Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and the proud owner of three finches and more relevantly, a Green IRN named Chief.
To cut to the point, despite a decent amount of experience in owning birds (before he was joined by the rest of the flock, I had my Canary mostly hand-tamed, and I had a budgie years ago which I tamed to a high degree) nothing I try with Chief seems to be working. I've owned him for a month and a half now, and the only signs of familiarity he shows are not being terrified when I sit beside his cage, and making loud noises when I'm away. Otherwise? He just doesn't want to know me. I have tried clicker training, but he failed to acknowledge it at all or make the connection between the noise and his favourite treat, I have tried withholding his favourite food for training, but not only was he still completely unwilling to venture near my hands to get it, but he also screamed the house down; I cannot target train him because anything that enters his cage, wood or hand, causes him to fly around very quickly and clatter his wings against objects.
I'm currently sitting wracking my brain for ideas as I face a nightmare trying to get my completely untamed boy back into his cage again after outside time., every time it's incredibly difficult because he doesn't respond to anything.
To cut to the point, despite a decent amount of experience in owning birds (before he was joined by the rest of the flock, I had my Canary mostly hand-tamed, and I had a budgie years ago which I tamed to a high degree) nothing I try with Chief seems to be working. I've owned him for a month and a half now, and the only signs of familiarity he shows are not being terrified when I sit beside his cage, and making loud noises when I'm away. Otherwise? He just doesn't want to know me. I have tried clicker training, but he failed to acknowledge it at all or make the connection between the noise and his favourite treat, I have tried withholding his favourite food for training, but not only was he still completely unwilling to venture near my hands to get it, but he also screamed the house down; I cannot target train him because anything that enters his cage, wood or hand, causes him to fly around very quickly and clatter his wings against objects.
I'm currently sitting wracking my brain for ideas as I face a nightmare trying to get my completely untamed boy back into his cage again after outside time., every time it's incredibly difficult because he doesn't respond to anything.