Don't like touching at all!

[thxango40]

16 Week Old CAG Oliver does not like to be touched... at all! I announce we're about to play the "Gottcha Game" and playfully try to touch different parts of is body starting with his toes. He absolutly hates this and really tries to bite my finger each time. Not just light nibbles, bites! Same for the towel game, he struggles to get out to the point of hurting himself. He also tries to fly away when he sees the towel coming. If we try to pet his back when holding him, he will turn all the way around to bite your hand. I now feel like our breeder lied when they said he was hand feed. How do I get him used to being touched. We are afraid if we keep working with him, it's only going to make him hate us. He always seems very upset with us after play time.

[Mawnee]

I may be out of line here. But I feel the towel and touching game are both traumatizing ways to force contact with your grey. The touching game seems like something that can be fun for a bird that is already hand tame....but not so much for one that doesnt trust your hands yet.

I would think both would give your bird the impression that being touched will always be accompanied by a forced or antagonistic situation.

 

I would suggest finding a treat and offering treats while putting your other hand as close as the bird is comfortable with. Then offer more treats as the bird allows you to get your hand closer. This will let the bird know that your hands will always be accompanied with a good thing.

[thxango40]

You're not out of line at all. The fact is, we'd be the first to admit we have no idea what we're doing here! My only concern with the treat approach is that he really don't like much of anything right now. We have offered just about everything we can think of. He still does not have a favorite food. If I wait several months for him to like a treat, I'm afraid he'll be even harder to teach touching.

Do all greys hate touching at this age or did my breeder lie about him being hand feed? If this is normal, and he'll grow out of it with time, I'd feel much better.

Edited June 14, 2010 by thxango40

[Mawnee]

All greys definetly dont hate touching. Its how it was raised. My baby is 9 weeks old and I can touch him anywhere. Under his wings, play with his toes(to clip the sharp tips off!), pet his whole body and even hold him upside down on his back. He runs up and cuddles with my hands and even likes to fall asleep resting his head on a hand. I dont imagine this will change in the next 7 weeks. He may want more time to play on his own, but I dont think he'll decide he hates hands out of nowhere at a certain age.

 

Your breeder may have hand feed them, but that doesnt mean the baby was given the handling time and training necessary to be a well adjusted bird as soon as you take it home. Given time any bird can learn though, do not be discouraged. At 16 weeks your bird is still a baby

 

As for treats keep an eye on what seeds your baby eats. I noticed mine tears into pumpkin seeds. So when I want to train I will pick most of those out when I feed him and offer them for positive reinforcement. With my cockatiels it was always sunflower seeds or millet.

Edited June 15, 2010 by Mawnee

[thxango40]

Thank you Mawnee. I'm guessing they did not give him the handling time he needed.

[Mawnee]

Anytime. And remember....patience! It will take time for your baby to learn. So dont get discouraged if you dont see results right away. Be calm and be consistent

[KHAN]

Late at night before he goes to sleep try giving him a gentle smooth or try tickling his neck or cheeks. Sounds like each situation your trying is where your working against each other. Just stay away from the wings, the back and his feet that's where most birds dont like to be touched. And dont do the towel thing because they hate it, it's used as a kind of breaking not playing.

 

Good luck!

[Spock]

Spock here! Towels are a important tool in our well being, there need especially when we need to visit our favorite person, the vet.[lol] Be patience, wait a while and try a different color! I hate purple! Place the towel in the baby's sight, leave it there, later, place it on you lap, do nothing,Touching, once again place it on your chest, be active with your bird around the towel, let your baby come to the towel, can take years to be allowed to touch, again this is important for health reasons! I'm just now letting my subjects touch me on my back and wings and legs! The same with Joey, and he was abused,! Ummmmmm, right there, under my chin!!!!!

Spock

Live Long and Prosper

Edited June 16, 2010 by Spock

[thxango40]

Great advice KHAN and Spock! Thank you so much. I had no idea birds did not like being touched on their wings, back and feet. Those are the places we've been trying to touch him! We're going to start trying to rub his head when he's sleepy and see how that goes.

 

PS. Oliver had a mumbling fit yesterday morning. So funny. Made all kinds of strange noises for about 45 mins.