Target Training

[william.k.o]

Yeah, that's the kind of bird i want, so i think i'm going to spend time gaining his trust.
Oh, are there more ways on gaining his trust? I don't want to just bore him with my voice.

[Wolf]

Well yes and no. The thing is that the very first step, that of letting him get used to you and coming to you and then climbing on you forms the foundation for all that follows and there is absolutely no other way to effectively accomplish this other than to wait on him. He must choose to do this or he will never choose to do any other thing in return for praise and affection. In the beginning I will reward him for coming to me with a treat which over a period of time ( based on his acceptance ) is replaced by words of praise and the action of scratching his head. Don't get me wrong, they still get treats but rarely for doing what I ask of them. I further take the time to sort through all of the information that I can find about how they live in their natural environment because this tells me a lot about how they think and what they respond to. Birds don't often give other birds treats, but they do preen each other ( head scratching ) This is a highly prized activity because it is hard for them to properly preen their own head. I am constantly watching my birds to see what they do, why they do it, how they do it, and how often thy do it.
While I do train my birds to do things, I don't have any scheduled sessions. As soon as my birds are comfortable with coming out of the cage all by themselves and on their on, They are only in them when I can't watch them do to having to do other things or sleeping, and they go to their cage to sleep. The rest of the time they are free to do mostly whatever birds do. They climb on me. they land on me, they spend hours perched on me or next to me and fly off of me at will. I simply live with them and am part of the flock. Not only do they have their own food, I share mine with them, making sure of course that what I share is safe for them. The end result is that to them I am a large funny looking naked bird with tender skin who can't speak bird and asks them to do strange things, so being good birds they amuse themselves and take pity on me and do just about anything that I ask them to do, even if I have to show them how to do it.
Is something like that what you were hoping for with your bird?

[william.k.o]

Hehe that's exactly the way i am hoping my Joey to be with me, i guess i'll have to be patient, which i'm not too good at, but when i want something i'l do whatever i am able to do, and being patient isn't that hard.

Thank you.

[william.k.o]

Hey, Wolf how do i know when he trusts me???, i don't know why but know he's more scared of me than before and i didn't do anything to him, and i'm sitting in front of him and talking calmly to him but it seems that that's making him more scared, so what should i do?

[Wolf]

Move back from the cage a little and just continue to talk to him softly and calmly. If when you first enter the room with his cage, you watch your bird and move towards the cage, as soon as he shifts position or moves away from you stop. That is where you want to sit down and talk to him. If you are placing a chair near his cage that he is not familiar with, that is probably what is scaring him, so if it is possible, leave the chair nearby where he can see it.
From this point you will be able to move closer to him as he relaxes and moves toward you in his cage. In a few days, you should be able to sit just outside of his cage to talk with him. You can offer a treat every so often, when you get into range so that you can. When he relaxes enough to remain close to you, or towards the side you are at, you can open the door to the cage and placing your hand just inside the door. Continue talking softly to him and offering the occasional treat, you will know that he has begun to trust you when he will come to your hand and step up on it without you asking him to do it.
It may be possible to speed this up a little once he allows you to sit next to the cage without moving away. If you choose to, when he allows this you can start target training him, only in the cage and only one 10 min. session per day. Then continue with the talking to him.
Does this help with your questions, and explain the procedure well enough?

[william.k.o]

Yes, that's very helpful, but sometimes i can sit right next to the cage and he doesn't do anything but sometimes he moves away, in those cases what should i do?
Oh and he's cage is in the dining room, and i just sit on the floor near his cage, without chairs.

[Wolf]

I would just sit where you are and just continue working with him from there. He will come around, just be patient.

[william.k.o]

Hey!!! Today, after i was sitting besides his cage for some time, i tried to scratch his beak, and guess what he let me, i think this sitting and talking to him is something i had to do first without rush. Thanks wolf for making me sit and talk to him, i think for, maybe next week he'll trust me even more (if i don't make any mistakes). Thank you

[Wolf]

Yeah, it's like I keep telling you, relax, take your time , this is one of those things that you can't rush. You need to let the bird set the pace. You really do have all the time you will ever need. I think that if you just relax and don't get in a hurry that you will do just fine and then things will actually move a little faster, but you have to wait for it.
I am so happy for you !

[william.k.o]

Yeah!!! Thanks for your advices, i think that this will help me on being more patient.