How Do I get My Bird
To Like Me
Honow do I get my parrot to like me? This
is a great question, and a perfect way to start your life together. Start by
building trust! Before you teach ‘step up’ or any other skill, start with building
trust. But how do you do that?
The Bird We want
Going to sleep during head scratches
The Bird We Have
Plotting everything else
Making Friends Isnt Easy For Humans
If you are an introvert, you know that it’s even more challenging
It can be hard for someone to make new friends as a Human.
You might enter a room of people but be unsure how to approach a stranger.
You wouldn’t want a stranger coming straight up to you and touching your face!
Making friends is a delicate art.
Remember, friendship is built over time.
You don’t FORCE or RUSH a friendship!
A friendship with a parrot is also like this.
We build trust with patience, choice,
and positive experiences.
Robin Horemans
Parrot SOS
Body Language
Learn to watch your birds body language. If you can read your birds movements, you
can see their choices. Watch their foot stance, and their body posture, and their feather position, and their gaze (eye focus). Know what comfortable looks like for your bird, and what they look like when they are on high alert! This is how you can let them “tell you” they are comfortable.
Choice
Then, let them come to you! Allowing your bird the option of coming closer, or moving
further away, is essential. This means you cannot go and grab your bird from inside their cage, or chase them ontop of their cage. Letting the bird come to you takes patience! Let your bird know that if they come to you, good things happen. And if not, they can walk away without harm. Using CHOICE is a big partof letting your bird learn in a safe way.
Positive Reinforcement
Friends tend to make friends with similar interests, your bird will as well. Find something your bird likes, like a nut, seed, or treat. Then we can use that to build a trusting friendship.
Start by pairing yourself with their treat of choice. You approach, you give a treat
(or drop it into the dish) then you back off. You are becoming a Treat Dispenser.
This is great! Giving reinforcers means you are depositing into the birds’ Trust
Bank Account. (Look for our training tidbit on this topic!)
The more you interact in a way your bird finds pleasant/agreeable, the better.
There is
NO HURRY
We must invest in the foundation for the relationship so it can
endure for years to come. Like building a house, a strong foundation is
essential to a long lasting home!
Go At your birds pace
You don’t need to rush friendship. Watch your birds body language to get to know them. What your bird does with their feet, posture, stance, feathers and gaze will tell you a lot!
Use Choice
Let the bird come to you, when they are ready. Let them walk away – that’s fine!
The more choice and control you give to your bird, and listen to their choice, the better!
Use Treats
Create a positive experience for your bird using a food they love. This will pair you with something valuable to them, every time! Like the ice-cream truck!
BONUS:
Once the bird is looking for you, and eagerly awaiting their treat, you can progress to bigger games!
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If you need any more advice, or help breaking this down into smaller steps, please email us. We are happy to help!
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