How do you get him to like my daughter instead of me?

[cbren2006]

Hello, my situation I need some advise on is this.
On Monday (this week) I brought home a Sun Conyour to give to my 17 yr old daughter as a new pet, for Christmas. I thought I could hide him from her til then, so I spent a day getting aquatinted to the new bird. He was friendly, ate something I hand fed him. we spent about 2 hours total together. Then it dawned on me that they usually have only one main person they take to, so I quit and decided to give him to my daughter early, now he's not taking food from her. he yells at her and bangs his beak at the cage. throws his food. I'm not going in the room anymore.. I told her he will warm up to her in a few days.
Do you have any advise to make this simpler. I don't want an angry bird on my hands.. help please
Cathy

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum

I am sure he will bond to your Daughter after a few days. Try getting her to just sit by his Cage and talk to him.. offer him treats! After a few days see if he will step onto her.. If not you could try getting him to step onto a stick.

Do you have a playstand you could put him on?

 

[cbren2006]

thanks, yes I do have a stand for him. she can just keep trying. thought there may be some trick. he likes me. I talk with a deeper voice., and am more assertive. she is quieter. I've been telling her to speak in a more assertive voice. not sure what the strategy should be.

 

[SandyBee]

Treats to be given only by her is a good starting point.
Talking to him and keep trying.

 

[MonicaMc]

Try and figure out what his favorite treat is, then see if you can have your daughter train him to do tricks and behaviors. Simple things.

Tricks/behaviors to teach
Station/Stay
Go to perch/cage
"Wave"
"Big wings"
Turn around
Shake head yes
Shake head no
etc

Sometimes, the easiest way to teach a behavior is to see a parrot do the behavior themselves (i.e. stretching both wings and capturing the behavior) then slowly work on shaping the behavior into the desired way (wings partially open to wings fully open).

Turn around is an easy one if you have a an inverted |_| shaped perch. Place bird on the perch, then have him follow the treat in a circle and reward. Pair with a phrase and once the bird understands the behavior, you can slowly start phasing out the lure and working on a cue by hand if you wanted to!


There are books out there on various behaviors to teach and how to teach them! One I liked is Melinda Johnson's Clicker Training Book!

 

[DannyA93]

He probably just bonded to you right away because you where the first to give him attention when he got to his new home. your like his first impression basically, but just keep staying out of the room he's in and he'll come around to liking your daughter just takes time! good luck!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Sorry to be the barrier of the bad news, he may never like her. That is a possibility! She can keep trying but as long as the bird can hear you in the house, it may not work....The best thing would be for her to see some birds that might choose her. Sometimes it's easier if you get a freshly weaned baby as they pretty much go to anyone. We don't force our birds to go to someone they don't want to. I am able to handle all of our birds! But there's two birds that my partner can not handle which is Willie and Java as they will attack if my partner gets too close. There's some that prefers my partner over me but they tolerate me handling them. Peaches the Cockatiel LOVES my partner to pieces as he will sing and dance for my partner, not really for me.

 

[Abigal7]

If it is a young bird it should come around. Staying out of your daughters room will help. It will not happen overnight. It took almost a whole month form my bird to begin to like me. Yes, birds have prefrences but if possible (like dogs) they should be trained and socilaized. I believe in caring for a bird and giving it everything it needs for its health but I also think you need patience, persistant, and the ability to never take no for an answer.

 

[lene1949]

How old is this parrot?

 

[Supriya]

I have tht same problem too my pets are like more cuddly to my dad, well i planned them to be with me but i'm noticing their attachment with him;like taling and purring on his arms...i can totally relate to you dear............