What's the best way to get hold of a bird in a cage useing a towel "So not to hurt him"?

Question

My young teal sticks onto the bars like he's been "super glued" to them as soon as i approch his cage with a towel lol
He has even sussed out if my hands are behind my back (Maybe i have a towel) and he takes no chances, straight onto the bars of his cage he goes,ive tryed holding treats but he will have none of it unless i show him both hands are empty then hes quiet happy to pearch and eat out of my hand as long as i dont try to make him step up,or he's off again to stick onto side of his cage???
can anyone help please?

Thanks

Answer 1

this will probabably take longer because you've trained him to be afraid of your hand.

you have to be extremely gentle.

1 try to put your hand in the cage, but don't touch him. if he flies away, try again in about 15 min. repeat until he doesn't fly away.

2 the next day,or week, when he is comparable with you hand in the cage, start stretching it around and opening and closing it.

3 after he is comfortable with 2, probably about a day, and doesn't fly away, hold a small perch in your hand and move it towards him. if he flies away, try again in a few min.

4 after he is comfortable with that, move the perch rite above his feet, and say step up, wile gently pushing up on his abdomen. he should step up hold him there a few min. then put him back on his solid perch and leave him alone.this shows him that this thing really isn't so bad, and that it is safe to sit on.

5 next, after doing step 4 for about a day, every 15 min or so, get a short perch, about as long as your finger, and hold it with your finger on top, do step 4.

6 then do it w/o the perch. gradually move out of the cage, out of the room, to a different floor, until he is OK with it all. i wouldn't keep i longer than 5 min. out of his cage. the next day, add a min. to get it up to 6 min. next day, 7. animals need this gradual adjustment. it may seem to be taking forever, but he needs that. best of luck to you both!

Answer 2

Your bird must have had a bad experience or is afraid of you.
First only feed your bird pellets for 1 day, only a few seeds. Open the cage door and offer him a dowel to perch on. Bribe him with millet. Do this for a few days while slowly moving your hand closer until he is on your finger. Gently hold your bird and take him out of the room so he does not see his cage. Put your bird on the floor or a T perch never above eye level. Hold a stick of millet in your hand and coax him to come to you for the millet. (this is like candy for a bird) Try this for about half hour feeding him all he wants, Talk gently to him,slowly offer your finger by brushing lightly downward from his lower breast to near his feet. When he does good, tell him good boy and give him more millet. Never scold him and if he bites you DO NOT REACT. I did this with my Cockateil and now he rides on my shoulder where ever I go. I even take him to work with me, he is 5 months old. He gives me kisses an loves to ride in the car. He rides on the headreast in the front passenger seat.Cockiteils are very territorial of their cage. You must take him away from his cage in another room. This process took me about 2 weeks. Every bird is different. Have patience, and be gentle. NEVER TOWEL YOUR BIRD UNLESS HE IS INJURED AND YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

You are going to have to use the towel on him. Come up from behind and cup him with the towel. From the outside of the cage (if it's design permits you to) gently free his feet from the bars. You won't hurt him. :)

Answer 4

My bird would do the exact same thing and you take the towel and make sure that his feathers are going the proper way so that you don't break them and grab him firmly but not so tight that he cant breath or hurt them and pull away and sometimes you have to open up their claws and don't worry it wont hurt them it always works for my bird!

Good luck!

Answer 5

bread

Answer 6

wear gloves.....