How do I grab a bird?

[Chocobo]

I want to learn how to properly hold a bird so that I won't hurt my Conure. Below is a few pictures I took on how I hold my birds. Please tell me if it's wrong and how to do it properly.

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I am worried my Conure is uncomfortable as he is always struggling and sometimes bite my hand (not hard enough to draw blood, but it hurts a bit). He lets me tickle him under the wings and on his back and belly, so I don't think it is because he is not used to hands. I try not to do it at all, as I'm afraid he'll grow to dislike my hand.

How do you hold your bird? Do you mind showing me a few pics? Do you do it often? Or do you try not to hold them at all? Thanks in advance.

 

[RavensGryf]

2 of my boys (the Poicephalus parrots) will let me do that and they don't mind one bit. HOWEVER, that sort of hold is usually only tolerated and done with birds who are VERY okay with hands all over them. Not all birds are like this

Start with the basic "step up" having the bird step onto your finger. Entice him with a treat if he needs help learning. Most tame parrots will learn this basic command fairly quickly. Later if your bird gets used to more handling, there's nothing wrong with the hold above so long as your bird doesn't mind.

 

[Julianna]

My opinion: never "grab" a bird. There's just no reason to. Struggling and biting is a very clear message to you that your conure does not like what you're doing and wants you to stop. So if I were you, I'd listen. It's not difficult to train your parrot to accept towl contact if it's nessacary for you to restrain him, but you shouldn't have to force your bird to do anything. Personally, I would never hold my bird like this because it's giving your bird a reason not to trust you (you're doing something he clearly is asking you not to do), and if your bird doesn't trust you, it's practically impossible to train anything else. Here's a link to a video showing how to teach your bird to accept towl contact: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EApb9HjX_0]Towel Training - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Chocobo]

Oh, I see. I didn't know it wasn't something that I was supposed to do in the first place. When I got my conure, I saw the breeder grabbing their birds, and the birds seemed to be completely fine with it so I thought it was something normal. Thanks for the info! I'll keep in mind not to do it again.

 

[RavensGryf]

Oh, I see. I didn't know it wasn't something that I was supposed to do in the first place. When I got my conure, I saw the breeder grabbing their birds, and the birds seemed to be completely fine with it so I thought it was something normal. Thanks for the info! I'll keep in mind not to do it again.

I know it's commonly done in that situation, where there may be many birds for sale in the cage. At home though, the normal way to pick up a bird is to step up. The search feature here should have some good help about basic training and step up training. Like I said above, I do take Robin right out of his cage with my hand over his back ONLY because he's been absolutely used to it for 20 years! I can literally do ANYTHING with Robin. Griffin has also learned to be picked up over his back too by his hand feeder, as well as myself. He's already used to it.

Remember, when you use the word "grab" you will really get people's attention and not in the way you might want "Pick up" is what you mean, unless you are literally squeezing the bird and yanking it out forcefully

 

[Mudkips]

"Grabbing" a bird isn't very nice, and none of them will like it.
"Holding" a bird can be a good thing sometimes, and if you can work out a good way to do it between you and your fid, you can have a nice bonding moment.

Here's a picture of Birdy using my hand as a recliner chair, taking a nap. I moved my fingers for the picture, but he doesn't mind it at all if I wrap my fingers around his wings/body and hold him.

 

[thekarens]

If you continue to do it and your sun isn't on board with it he's going to chomp you.

I do that with my sennies when we are playing and when they are in the mood. Certainly I wouldn't do it on a regular basis. Teaching your bird to step up and step down is a much better option.

 

[Dinosrawr]

I have Avery trained to allow me to pick her up from the back by the neck. If I hadn't done this, chances are I would've never gotten her off of the tree when she flew away. I only do this when it's necessary to "restrain" her, as it controls her neck movements in a gentle manner (I NEVER squeeze hard, I simply hold my thumb and finger straight and softly against her cheek bones) and she lets her feet off whichever perch she's on willingly, making it an emergency grab trick.

It's good to train if you haven't trained your bird to accept nail clipping and your vet feels the need to towel them or restrain them as that's the hold they will use. I feel if they're more accustomed to it, they're less likely to become incredibly stressed during the process. Of course it's near impossible to do with a bird who doesn't like being touched, so I can't quite do with type of training with Shiko yet. Never force your hands on your bird unless it's absolutely necessary to do so, otherwise you're reinforcing their prey instincts to view hands as predators and to flee from them. It basically goes like this - bird notices a "predator" has seen them and is approaching, so becomes scared - if sees predator approaching, tries to flee - if fails to flee and predator pounces (or grabs, in this case), then fight. That's why your bird is biting you, chances are your conure is experiencing fear from being constrained and wants to fight to escape and "survive".

Generally, though, you should only ever need to ask your bird to step up. It's fine to train the bird to accept being picked up by the back or neck, but I wouldn't advise using it as the common, "hey you, I wanna hang out!" move.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Everyone else has great points for you already. Step up is more the standard way to handle your bird, but I have had situations in a pinch where I do kind of grab my bird (something startles him and he is on the ground with dogs there....I run over and just quickly grab him and lift him to safety.) In those odd situations, he doesn't even mind it, because I think he appreciates my help.

I had Georgie trained to lay down and play dead in my hand while I clipped her nails. It was terrific. So easy! Gil hates having his nails done so rather than have me scare him, I take him to the vet and let him file them down. I still work on it but baby steps, because, yeah, if you push them or force them, they will normally turn to a bite at that point.

By the way your conure is really cute! Made me smile.

 

[RavensGryf]

but I have had situations in a pinch where I do kind of grab my bird (something startles him and he is on the ground with dogs there....I run over and just quickly grab him and lift him to safety.

In an emergency situation, you just have to do it, but of course that's understandable then. I've had to grab Griffin and yank him off of Robin's cage when he accidentally got onto there, and I had to do it very fast before Griffin ended up with no feet! Robin HATES other birds and he really means business. Griffin was fine right after. He's such an easy going little guy

 

[Chocobo]

Thanks for all the advice! My Conure actually does know how to step up, and it's the method I use nearly all of the time to carry him around. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't hurting him if the time comes where I do need to pick him up.

 

[strudel]

My galah steps up, but I can pick her up. I announce it before I do it, I go "pick up!" and pick her up and when I put her down I go "put down". She doesn't freak out when I say what's happening. I don't know whether she understands the words, or just the tone of voice that all is good and nothing bad is happening. I only have to pick her up if I need to get her down from somewhere or need to remove her from somewhere likely to be dangerous or something. She'll just sit on my hand or arm or wherever the rest of the time. I just practise a bit so she doesn't get frightened by it if it happens.

 

[veimar]

Looks fine to me - just make sure you don't squeeze! It took me a little while to teach my conure to lay in my palm on his back comfortably, so he doesn't really mind when I pick him up. Why wouldn't you teach your bird to step up so you don't have to pick him up a lot? I very seldom have to pick up Parry, and when he gets uncomfortable I either let him go or put him on my chest and hold gently until I get him to the right place.

 

[Novoken]

So I have 2 baby's. How do you move them with treats? I can only get them out the cage or off us by grabbing them.....

 

[MrsKay]

Here is how I taught Larry. I did this without treats, just gentleness and praise.
You must begin by teaching your bird(s) to step up on your finger.
This will be more easily accomplished if they are learning separately. Alone.
Begin by bonding with them. Separately and together.
Then just touching them.
Then petting, touching, handling.
This could take days -- or weeks.
Begin with your bird on your shoulder, then gently cover the bird with your hand. He may grab your thumb as a perch. Let him.
If he nibbles you a bit while doing this it is fine. If he acts scared and bites hard, gently place him back on a perch, wait 30 seconds, and begin again.
With your hand gently wrapped around the bird, carefully lift the bird in your hand and turn him over, gently touching his belly with your other hand.
It takes time.
Do it often and daily.
Larry is 4 months old and will let anybody handle him, pick him up in any position (not just a grab, but he sees you coming) pet him, handle him upside down or inside out, he just doesn't mind.
This was accomplished through repetitive touching and handling with trust.
Read everything you can on this forum and elsewhere.
Always be very gentle and very patient. Don't give up.
Good luck. Have fun