Handling your parrot in the dark?

[Zumaria]

So my bird club recently had an event where a local vet came and spoke and we got to have a bit of a q&a session. A lot of it was very insightful and helpful - but one comment she made really stuck with me she said that new owners should handle their parrots in the dark because "they would be like butter". True. I think her logic is it would help bonding by using fear and the bird would have to trust you. Personally though...that sounds terrifying for the poor bird. Has anyone heard of or done this before?

 

[Echo]

I recommend, when taming, and yes bonding sometimes in low lights. The reason not being fear but rather mellowness. Parrots are calmer in the evening, and the important factor for taming is that parrots don't fight/are less aggressive when they can't see well enough for flight.

 

[goalerjones]

Hahnzel constantly nips at me in the dark as if to say, "hey, its dark. We should head into the light now. Faster..."

 

[Echo]

Hahnzel constantly nips at me in the dark as if to say, "hey, its dark. We should head into the light now. Faster..."

My Grey does the same thing. It's a different situation with a tame, bossy parrot!

 

[Zumaria]

Alright, I'll give it a go!

 

[Birdman666]

Never heard of that one...

 

[JerseyWendy]

I admit, I've never heard of that one either.

I truly think my big macs would NOT appreciate being handled in the complete darkness, as I'm certain they would freak out majorly and possibly injure themselves (AND me) by trying to get away. And I have absolutely NO trust issues with them. I think the same goes for my Amazons. Even Hunter would flip out, NO doubt about it, and she is like "butter" all the time.

 

[MenomaMinx]

I've done it, and not voluntarily – it doesn't go over well.

Before the electrical upgrade to the house, circuit breaker had to be flipped when my dad would overload the circuits. If the bird is with you when you have to fix the circuit breaker, you keep the bird with you – if the bird is a budgie, you're getting scolded – Across the house,all the way down the stairs, across the finished basement, right up until the lights go back on.

I don't know why people pick up budgies a starter birds – extremely bossy.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I've handled Rosie in the dark before, usually at night as I turn off the hallway light and head for my room. She's fine as long as it's just us, if someone else is there making a bunch of shuffling noises it will scare her.

I think that would completely freak out Kenji lol

 

[getwozzy]

I handle chili in the dark...I wouldn't say she's "calmer" but in fact, on the alert because she can't see what's going on.

I always say her name on my way to her so she knows it's ME approaching her, and then when I'm about to pick her up so she knows I'm about to touch her. Because she's on her boing when I do this, I actually put my hand by her butt and she steps up backwards...weird, I know, but it works better.

 

[Echo]

I don't agree with TOTAL DARKNESS. No bird will be comfortable when he can't see! Tame or not! I do know that for birds that are afraid of you or agressif to you or other birds, LOW LIGHTS do work to keep them calmer and less agressif.

When introducing a mate to a breeder bird, a lot of breeders will do so in the evening just before going to bed, and will put the new bird in the aviary (large area) a few minutes before dark.. It prevents fighting as birds will not fight when they can't see.

I'm not talking about ones trusted pet here. I have successfully tamed or introduced otherwise fighting birds in LOW LIGHTS and gotten positive results.

 

[Mayden]

Not in pitch black, but Merlin settles when its lower lights. When it's low light Merlin is much more malleable compared to normal (when he's malleable anyway)

Charlie is not fussy.

I agree with the practice to 'some' extent, but only because I know how it works with my own birds and it's not something I would roll out as general practice.

It know my vets dim the lights/black out the room when they have to grab a flighty pain in the butt bird - because birds will generally not move when it's pitch black. So if you need to get your bird back in a cage or whatever because it's at risk or something, I'd suggest it but not, again, as general practice.

 

[Zumaria]

Thanks all for the feedback! It is appreciated. Maybe tonight i'll put on some "mood lighting" for us

 

[goalerjones]

Thanks all for the feedback! It is appreciated. Maybe tonight i'll put on some "mood lighting" for us

And of course some Barry White.... -

 

[Abigal7]

I noticed when I get home and turn on the lights Captain Jack is groggy and lets me hold him without moving (same thing if I check on him at night). But I never grabbed him when it is pitch black.

 

[BillsBirds]

If handling your birds in any darkness, I'd keep talking to them, so, they will recognize your voice, and know it's you.

 

[Mare Miller]

Yes, if having to go into my birds room at night, I always let them hear my voice first. I've never tried to handle my birds in the dark but I know they respond to my voice in other scenarios like giving meds or clipping nails. This is calming to them. Why would you have to handle your bird in the dark?

 

[Zumaria]

We kept the lights down last night and she was quite less nippy, but we didn't make it to actually touching.

I don't particularly NEED to Mare, it was just suggested to me and I wanted to get some opinions

 

[MonicaMc]

My bourke parakeet isn't tame, although she is more active at dawn and dusk.... it's just the nature of the species.