Ever had a bird that likes you, yet doesn't like being handled?

I have two birds, a budgie and a cockatiel. I've had the budgie since 2008 and the cockatiel I adopted in 2009. My cockatiel loves riding with me, being on my shoulder and sleeps on top of me when I'm watching a movie at night.

My budgie is a different story. It's strange because he will chatter, "dance" to music and come out to be a part of the group, but he's really headstrong. When he hangs out with me, he HAS to be in control. He'll fly to me on my shoulder or head and hang out, he just doesn't like being handled in a traditional sense. Ever had a bird like that before?

Oh yes! We rescued 2 cockatiels 2 1/2 years ago. Neither like to be handled at all...but both crave and love attention...just not the handling type.

Charlie has and still is learning a rather extensive vocabulary, he loves to be talked and whistled to...he'll get right up close to me to watch my lips when I talk and listen really close...but if I reach out to see if he'll step up...he'll move away.

We've made a LOT of progress from when we first rescued them. I used to not even be able to walk by their cage without both of them freaking out and flapping all over their cage.

Now I can reach in, change dishes, toys, perches...etc with them both right there, they won't move as long as I don't try to get them to step up.

I think in time, we'll get there, but I'm in no rush.

Toni

That's pretty common. Many pet birds don't like cuddling or petting, but are still tame and can even be bonded with you. In fact, a whole lot of parrot species prefer not to be "touched"...
I do have one Budgie who we got at the same time as the tame one, but he refuses to become a tame pet himself. Interesting how they all have their individual personalities.

this one. everything is on his terms. he wont step up, but he'll fly to you and land on your head or shoulder if he feels like hanging out. he's pretty independent. but he loooooves attention and gets all excited when you talk to him lol

Yup, one of my 2 budgies, Diego. I got him as an older bird (2-3) and he's tame and friendly, will step up and come to me. But he prefers being talked to rather than touched. He will let me kiss his beak occasionally, but I respect his limits. He spent the first few years of his life in a pet shop and his only experience with hands was being grabbed and clipped. He got tame by proxy from my other (very tame and bonded) budgie Gadget. He's about 10 now and spends his time racing around the house with the others.

My cockatiel Astrid is like this. I've had her almost a year and have always been nothing but kind to her. But she does NOT trust hands and at this point, I don't think she ever will. She lands on me when she feels it is safe, though, and preens my hair and clothing. She flock calls me sometimes, too. She is just not hands-on. I think it's because she's traumatized...she was a child's pet before I got her and I think she was probably grabbed a lot...but I don't really know.

aether-drifter said:

My cockatiel Astrid is like this. I've had her almost a year and have always been nothing but kind to her. But she does NOT trust hands and at this point, I don't think she ever will. She lands on me when she feels it is safe, though, and preens my hair and clothing. She flock calls me sometimes, too. She is just not hands-on. I think it's because she's traumatized...she was a child's pet before I got her and I think she was probably grabbed a lot...but I don't really know.

Click to expand...

I'm glad we see eye to eye on this problem xD, my budgie (his name is Jupiter) is very dominant.It's strange because even though he doesn't like it, he will let me hold him or move him without biting or aggression. Even my own family members can't come in the same room as him xD

My Beaks are strictly hands-off. They love being on and around me and will usually come when I call them, but I may not reach out to touch them or I'll get bitten. They just don't like being touched. I don't mind: I love them!

^^dont tell me you're still up??

LOL! No, again. I got about three hours of sleep, but then had to get up to the birdies, dog and cats. Will be napping before long, though, (Yawn!). All the quilt bits are ready to be stitched together and I'll do that tonight. Maybe. Yawn!

I bought a parrotlet from a pet shop. He is 8 months old. Previous owners brought him in the day before I purchased him so he was not in the pet store for long. He has lived with me for a week. He will step up on command, he sits on my shoulders, he will let me kiss him, he does not bite, he flies to my finger when he is in the cage or on the floor outside of cage but he flies away when I offer food or want to pet him on the head or back. He does not play with toys and does not seem curious about the toys. He will, only so far, eat seeds and not fruit or vegetable and he has not taken a bird bath yet which has me concern about his future health. Do you think there is a chance that this parrotlet can be trained to take food from my hand? Am I expecting to much after watching YouTube videos of parrotlet doing all kinds of tricks and allowing owners to scratch their head. I am wondering if I should take him back and get a baby parrotlet but I guess there is no guarantee that the baby parrotlet will grow up to be anymore friendlier that this young male. Does anyone know about parrotlet and can offer any suggestions or advice?
Thank you for any help.

clucas53 said:

I bought a parrotlet from a pet shop. He is 8 months old. Previous owners brought him in the day before I purchased him so he was not in the pet store for long. He has lived with me for a week. He will step up on command, he sits on my shoulders, he will let me kiss him, he does not bite, he flies to my finger when he is in the cage or on the floor outside of cage but he flies away when I offer food or want to pet him on the head or back. He does not play with toys and does not seem curious about the toys. He will, only so far, eat seeds and not fruit or vegetable and he has not taken a bird bath yet which has me concern about his future health. Do you think there is a chance that this parrotlet can be trained to take food from my hand? Am I expecting to much after watching YouTube videos of parrotlet doing all kinds of tricks and allowing owners to scratch their head. I am wondering if I should take him back and get a baby parrotlet but I guess there is no guarantee that the baby parrotlet will grow up to be anymore friendlier that this young male. Does anyone know about parrotlet and can offer any suggestions or advice?
Thank you for any help.

Click to expand...

i think its still pretty early for you. it took me 2 years to build up that kind of bond with my female lovebird. keep trying, eventually he will eat some better foods, and in you will earn his trust. it sounds like he does trust you already since he flies to you and lets you kiss him. he may just not want his head pet, some birds are like that. you also might not have found toys he has liked so far, keep trying different toys

the thing with youtube videos, theyre great to see other owners interact with their birds, but all those birds are individuals and not every bird of that species is going to be what you see on those videos. that doesnt mean there is anything wrong with your bird, he just is himself and you should respect that as well

after all, if you've seen my post here in this thread about my male lovebird, everyone says a tame male lovebird is super cuddly and clingy and make excellent pets. mango is very independent and not very cuddly. he's still an excellent companion, but he is himself and he is nothing like other lovebirds you see who are tame.

just let your bird trust you at his own pace, who knows, maybe down the road he will ask you to pet him. you also might just need to find that super special treat to feed him by hand. try different things, but dont push the affection on him, as that might ruin the trust he has in you already

My GF's tiel is like that, but he really didn't get handled much... and I haven't really worked with him yet. So, we shall see...

I can do you one better, I have a hand shy 40 year old amazon that is an absolute love, and a shoulder bird, and wants to be handled... JUST DON'T TRY TO TOUCH ME.

And that one I've tried the hand shy protocols with. Didn't respond to them.

She is who she is.