Socializing Linnies

[emeraldlilly]

I work at a pet store - let’s get past that, I have good intentions to take care of what comes my way.

My boss just brought in a pair of Linnies who are babies and very hand shy. She said they need work, and told me to pick them up and hold them against my chest to get them used to being handled.
Is this an appropriate way to show them that we mean no harm?

 

[Terry57]

Welcome to the forum!
I think it's wonderful that you want to be able to take care of all the animals before they go to their new homes! This will help to increase their chances of being kept in a happy home.

Are they somewhere in the store where it isn't crowded? The pet store here used to have all their babies in a room where people could only look through the window at them.
I think that suddenly being around a lot of people is going to make it harder to socialize them as they will be too scared of everything that's going on around them, at least in the beginning.

If you can take them to a quiet room, you could get them used to you by talking softly to them and then carefully putting your hand into their cage. Just let your hand lay there without touching them unless they touch you. How old are they? If they're weaned, figure out what treat they like the most. You can put it into your palm and let them come get the treats from you.

In your situation, I think that this may be the best way to socialize them, by letting them know that your hand is a good thing, it brings the treats. I don't think it will be a big leap once they realize that for them to start getting on your hand. I hope your boss will allow you to take the time that's needed to socialize them humanely.

I'm not a fan of forcing a bird to let me hold them, although I know many people do that. I think it's better to allow them to want to come to me.

Please let us know how they're doing!

 

[emeraldlilly]

Yeah, with the Linnies I’m not so sure. They seem terrified.

This method seemed to work on the conure. He would bite if you put your hands in the cage but now he steps up and will ride my shoulder while I work. But they seem to react differently.

 

[Terry57]

Perhaps they will calm down once they know that your hand isn't going to grab them? It may take awhile, but I hope that if this doesn't work that someone else will have a different idea.

 

[emeraldlilly]

I feel bad for trying to do things the way I was told. I was just watching a video on taming scared budgies and it made me realize that the bosses method is teaching them to just give up, and that they could get hurt from freaking out. I’m going to have to take steps back to try to calm their fear of hands.

My only worry now is that if I do things the “more humane” way I will have to convince the boss and get everyone else on board. I don’t know what the effect would be if multiple people are using a different approach

 

[Terry57]

I hope you can convince your boss, and it would be nice if there were only two of you working with them using the same method at first. Forcing them can break their spirit and that's heartbreaking. I'm glad you found a video of it, perhaps you could show your boss?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I work at a pet store - let’s get past that, I have good intentions to take care of what comes my way.

My boss just brought in a pair of Linnies who are babies and very hand shy. She said they need work, and told me to pick them up and hold them against my chest to get them used to being handled.
Is this an appropriate way to show them that we mean no harm?

Its okay to work at a pet store. They need people like you. I think it's much more important to get them to be 100% comfortable with hands. After they are very comfortable with hands you can graduate to faces. I'd fear getting my face nipped if they aren't hand tame yet.

 

[emeraldlilly]

Fortunately the Linnies nips don’t really hurt.
My boss has pretty much told me that my research is bull and won’t listen.
The past few days has made me really upset with the attitude around the pet trade industry and I think I might start to move on.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Fortunately the Linnies nips don’t really hurt.
My boss has pretty much told me that my research is bull and won’t listen.
The past few days has made me really upset with the attitude around the pet trade industry and I think I might start to move on.

He sounds like a "difficult person". Start putting out your feelers. Too bad, because his birds need you.

 

[emeraldlilly]

If I could I would rescue these little birdies

 

[KissyBeak]

I work at a pet store - let’s get past that, I have good intentions to take care of what comes my way.

My boss just brought in a pair of Linnies who are babies and very hand shy. She said they need work, and told me to pick them up and hold them against my chest to get them used to being handled.
Is this an appropriate way to show them that we mean no harm?

Ok so I’m late to this but in case anyone else reads-
Just my humble two cents… while I do agree with everyone about the “no forced surrender” I will say that Linnie’s are very different from any other breed of parrots. Sometimes I feel like they are part guinea pig. A budge would freak out but Linnie’s do feel safe and happy when they are “swaddled” So sometimes it can help- to cup them gently, both hands no pressure against their body, and close the gap with your face a little , and talk soothingly to them, it can calm them down: however if you try to do this and they are still panicking and trying to get away you obviously have to let them go, you can’t “hold” them , if that makes sense, that would be traumatic.

It depends on the individual birds a bit as well. If they have been raised by a small breeder it’s possible the breeder did this and they are used to it. They often hate hands so as babies, cupping and scooping them is often a safer way for pick them up, and they shouldn’t panic as much. They are not “finger birds” it makes them uncomfortable to perch on your finger for long, and definitely for riding they prefer shoulder/neck area.
Try wearing a collared shirt, hoodie, linen or cozy scarf around your neck and see if they will grab onto it and hide in it. This can warm them up a bit as long as long term burrowing isn’t encouraged .
All that being said, not to invalidate your feelings because whatever you read is valid, and your boss sounds like a difficult person who either is invalidating your opinions in a rude way, or is just ignorant. If she is talking about grabbing the birds and forcing them to hold still while they are panicking and trying to wriggle away, you are correct that’s absolutely not right!

Btw some Linnie’s will warm up to faces far quicker than they will to hands!
Good luck and thank you for your research and questioning- you are being such sweet and devoted warrior for these precious angels!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

A lot of birds warm up to faces easier than hands. I try to put my hands near my face to show them that my hands are part of me and my face.

 

[TiredOldMan]

A lot of birds warm up to faces easier than hands. I try to put my hands near my face to show them that my hands are part of me and my face.

Thanks
Never thought of that