Training a conure to be touched?

Kiwibon

New member
Feb 6, 2016
29
0
Southampton, UK
Parrots
Pineapple Conure (Lilly), Crimson Belly conure (Poppy)
I'd like to thank everyone that's helped me so far with Lilly! She went to the vet a few weeks ago and she's being treated for infection, I put some drops in her food and giving her longer nap times like the Vet told me to. She's mostly stopped mowing off her feathers... fingers crossed!

So I adopted Lilly when she was 14 months, and I found out the breeder wasn't so good with her, and the previous owner grabbed her to put her away. So she's seriously scared of my hands. Unless I have food. She's been here for 6 months at least with no luck warming up to them.

The vet was adamant that I didn't get her clipped so I think that's out of the question...

Have you ever trained an adult bird scared of hands?
How did you do it?
Do you have any tips?
Have you got any good hand training videos I could watch that have worked?

I desperately want to give her the physical affection she wants but refuses every time. She is always close to me, always on my shoulder and always coming to see me. But she just. wont. let. me. touch. her. LOL.

Thanks in advance for any help!! :D
 

Flboy

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2014
12,598
4,101
Greater Orlando area, Florida
Parrots
JoJo, 'Special' GCC, Bongo, Cinnamon GCC(wife's)
My JoJo was treated the same way, I have had him now almost 3 years and the only thing he really does allow is for me to rub his beak!
 

Paulmandy

New member
Feb 17, 2017
22
1
Mine is the same but at least she sits on your shoulder mine will come to the arm of the chair for food if only we are eating.. like yours he is scared of hands. .he my work in progress.. would love to give him scritches ..

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plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Sometimes when they are like this you can get to stroke their feet. Once they can accept that by being touched anywhere as it wont hurt them you are half way there.

Work on trying this at the cage, see if Lilly will offer a foot, have a treat ready, talk softly and they end up loving having a foot massage.
 
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Kiwibon

New member
Feb 6, 2016
29
0
Southampton, UK
Parrots
Pineapple Conure (Lilly), Crimson Belly conure (Poppy)
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Thanks for the responses guys! I'm slowly teaching her that licking my finger will gain her a treat... hopefully that will warm her up to my hands. She's done it a few times :D

I would love to give her a foot massage haha!
 

Paulmandy

New member
Feb 17, 2017
22
1
I did that with food. On my finger. Everytime he did it i would praise him .. but for some reason he thought that putting pressure on my finger squeezed more food out. . It hurt lets say

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Lacewing

New member
Feb 16, 2017
174
1
USA
Parrots
Murphy Jr. English Budgie
I had 2 Linnies who just would not allow any human touch and I respected that. If you truly want to touch your bird its a matter of time and trust. This bird may never trust human hands again or in time may allow you to do so. I just would not push it.
 
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