Hi! Just signed up here and I'm looking for a bit of help.
About five days ago, after about a year of thinking I took home a green cheek who was, according to the seller, hand raised.
A little background! The seller is a man I've known for a few years who runs a reptile shop, housing snakes, lizards, tegus and in the recent year, birds. He also keeps his three small pet dogs in the store as well.
It's obvious that grabbing him was common practice and as sweet as the man is, he's definitely not quite bird savvy. In an attempt to show the little one to me, the owner 'dropped' him/the little one flew from him and made swift contact with the ground until I just advised he put him away. (His wings are clipped much too short and I plan on letting them grow out before trimming them down to a length that won't have him dropping like a rock)
I ended up taking the little one home the next day. He's now in a large cage, although they'd offered me his bare finch cage which I promptly but politely refused, and I've left him alone for the past few. Aside from changing his water bowl twice a day due to his dipping habit.
He's quiet (for now) and sweet indeed. But, while he doesn't mind anyone putting their faces up to the cage he is absolutely terrified of hands, for good reason. He doesn't react with any aggression but shrinks and clambers away the second one heads for him.
Which brings me to the question. Does anyone have tips on helping him trust my hands? I'm not a fan of the 'towel' method and I won't be grabbing him. While I'd be happy to just let him be, but I'd like to be able to give him some time outside of the cage and some interaction aside from sweet talking. I also wouldn't mind if he'd just like to sit on my shoulder eventually, but who's going to scratch that good spot right between the wings?
Not only that, but his nails are too long for my liking and I'd love to trim them up but of course with the hand fear..
Any advice would be very appreciated! Thank you!
About five days ago, after about a year of thinking I took home a green cheek who was, according to the seller, hand raised.
A little background! The seller is a man I've known for a few years who runs a reptile shop, housing snakes, lizards, tegus and in the recent year, birds. He also keeps his three small pet dogs in the store as well.
It's obvious that grabbing him was common practice and as sweet as the man is, he's definitely not quite bird savvy. In an attempt to show the little one to me, the owner 'dropped' him/the little one flew from him and made swift contact with the ground until I just advised he put him away. (His wings are clipped much too short and I plan on letting them grow out before trimming them down to a length that won't have him dropping like a rock)
I ended up taking the little one home the next day. He's now in a large cage, although they'd offered me his bare finch cage which I promptly but politely refused, and I've left him alone for the past few. Aside from changing his water bowl twice a day due to his dipping habit.
He's quiet (for now) and sweet indeed. But, while he doesn't mind anyone putting their faces up to the cage he is absolutely terrified of hands, for good reason. He doesn't react with any aggression but shrinks and clambers away the second one heads for him.
Which brings me to the question. Does anyone have tips on helping him trust my hands? I'm not a fan of the 'towel' method and I won't be grabbing him. While I'd be happy to just let him be, but I'd like to be able to give him some time outside of the cage and some interaction aside from sweet talking. I also wouldn't mind if he'd just like to sit on my shoulder eventually, but who's going to scratch that good spot right between the wings?
Not only that, but his nails are too long for my liking and I'd love to trim them up but of course with the hand fear..
Any advice would be very appreciated! Thank you!