Major "Cuddlefest"

I'm not sure if this is a breakthrough or not. The silly chicken still says "come here" and "step up", but won't do either, LOL.

However, last night, just before bedtime, Skittles buried his hed beween the top cage bars and allowed me to rub all over his head and neck. He even closed his eyes and allowed me to scratch the area right above his beak and carres his beak. Afterward he mouthed most of the fingers on my hand (twice he bit down a little hard, but never unbareable). While I'm still to apprehensive about allowing him access to my face, it was about the closest we've ever gotten, face to face. It was definitely a tender bonding moment.

Looking forward to more of them in the future.

Forbey

Oh how adorable!!! And I LOVE your title "Cuddlefest". Definitely quite fitting!! I'd say you had a HUGE breakthrough there!

Congrats on progress with Skittles. The "beaking" is sometimes due to them wanting you to pet them. My hen nape does that often when she wants scratches or preening.(of course playing/battling with my fingers are also one of her favorite past times).In another thread i saw you mentioned wanting her to be on your shoulder, don't rush it. It's really not a good practice. You have a lot less control and can't "read" your bird when they're on your shoulder.Your chances for a bite to the face are much greater in that situation. I never encouraged my long time pet to get on my shoulder and have to "force" her there if i want her off my arm.If she thinks i'm going to put her back on her cage before she's ready, she'll climb there in order to avoid it. maybe after you know your bird much better you can carry her on your shoulder but it's really not best.

As a biker (modern day pirate) I always thought of having my trusty parrot on my shoulder. I guess I will have to rethink that one, .

As part of the cuddlefest, Skittles did manage to reach out for a finger with his foot. He didn't linger there long, but it was the closest thing he's done to a "step up" that we've had.

I will be quite happy to have him camped out on a finger of wrist.

Patience and persistance ... I've got plenty of both!

Oh i think the shoulder thing has it's place , just don't rush it. About the pirate thing, i too " was born 2oo yrs too late" Jimmy Buffet (Pirate looks at 40), I'm an old fishing boat capt, Bit of a pirate, LOL. My friends say i have an issue with rules and authority.

I don't know who is getting bolder, me or Skittles. The last two nights, right before bed (after the boss has gone to bed with the two dogs), Skittles and I have enjoyed some quality time.

I've been trying to stick train him, he's so afraid of the stick he flies off the cage. He lets me pick him up, goes straight to the shoulder and won't let me get him off until I back up to the cage.

So, for the last two nights, our time is spent with me standing next to the cage. We whistle, squawk, talk, growl and whatever seems right. I've been able to reach up and pet him, last night I even grabbed his beak between my thumb and finger without retaliation.

Last night, I took a chance. When Skittles "submits", he drops his head or sticks his beak between the cage bars and puffs his feathers, telling me that he wants scratched. So, I stepped up close to the cage and dropped my head (I am having trouble puffing my feathers, LOL) and he stepped up and preened me for a while. He got a little close to an ear and I had to avoid the possible ear check. This morning he took my NEW glasses off my face. He didn't damage them, but it took a few minutes to get them out of his mouth.

I still can't get his butt to step up onto my hand or finger, but I have been able to get him to grab hold of a finger once or twice.

I also spent a few minutes face-to-face with him whistling a few of my favorite tunes and I finally got a multi-noted whistle out of him.

Slow and steady, he'll probably outlive me, so we have plenty of time to work on the bonding thing.

He does scream less and he always says "Hi Baby!" when I get home. So I'm a happy camper!

Forbey

It sounds like you two are bonding nicely!!!

I hope you are correct, Miss Taz! I'm getting more confidant with my handling, although he has been known to move his head towards my hand very fast as if to yell "PSYCH!" And, of course I jerk away.

Ijust have to get him to voluntarily come off the cage to me.