I want to hold my bird!!!

[SarahT]

I so desperately want to be able to handle my Jeremy, we have had him nearly 2 years and I never have! I managed to get him on a hand held perch once which felt amazing but I need a new perch for that and I find it awkward to hold with the weight of him, perch and a bowl of food! The issue is with me, I feel like he wants to climb aboard, I can be quite close to him and if I put my hand/arm out he looks interested but I know he will bite most likely to test I guess and I just can't bring myself to get closer! The pain of a few bites would be worth eventually having him step up but I can't help but flinch away!

I want him to trust me and I want to show him more trust - any tips?

 

[Birdman666]

Male or female?

Has this bird ever been handled?

Does he get out of his cage much?

Is he clipped?

Need more info before I can tell you how to work with him.

 

[SarahT]

Male or female?

Has this bird ever been handled?

Does he get out of his cage much?

Is he clipped?

Need more info before I can tell you how to work with him.

Male. He was with previous owner for about 20 yrs and I don't think he had much interaction or handling so he is nervous.

He is out of his cage most of the time. Tbh we don't bother to close it, he comes out in the morning for his breakfast and sits up top nosing out the window, goes back inside when we go to work and comes out as soon as I get home. When we go up to bed he goes in to 'bed'!

 

[Birdman666]

Okay. That's helpful. He isn't cage bound. Is he clipped? Or is he flighted?

What happens if you offer your hand? Does he recoil and growl at you, or does he act interested?

 

[SarahT]

Okay. That's helpful. He isn't cage bound. Is he clipped? Or is he flighted?

What happens if you offer your hand? Does he recoil and growl at you, or does he act interested?

Sorry no he is not clipped. He will fly a lap of the lounge or over to baby gate, he is not overly active but is more confident with flying these days.

If I offer my hand he definitely seems interested! I need to stop being a fanny!!

 

[Birdman666]

Wrap a towel around your arm, go over there and pick him up. See what he does. If he's trained to step up, he probably will.

If they don't get handled they don't stay tame. A bird that bites needs to be handled MORE not less. The more they get handled, the friendlier and more interactive they get.

And most BFA's are show-offs once you wind them up.

 

[SarahT]

Wrap a towel around your arm, go over there and pick him up. See what he does. If he's trained to step up, he probably will.

If they don't get handled they don't stay tame. A bird that bites needs to be handled MORE not less. The more they get handled, the friendlier and more interactive they get.

And most BFA's are show-offs once you wind them up.

I like the towel around the arm idea! But it scares him a bit - just tried it but he flew back to his cage - and he isn't trained to step up. Will keep trying with a tasty treat!

 

[Birdman666]

It's usually easier to train a bird who is clipped.

Treats work wonders.

Try it without the towel then, and see what happens. Just be prepared to push his beak away if he attempts to latch on. Two fingers controls that beak. Just push it away before he latches on.

If he is just feeling with his beak, and not latching on, then he is just "testing the perch."

 

[SarahT]

Tried again with a treat, he was thinking about it but went to bite. He is interested if with bare skin but cloths/towel makes him bitey!

 

[SarahT]

Eek ok! So approach him with two fingers?

 

[Birdman666]

That's how it's normally done.

Hold out your hand, or two fingers, and tell him to step up.

Hold the treat in the other hand where he can see it.

If he lifts up his foot, then he obviously still knows "step up." If he lunges for your finger with his beak, use those same fingers to push the beak away, and before he recovers, put your fingers by his feet, and see if he steps up...

And stop being wishy-washy. Parrots need to be handled with confidence. Don't put your hand up there and then pull it away, because the bird then will not be confident in you. If you went to step up, and someone yanked the step out from under you, you would fall on your face...

The only way to overcome a fear, is to face it.

 

[cstambaugh]

This is exactly what my macaw is doing and acting, but he's only been in my house almost 2 weeks. I'll going to try the towel right now.

 

[getwozzy]

I did this with my amazon, take an ace bandage and wrap it around your forearm, then put a sweatshirt on or something with long sleeves. So, if he happens to bite you, it won't hurt as much. He's also probably sensing that you're nervous- which is understandable! When you offer your arm put your hand in a tight fist and even curl it so your skin is tight- make sure your fingers are tucked away. This way if he goes for your hand he won't be able to get a hold of any loose skin or fingers. Also- make sure you have a treat ready for when he steps up! Maybe even show it to him before you ask so he sees there's something in it for him.

 

[getwozzy]

Or....get a perch, regular perch or PVC wrapped in vet wrap, and have him step up on that. Treat. Show him another treat, get him to scooch towards your hand. Treat. Repeat until he's on your arm.

Always end training sessions in a positive way. After you get him on your arm, praise him and tell him what a good boy he is, give him a treat, and then put him on his play stand or whatever.

 

[Jayyj]

I'd second the bandage idea, or even try wearing a coat, see if that bothers her - anything to diminish impact of the potential bite. I do think confidence is a big deal for this situation.

 

[Matilda]

I think it's impossible to have a bird and try to have him step up, without being bitten at some point or other.... I would've suggested a towel. That worked with one of my greys, who wanted to take me finger off several times.

 

[SarahT]

Thanks all! Very helpful, I will persevere!

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Thanks all! Very helpful, I will persevere!

Try to practice psyching your mind up for not pulling away if he snaps at your finger, because he very well might not actually snap or not too hard (hopefully), but just enough to make sure you are actually going to leave your hand there for him. Also, maybe he would step up on to the back of your open hand, with palm facing down, or even on to your your thumb with your 4 fingers curled in. If you aren't ready to take the plung, you could try wearing two see-through latex free gloves on your hand and maybe you'd feel less apprehensive with a small barrier.

Even if he does bite, don't make a commotion over it in front of him.

YOU CAN DO IT !!!
RAH RAH!!!!

 

[SarahT]

Thanks all! Very helpful, I will persevere!

Try to practice psyching your mind up for not pulling away if he snaps at your finger, because he very well might not actually snap or not too hard (hopefully), but just enough to make sure you are actually going to leave your hand there for him. Also, maybe he would step up on to the back of your open hand, with palm facing down, or even on to your your thumb with your 4 fingers curled in. If you aren't ready to take the plung, you could try wearing two see-through latex free gloves on your hand and maybe you'd feel less apprehensive with a small barrier.

Even if he does bite, don't make a commotion over it in front of him.

YOU CAN DO IT !!!
RAH RAH!!!!

Lol yes trying to mentally prepare myself for it! It's frustrating, we have had himf ro a long time now and although he has come a long way I feel like their should be more trust between us and I have to work on that as much as pos.

Last night I had him on my lap!! It's not a step up but it's a step forward! I am trying to make situations where we can be as close as possible but both feel confident about it. OH is more confident to allow a bite and not react, thing is Jeremy prefers me!

 

[Birdman666]

Your own confidence issues are the only thing holding you back at this point.

Parrots are empathic. They pick up on the emotions of the other birds/animals/people around them.

When you are nervous. They get nervous. If you are calm. They calm down.

When you are unsure about whether or not to step up your bird, they are unsure what you are going to do, so they are more likely to test with their beak first, or not do it at all.

Wishy washy doesn't work.

You need to demonstrate clear and calm communication, where the bird knows you, sees that you are no longer afraid, and trusts that you won't pull away or hurt him. When you do that you will progress quickly - like in a day or two.

Until you do that, you won't really progress. You will plateau... with the bird doing it, if he feels like it, or menacing you if he doesn't.

Who is in control here? You or the bird?!

You have to decide that one. If you don't decide, the bird will decide for you. The bird will be in control...

On some level, it's really just that simple.