Would Love Some Advice!!

So first of all I need to say that I have absolutely zero experience with birds, but I recently got a new job at a pet store, and we recently got in a new parrot (I believe she's some type of amazon but I'm not 100% sure) and I have absolutely fallen head over heels in love with her...

She's been at the store for 2 weeks now, and the people I work with haven't really been able to get near her, I haven't tried anything because I don't know much about birds, so I figured I'd leave it to the people who knew what they were doing...

But last night I went over and said hi to her after we closed, her cage door was open so she could come out if she wanted to... and I walked over to the cage and started talking to her and she was listening! So I kept talking, and she slowly started making her way over to me until she was right at the door right by me, I talked to her more and held up my hand and she started exploring it with her beak, not biting just exploring, then she put her head down and let me pet her!!

My manager was quietly standing by me telling me what to do, he told me to slowly move my arm up to see if she would climb on, she put one foot on and then started talking to me, she says "Hello" and "Pretty Birdy" and other things that I really can't understand.

After about 15 minutes she got tired of hanging out I guess and made her way back into the cage. I felt great, cause no one else has really been able to near her since she got to the store.

I would really love to know what I can do to help her become more social, since she obviously decided that she likes me. What can I do to help hand train her, gain her trust more, get her to climb on my arm, ect.

I wish I could bring her home with me.. but I just can't afford the asking price, even with my employee discount

So any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Obviously the bird likes you so you should continue to interact quietly with her. She may step onto your arm if you give her the command, "Step up." You can also try to build trust by handfeeding her something she likes. Repeating back any vocalizations she makes will win her over as well.

I bet if you just continue paying attention to her she will begin to respond more and more.

Most companion birds are social createres and need/thrive on our attention. As said, givng treats is the best along with the head scratches. I suggest you read up on the species and how they are in the wild as this could help your understanding of what the bird needs in the way of nutrition. play and socialization.

Keep working w/ her, however it could prove disasterous for her if she gets bonded to one person and is then ripped away from them, imagine getting in a relationship with someone and then having them be relocated to another home. It is the same with parrots.

dknight8919 said:

Keep working w/ her, however it could prove disasterous for her if she gets bonded to one person and is then ripped away from them, imagine getting in a relationship with someone and then having them be relocated to another home. It is the same with parrots.

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Bonding so that way takes long time so in you case just interacting is not a problem, the bird just have fun, not boding in that stage

I'd get her a perch near the cash register,where she can meet everyone.Carry her around when doing chores at the store.Being in a cage is the worst thing for her,have her out and about.The best thing you can do to improve her future quality of life is to socialize her now.I sell some baby amazons on consignment at a choice few pet stores. The birds that are out on perches meeting everyone make the best pets ,the ones that stay in a cage i bring home because it's doing them no good.Early socialization is everything when it comes to amazons as pets.

What Henpecked said.

It sounds like you're doing great! Just keep doing what you described in your post.

It's important to make sure she socializes with lots of people, not just with you, although it's great that she's friendly with you! We just don't want her to get attached to you and nobody else.

Everyone here has given you great advice. The one thing I would add that I didn't hear mentioned is playing music. Before my Amazon trusted/bonded with me, he still loved to dance & bob his head around. I would also explain to him everything I was doing. "Hello Mr. Precious I'm going to vacuum now", etc. Maybe bringing a radio/CD player close while you're closing up will allow more socialization. I do silly dances right along with mine & he starts mimicking every move I make. Mine even head bangs & spins in a circle when I do the same.