The Key to Bonding with Your Parrot

I have only had a parrot for two or three months at the most. Many of you might well be thinking it is a presumption on my part to post an article titled "The Key to Bonding with Your Parrot". There are many people on this forum who have owned parrots for years, and think posts on this important topic should be left to those experts. I will concede the fact that many people on this forum probably have forgotten more about parrots than I know. In spite of this fact I justify writing this post on the pragmatic grounds that what I did with Cracker worked and it is simple. Anyone can do it. Further, if you do not think I have anything valuable to add to this topic you are free to stop reading this post.

Now on to the subject of bonding with your parrot. I think quantity time is the key to bonding with your parrot. I have a perch for Cracker by my computer. I have a perch for Cracker by my favorite reading chair. I have a perch for Cracker on my coffee table so he can be close to me when I am watching the TV or a movie. The only place I do not have a perch for Cracker is in my bedroom (his cage is in my bedroom), in the kitchen, and on my kitchen table. I do not allow Cracker in the kitchen because I think it would be to dangerous to allow him in the kitchen. I do not allow Cracker on the kitchen table because he uses the bathroom anytime he pleases, and that would just be to gross for me. The point is almost everywhere I go in my apartment I take Cracker with me, and I think this was what allowed me to form what I think is a close bond with Cracker. Most of the time I am just doing what I would be doing anyways and ignore Cracker. I just keep him around me. About every quarter of an hour I will give him one of his favorite treats or scritch him on the top of his head and tell him what a good and pretty bird he is. I should add that I also try and give Cracker at least a half hour of my undivided attention a day. That is all I did. Like I said it is simple, anyone can do it, and it worked for me.

You are doing a fantastic job with Cracker......
I agree with you totally, anyone can do it, all it takes is time, patience and perseverance. If guardians, spent more quality time, talking and interacting with their birds, the rewards will be significant.
How many guardians ask "how come my bird is still not talking"
It takes hours and hours of talking and talking and talking, sometimes just to get a bird to say a few words.
"Different strokes for different blokes" what might work for one, may not work for the other.
Try different methods, until you find one that works for you.
Once again, congrat's with your progress.

It seems so simple, but many people forget it. Would they "bond" with a stranger? How could they expect a bird to do that?

Thank you for sharing that, WS. I agree completely, parrots are our feathered children. Silly as it sounds, it's 100% true. We need to respect them like they are one of us; taking them with us as much as possible, and making them feel included. They're people too!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. My first parrot became my best friend within a couple of days - I think being an affecctionate cockatoo helped ;-) Shadow is taking a little longer, she's been with me for 5 weeks and although we are making progress it's very slow and every day is different.

I have noticed though on days when I have her out and about with me interacting with her she is alot more affectionate that evening & the following day (well as affectionate as a female eclectus can be haha). However although I take her to work with me almost everyday if I am busy she doesn't get much interaction I really notice the difference, so I agree with you 100% It's not hard, it just takes invaluable time.