How can one tell if the bird bonds or if it acquiesces?

[thermodynamic]

Tybbi is getting more and more hand-tame by the day, but I feel as if it's due to his accepting my role as the Alpha, which is no easy task for me either but thankfully - despite its larger beak - produces nothing painful in terms of bites, his acclimation has been not bad considering.

He has always eaten with me when I eat, and today I introduced him to some fiendish cauliflower and broccoli florets. He saw me eat the cauliflower and instantly went to his food dish to nibble. He's enjoying himself shredding it as I type this. Yay!

But is he really bonding?

I shouldn't feel so questioning, as Rusty - who has bonded to me - I bought when he was 6 months old and did some trick training on. I know he's bonded, but that took months. Maybe I'm acting premature but I feel as if Tybbi is "going through the motions", like how a recruit goes through boot camp in the Army.

Yet he is starting to cry out more when I'm not around, hang closer to the side of the cage closest to me, etc.

And I am doing more to reward him when he's silent, so he doesn't get rewarded when he screams. I think the neighbors will appreciate that... :54:

But I've never dealt with an abandoned bird before.

Some signs say 'yes' but others say 'maybe'.

But it's not even been 3 full weeks yet...

Does it sound like Tybbi might be warming up and just needs more time to bond?

Thanks!

 

[dishgal1]

I think eating with you is a great bonding tool. A flock eats at the same time. Forrest eats with us all the time and we both have a great bond with him. Off to a great start I would say.

 

[friedsoup]

Like us some loves take years to develop and sometimes it's love at first site and anything in between don't over think it just enjoy what you have and keep exploring new things with him.

 

[Mare Miller]

Definitely sounds like a great start! I thought that my goffins bonded with me just until she met my husband! She still "likes" me but prefers my husband.