Tame an Unhandled Bird

[Ryan13]

I have posted a couple of threads on my timneh now and I havent had much luck. I recently found out that my Timneh wasnt handled much before I got him. He screams when you put your hand near him. How would you go about taming an unhandled bird? Please Help!! I feel like I am so close with the Timneh and he trusts me, just not to touch him yet. Thanks......Please help, anyone!

[Guest]

By starting from far and getting closer each time?

 

That's the way I would do it...

[DaffyToons]

Lots of patience and time! Find out what his favorite treat is and have him see you put it in a treat cup. After a while, see if he will take it from your hand. Spend lots of time near his cage and talk to him frequently.

 

What does he do if you tried to have him step up onto your hand? Does he bite or run away? If he bites, DO NOT REACT! Have him step up, and then let him go immediately back to his perch. This will teach him that nothing bad happens when he steps up onto you.

But I think this whole thing about stepping up should only be addressed after he will at least take a treat from you and not scream when approached.

 

Good luck and keep us posted!

[xandriasphynx]

Hi there, I had the same problem years ago with a Conure I had purchased from a pet store. It took me almost a year, but afterwards he became a sweet, loving bird - my best buddy until he passed away from old age a couple years ago (was so heartbroken it took until now to get another bird, a sweet Timneh).

 

I used to carry his cage every day into our small bathroom, and open the door/remove the top. He was forced to be close to me in a confined space. I would just sit and watch him for hours, not forcing him to do anything. Every now and then I would move my hand close to him, offering his favourite treat. I would withdraw my hand as soon as I sensed he was getting nervous. Eventually I could get my hand quite close, then one day I had to contain myself when he finally took a treat! This is how we began trusting each other...and though it was a long process, definately worth it.

 

I wish you and your TAG well! Give him a lot of love, patience and time and I'm sure he'll reciprocate.

 

Xandra

[thedelboy]

hi I dont know if you have heard of Chet Womack,he gives free advice on the net re training taming and what to look for if you think your bird is ill well worthlooking at

[xandriasphynx]

On a breeders website, I found some wonderful advice on taming a wilder bird. The site is;

http://www.parrotscanada.com/

and just follow the link that says 'Tips for the new bird owner'.

Hope this helps!

Xandra

[devilangel09]

when i was about 14 i got my african grey congo and he was never handled before and very wild growled every time someone would walk past his cage. b4 i got him his owner kept him covered up all day and night and had him in a small cage. so when i got him he wasnt very happy i hated him growling every time a fed him and walked past but all i could do is stand by his cage daily and talk to him so he could learn to trust me more and gradually he stoped growling so much and then we bout a much larger cage from ebay for 100pounds and it took us ages to get him in there but evenually he went in then once he was use to the cage and us more he stoped growling as we fed him so we decided to purchase a perch that we could hang on the out side of the cage and started letting him out. once he came out we would quickly shut his cage door and speak to him when we was closer aswell as during that time teaching him to step up took a while he flew at every spot in the room but we kept at it and never gave up and finally when having him step up on my arm id make attempts to stroke him then eventually he got use to it and now im 18 and this year he changed he is now stepping up on my finger willingly with attempting to bite and even puts his head down for me to stroke he also licks my finger lol and just last week for the first time ever i let him put his beak around my finger and he didnt even bite me he was also regurgitating for me which i took from him as i didnt waant to risk him getting crop burn. he is also a wonderful talker and hasnt growled so bad in over a year or 2. so these things do take time so never give up trying to tame ur bird. its worth the world when u get him there and just think u will have plenty of time with it being tame as they do live very long and he will probably be with me till i die. sorry if this was so long but i do hope it helps let me know how you get on.[code:1]

 

another good thing to do is not fear the parrot as they can sense this and is more likely to bite. i learnt that the hard way but nowdays ive been more confident with him and its working a charm :«»D<br><br>Post edited by: devilangel09, at: 2007/03/22 00:14 [/code:1]