2006-11-08 17:39:14 · 7 answers · asked by hotchick 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
You only want 2 people to be able to touch your bird? How about anybody he meets as long as you allow it? It can be done!
One of my birds is a "Demonstration Parrot" for presentations I do in schools and bird clubs. My rough estimate is that at this point he has probably been handled by over a thousand people at this time including kids, with no problem whatsoever.
I used positive reinforcement training to teach him, and it is what I myself teach people to use in order to train their birds. Here are 2 excellent websites that will give you the basics of training your bird:
http://www.naturalencounters.com/definit...
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/behavior/...
The idea is very simple: You want your bird to WANT to be with you. Remove whatever treat he likes best from his regular diet: cheese, nuts ...whatever. Only give him that treat when you are training him. Take it slow and easy. Hold the treat behind the hand you want him to step up on, so that he has to step up ion order to get the treat. Once he does that, praise him wildly and give him a treat while he is doing nothing but standing on your hand. Return him to his perch using the "Step up" cue. When he steps up to his perch, praise wildly and treat him. Repeat.
Cue-bridge with the praise, treat and repeat.
Each time, make the increment of time a little longer between step downs from your hand.
From there, by using this training, you will gain his trust. By showing him you love him, feeding him a good diet with vegetables and grains, and spending time with him, you will be able to build a wonderful bond with him.
If you need any other help, please don't hesitate to contact me.
2006-11-08 23:35:36 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some birds allow petting more than others. Often it's just a case of working with the bird and rewarding them for letting you touch them. Some people use song and dance as a reward as birds (especially parrots) are huge drama queens.
Some activities you can do to encourage your bird to accept touching is to practice the step up command, offer treats by hand and simply sitting at the computer with your bird on your shoulder. it can take some time before the bird accepts handling but they'll get used to it.
Good luck!
2006-11-09 03:17:40 · answer #2 · answered by white_ravens_white_crows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had 1 parrot in particular that I encouraged everyone who came in the house to hold and pet (my 2 sons and their friends, their girlfriends, the pizza delivery person, etc). That bird came to believe everyone was a friend and I had no trouble getting him to let complete strangers pet him. I think you have to constantly and safely introduce your bird to as many people as possible.
2006-11-09 22:56:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just have to keep working with it. A lot of birds are 1 person birds. I'm the only one that can hold/pet our parrot. Everyone else she hunkers back then strikes/bites them. Even the dogs aren't safe from her wrath :)
2006-11-09 02:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use the birds treat, give it a piece of the treat that you feed it and then pet it on the head it may take a few tries, but do it slowly and the bird will get used to it.
please love your animals and try not to neglect them.
they dont have thumbs!
2006-11-12 20:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your bird has to first learn to trust other people before it will let anyone touch it. If one of your friends scare the bird trying to pet it then it will take time to learn to trust them again. So let the bird at its own pace learn about your friends. Have your friend have a bird treat to offer your bird, it is an offering of kindness and your bird will remember it.
Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
http://www.borrowed-rainbow.com
join our group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BorrowedRainbowAviary/
If you need any other help please contact me.
2006-11-09 10:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its going to need to be tamed, which means holding it everyday so it will get used to you and other people holding and/or petting it. Yes it will bite you but you have to let it to show it that its not going to stop you from holding it everytime it bites you. usually the biting doesnt hurt as bad as the surprise and the idea that its going to hurt bad makes you think it hurts worse. good luck
2006-11-11 13:51:07 · answer #7 · answered by stephanie_kittie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋