Hi folks,
This is my first real post, so be patient with me...I have been known to go on a bit!
We recently purchased an Indian Ringneck Parakeet, who has been with us for 10 days now. He is 18 weeks old, and the breeder assured us he was hand reared, and therefore already hand tame. When he arrived, the breeder used a big thick glove to move him from his travel cage in to a tiny little cage he was sold on to us with (this caused me some concern, and suspicion, as I couldn't quite understand why the person who hand reared him would have to use a glove to touch him). Anyway, once in the house we quickly agreed that his cage was ridiculously small for him and immediately purchased him a new one, which we moved him in to on his 3rd day of being with us. I used a towel to transfer him, and although he made a bit of a noise...actually remained quite relaxed and quickly settled in to his new environment.
We have spent the rest of his time with us simply trying to get him used to us, our environment and routine, etc. My partner and I have both been chatting to him through the bars...and although at first he would shake and move away, he did become more accustomed to us and began tilting his head from side of side and although not approaching us, no longer felt the need to run away. I then moved on to the next step of my own made up 'graded exposure' method...I opened his cage and placed my hand inside, with a treat on it, just leaning it on a perch and staying still (whilst talking to him)...at first he went mad, flapping and climbing away...but in recent days he'd been coming on to the same perch as my hand and just sitting. When he tolerated my hand for a while, I'd leave a treat...and say Bye. I repeated this 2-3 times a day, every day. I don't know if this is progress, but he seemed to be doing ok.
I was then given advice by a few 'parrot people' to go ahead and pick him up (as he wasn't coming to take the treat), using a towel or a glove. Hold him gently in my hands and head tickle whilst talking to him...do this twice a day for a couple of weeks and he'll soon be used to me. Now, although I felt this was not the right thing to do...I had no experience myself, so trusted this method...and went ahead and caught him last night. He went mad, but I got him and held him...the poor guy was so stressed, biting me and screaching...I didn't pull away from the bites, and remained calm but to be honest I felt this method was detrimental to him and me. He recovered quickly once back in his cage...but now I feel it's taken us a good few steps back. He began shaking when I approached the cage (no wonder) and moving away from me when I spoke. By bed time I had managed to convince him again that there really was nothing to fear, and although not as comfortable as before...he was sitting still when I moved about the room.
So, after that LONG story...what I'm trying to establish is if I'm doing things right or wrong. In my opinion, last nights attempt was WRONG on every level...and as such am now moving back to stage 1 of my method....going to get him used to my hands and voice through the bars again, before moving on to putting my hand inside. I am in no rush to tame him, and believe things will take as long as they need to...but of course I want a happy bird, who can enjoy some time out the cage as well as in it. Plus, I want a bird who wants to come to me and spend time with me, not one who has been forced in to the situation.
Thanks for taking the time to read all of that....I really would appreciate any feedback (good or bad) and advice on how to take things to the next level in a way that won't stress my bird, or me!
Look forward to learning from you all....