Preventing "one person bird" when you live alone

Jroyal14

New member
Sep 13, 2014
25
3
Michigan
Parrots
12 y/o male African Grey (Mickey)
So I've had MICKEY for a couple months now and we're just now starting to form a bond. He likes hanging out with me now and he's with me more than he is in his cage.
While I am loving this bonding time, I'm a little concerned about him becoming a one person bird. And one challenge is that it's just me, mickey, and the dog that live here. I do entertain a lot, and of course people are intrigued by this talking bird in the corner but no one can really touch or interact with him.
So my question is, how can I socialize Mickey when it's only me everyday?
 

khaiqha

New member
Sep 19, 2012
320
0
Lewisville, TX
Parrots
Alexandrine Ringneck,
about to be getting a Jardine's
I pretty much have the same thing. I always have him out when friends are over and encourage my friends to give him treats. I also take mine for walks in his carrier.

A few times I've had to have friends watch him for me. It's still very obvious my bird prefers to be handled by me, but he enjoys climbing on strangers and half expects every new person to greet him with food now.
 

Delfin

Banned
Banned
Jan 26, 2014
295
Media
1
22
Delfin is fine with the family, has we all take turns in the training and handling him. when we first Got Delfin we sat in a circle and passed Delfin around and each of us gave him a training treat. he will now fly to a shoulder of any family member and see what they have or doing.
 

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
12
USA
Parrots
Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
I think khaiqha has a good, workable idea & it worked with Delfin.....

Good luck.....
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Delfin is fine with the family, has we all take turns in the training and handling him. when we first Got Delfin we sat in a circle and passed Delfin around and each of us gave him a training treat. he will now fly to a shoulder of any family member and see what they have or doing.

Exactly! That's the basic right there. A good old fashioned game of pass the birdie works wonders for this.

The other thing is to out and about train them, and take them to the park, and such, where they are exposed to lots of new people, etc.
 

dr1124

New member
Nov 13, 2014
26
0
OH
Parrots
Scarlet Macaw
So I've had MICKEY for a couple months now and we're just now starting to form a bond. He likes hanging out with me now and he's with me more than he is in his cage.
While I am loving this bonding time, I'm a little concerned about him becoming a one person bird. And one challenge is that it's just me, mickey, and the dog that live here. I do entertain a lot, and of course people are intrigued by this talking bird in the corner but no one can really touch or interact with him.
So my question is, how can I socialize Mickey when it's only me everyday?

I'm new here, and I have only just gotten into the Avian world...but here's what I do/did:

I took my fella out with me to a semi-local [Christian] history museum (think dinosaurs, evolution, and Jesus - all in one). This institution has a small rescue zoo of sorts; when you walk in there, you are greeted by the sounds of ~20 small kids scattered about, and many critters (birds, a fox, frogs, insects, and more).

I let a foreign exchange student and members of the faculty hands-on interact with mine, and exposed him to various sights and sounds unavailable in suburban living. Overall, a great theory - just be sure not to overly stimulate the fid (I was cautious).

HOWEVER, an easier solution would be to take fids to PetsMart or someplace like that. My local one is huge but not busy at all. That is a similar and easier to locate version of my outing the way day, for those who aren't acquainted with local educational operations or whatnot.

My $0.02 - hope it helps rather than hurts!

EDIT: I should probably state that I do not have the same circumstances. I do not live alone, per se, and I have Koi fish in the house. They splash around and the always-present sounds of moving water help keep kiddo occupied while riding around on me. My GF has a husky, and I am nervous about introducing the two. The dog is very hyperactive, though peaceful. So I feel like allowing visual contact is as far as that's going.
 
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