I recently became the owner of 3 budgies and 1 cockateil. Three of the four do not want any part of my hand being in their cages the fourth only wants my hand near him if I am holding a millet spray. All 4 bite (really hard I might add) when I have to grab them for cage cleaning and the cockateil "hisses" if I even open the cage door to give him water. I would like them all to be tamed and finger trained at least. I read the with cockateils you should grab them with a towel and then hold them for a few minutes but to me that sounds like it would do more harm. I really want them to trust and want to be with me. How should I train them?
2007-09-17 20:20:54 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
You'll have to acclimatise them to your hand. Put your hand near the door and keep doing it until they chill out. Then slowly move your hand closer and again you'll have to keep doing it till they relax. Eventually you'll be able to have your hand inside the cage and they won't even bat an eyelid. Then you have to work on getting them on your finger, slowly rub their feet talking to them all the time in a soothing voice, they'll put one foot up on your finger, then the other with a bit of persuasion. Keep doing it and they'll be hand-tamed. Grabbing them only breaks the trust. The problem with having so many birds is that they're a mini-flock and won't be so interested in you, but if you persevere then you'll get results, you probably won't get them talking though.
2007-09-17 20:45:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grabbing a bird, will not tame them. You let them take the lead, and come to you. Just keep talking to them, feeding them bites out of your hand, allow them to come out of their cage on their own. Be sure the blinds or drapes are pulled at first, and all mirrors are covered, so that they don't hurt themselves when they try their wings.
2007-09-18 12:36:52 · answer #2 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋