Tips for teaching Berry to let me touch her wings?

[reeb]

Hi everyone,

Berry is the sweetest, most affectionate little bird, and loves cuddles and scratches. However, I think she was traumatised by her wings being cropped as a baby. I really don't like that they were cut, because all of my other birds are fully flighted, and the breeder didn't even give me an option! Every time I accidentally touch her wings she gets a bit of a fright, and won't allow me to pet her there. I hope to harness train her one day, but unfortunately I don't think she'll ever be comfortable with me touching her wings.

Does anyone have any advice on how to teach her that its okay for me to touch her wings?

 

[LordTriggs]

I would start by giving a scritch somewhere loved, like the head/neck area then slowly scritch your way towards the wings. That's how it worked with Rio. He didn't like touching anywhere but the top of his head and his belly at first but after some time just moving place to place he ended up liking being touched anywhere and would actively roll himself around my cupped hand.