It sounds like for now a lot of patience is called for. Give him a chance to watch the routine, give him treats and talk to him a lot, and leave the cage door open, but don't force him out. Birds prefer partners to bosses. |
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Post by CarolynB on Jan 14, 2015 10:52:42 GMT -5
I took Echo in the bathroom last night and opened his cage door and just set with him and talked to him. He started out on the other side of his cage but by the time we were finished he was at his door taking food from my hand. He did not however come out of his cage but I have high hopes for the future. Thanks so much for your help.
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Post by woz30 on Feb 23, 2015 15:02:54 GMT -5
Beamer does not like to be held, possibly a fear of being crushed (which is understandable), however, he climbs up onto my arm & walks up to my shoulder or he just flies & lands on me. QPs are very territorial of their cage; that is their space. To get Beamer out of his cage, I usually open the door, & kneel in front with my head bent down. He will then usually come out onto the door. This may be a bad technique by some due to being submissive to the bird. But, it works for me, without me accidently injuring him by trying to grab him & prevents him from biting me.
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mrsg
Hatchling
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Post by mrsg on Mar 6, 2023 9:14:31 GMT -5
I’ve had my Yoda for a year now. I think she is 2 now. I got her from a pet shop and up until recently I’d just let her do her own thing flying around the room. She will land in me if she wants to and will take food from my hand but she won’t come to me. She seems to have been so scared of people after being in a shop so I know she wasn’t band reared. Do you think taking her cage into a different room idea will help her? I recently got a small cage each for her and my cockatiel who were both taking over the sitting room. The cockatiel we got at 7 weeks so is ok to come out but she is teaching him to become wild not him teaching her to be tame.
Do you think I should take her cage to a room she doesn’t know and see if she will take food from my hand thru the bars like she does sometimes in their usual room?
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 6, 2023 20:28:24 GMT -5
It's certainly worth a try to take Yoda to a different room. Sometimes training goes better when a parrot is away from the environment where he/she spends most of their time.
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Post by Caseysmom on Mar 6, 2023 22:04:29 GMT -5
Yes another room is a good idea. Somethimes it works better if they can’t see their cage and have to depend on you. Maybe with the two of them together in your house they would have a better chance to bond with you if they were out of their cages at different times I hope something works out for you.
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. I would just leave the cage door open and let him decide if he wants to come out and approach you. It sounds like his cage is his 'safe place' for now, so I would keep my distance. It might be worth noting how close you are to the cage when he starts to look uncomfortable, then regularly go to just outside that distance (but no further). I just think he needs time to trust you. I wouldn't try to force him near your hands at all, yet, as he is still adjusting to his new environment.
