Bringing your parrot home
Now as we all know getting a new parrot is very exciting. Not for the parrot. This time of being moved to a new home can be very VERY stressful for the bird. Your vital goal is to make it less stressful as possible.
Once you’ve brought the bird home and is in its new cage leave it alone. An ideal place to put the cage is in a corner where it has a full view of what goes on around the house, so the walls will offer the bird security and your bird will be able to observe you. If you have children tell them the importance of keeping quiet in front of the bird so it won’t get scared by the high energy and distrust you before you have barely started taming.
Leave the bird like this for 3 – 4 days depending on how well the bird is adapting. It’s vital to leave the bird to adjust and settle in. Then begin to sit near the cage and do quiet activities such as reading, doing homework, eating, studying. This will allow your bird to get used to your presence. Do this for 4-5 days depending on when your bird is comfortable with you nearby.
Once that’s all clear begin to interact with the bird but not physically. Do not try offer treats or put your hands anywhere near the bird. Simply talk to the bird. Pretend to explain your homework to the bird, or tell it what you’re eating. Do this for 3 – 4 days.
Open the door of the cage, this may frighten the bird but remain calm. Continue to do things, homework, eating, reading and talk to the bird while doing these things as well. Over time your bird will be fine with you there and the door open. This may take 5-7 days.
Once thats all good it’s time to figure out what treat your bird likes most. Offer different seeds on a dish and offer it to the bird. Birds are very picky eaters and naturally would choose their favourite food first. Watch carefully for whatever food your bird eats first, that will determine what treats to use. Normally with small birds like budgies and cockatiels, the highly prefer millet spray, with larger birds like cockatoos and greys they usually adore sunflower seed or nuts.
Begin to offer a treat through the bars of the cage. Do not put it right next to the bird but on the other side giving the bird the option to come to you. Do this for a few days until your bird finally accepts treats through the bars of the cage. Once it does continue through the bars of the cage for 2-3 days. Then open the door and begin offering the bird treats that way. Once your bird has finally gotten used to your presence and is confident in taking treats from your hand you’re ready to move on.
I understand that this process can be very long and tiresome but please, have patience if you only want whats best for your bird.
Don’t rush it please. This process is what will affect any future relationship between you and your bird. I know you want a bird that will play and do amazing tricks but I can’t stress enough that it is absolutely VITAL that you lay and strong foundation with your bird. Just like a building, first you must lay a strong foundation, then you can begin to build the skyscraper, if the foundation isn’t strong enough, everything will come collapsing down.
Birds aren’t domestic as dogs and cats are. Birds need to gain your trust just like people. You have to watch where you step because one wrong move and you can lose any little trust you’ve gained.
Now as we all know getting a new parrot is very exciting. Not for the parrot. This time of being moved to a new home can be very VERY stressful for the bird. Your vital goal is to make it less stressful as possible.
Once you’ve brought the bird home and is in its new cage leave it alone. An ideal place to put the cage is in a corner where it has a full view of what goes on around the house, so the walls will offer the bird security and your bird will be able to observe you. If you have children tell them the importance of keeping quiet in front of the bird so it won’t get scared by the high energy and distrust you before you have barely started taming.
Leave the bird like this for 3 – 4 days depending on how well the bird is adapting. It’s vital to leave the bird to adjust and settle in. Then begin to sit near the cage and do quiet activities such as reading, doing homework, eating, studying. This will allow your bird to get used to your presence. Do this for 4-5 days depending on when your bird is comfortable with you nearby.
Once that’s all clear begin to interact with the bird but not physically. Do not try offer treats or put your hands anywhere near the bird. Simply talk to the bird. Pretend to explain your homework to the bird, or tell it what you’re eating. Do this for 3 – 4 days.
Open the door of the cage, this may frighten the bird but remain calm. Continue to do things, homework, eating, reading and talk to the bird while doing these things as well. Over time your bird will be fine with you there and the door open. This may take 5-7 days.
Once thats all good it’s time to figure out what treat your bird likes most. Offer different seeds on a dish and offer it to the bird. Birds are very picky eaters and naturally would choose their favourite food first. Watch carefully for whatever food your bird eats first, that will determine what treats to use. Normally with small birds like budgies and cockatiels, the highly prefer millet spray, with larger birds like cockatoos and greys they usually adore sunflower seed or nuts.
Begin to offer a treat through the bars of the cage. Do not put it right next to the bird but on the other side giving the bird the option to come to you. Do this for a few days until your bird finally accepts treats through the bars of the cage. Once it does continue through the bars of the cage for 2-3 days. Then open the door and begin offering the bird treats that way. Once your bird has finally gotten used to your presence and is confident in taking treats from your hand you’re ready to move on.
I understand that this process can be very long and tiresome but please, have patience if you only want whats best for your bird.
Don’t rush it please. This process is what will affect any future relationship between you and your bird. I know you want a bird that will play and do amazing tricks but I can’t stress enough that it is absolutely VITAL that you lay and strong foundation with your bird. Just like a building, first you must lay a strong foundation, then you can begin to build the skyscraper, if the foundation isn’t strong enough, everything will come collapsing down.
Birds aren’t domestic as dogs and cats are. Birds need to gain your trust just like people. You have to watch where you step because one wrong move and you can lose any little trust you’ve gained.