Do you think its just more time me and my parrot need?????

Question

Just purchased a 5 month old Derbian Parakeet and hes a little bit hand friendly. Sometimes he lets me pet him, but most of the time its when I have a piece of apple or grape... On some occasions he will threaten me with his beak, just opening it and rubbing it off my fingers a little bit, but if I persist a little bit he will give me a good nip. I suppose my question is " Do I leave him in the cage to get used to his surroundings and my house because he is still very young OR do I continue to try to HAND REAR him with touch and food because I always thought that you have to handle the bird from a young age ???".... Please help.

Answer 1

Please continue to work with your bird. You are using positive reinforcement techniques to train him to "step up" on to your hand. Continue giving him a treat when he steps up and reinforce him vocally, by saying "Good Boy!"
Use a cue to get him to step up, such as "step up" or "up,up"...whatever you want.
There are many websites that can help you with positive reinforcement training. this is one of the best:

http://members.aol.com/goodbirdconsult/index.html

There are others as well:

http://www.naturalencounters.com/parrot.html

http://www.parrotchronicles.com/novdec2004/clickertraining.htm

http://www.holisticbirds.com/hbn03/winter03/pages/reinforcement.htm

I don't know how interested you are in training your bird and how far you want to go with it, but you can teach some amazing behaviors to birds. Training is a form of communicating with your bird and really necessary for a healthy and positive relationship. You are spending time with him while training him, and not only is training fun, but your bird will feel a sense of accomplishment by learning new skills.
Start with "step up". After you learn more about training him, the only limit on what he can learn is your imagination. Birds are extremely social and he needs the interaction with you. Please visit those websites to get a clearer picture on positive reinforcement training.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

You are doing the right thing. Most people once bitten are finished, but that's part of the bird world, ya takes ya nips and keep goin'. I think you should continue with him this way, he like many ringnecks can get TOO comfy with the cage and then it's REALLY hard to work with them. So hang in, your doin great!

Answer 3

We have a derbyan called Max at the sanctuary I have been helping at for 4 years. He came to us, and bit everyone, and hated people. Then the lady who runs the sanctuary spent loads of time with him. She could pick him up, and he would cuddle into her neck. She could even walk out of the aviary with him, and he wouldn't fly off.

We then realised that that Max, should actually be called Maxine, as her upper mandible is black. It is only when the upper mandible is a red/orange colour, that a derbyan is actually a male.