HELP needed with my Rock Pebbler

[Wings]

Hi! I got a Rock Pebbler and this is the "story". He is supposed to be a hand fed bird that was hatched on April on 2014, so he's supposed to be young. When I responded to the ad, the person stated that the bird was hand tamed and was used to being handled but due to work he was unable to have the time to care for the bird. So he is also supposed to have been used to hands and such.

I got the bird and I'm a little confused as to how to "read" him and deal with him. I have purchased a few books on bonding and taming but they mostly talk about a new baby bird not a second hand bird. I have read LOTS of articles regarding bonding but the "tips" given don't seem to help much if any. He is DEADLY afraid of hand which leads me to believe that he was perhaps NOT hand fed, nor was he handled much if any while the previous owner had him. He is not aggressive at all which is great (he rather fly than bite). I can't seem to engage him with anything. Does NOT care for toys, food, definitely not affection. I have switched him over to pellets, veggies, fruits and grains (he was on an all seed diet no fresh foods or pellets) he eats well now.

I have to take him out of his cage with a training stick (which he complains but will step up on it eventually). Once out of the cage the first thing he wants to do is fly off the stick. His wings are clipped so all he does is fly to the floor. I have tried to let him be and see if he comes to me but he won't. Once I collect the bird again I try to move to a small room I have to try to "work" with him. I have a plain T stand that I can sometimes get him to stay on. I can SOMETIMES get him to step up on to the training stick and back to the T stand a few times before he flies down again and is ready to be away from me. I have had him for a little over a month now and NO progress has been made. Have I done too much too soon? Have I done more damage than anything? I'm so frustrated, I wanted to give him a better life and give him a nice family to live with but I feel I may be doing the opposite. I don't know if he is happy here or not. I don't want to give up and I refuse to accept he won't come around. If birds that were wild have become tame and bonded I know he can. I just need to know what to do and maybe help on what I'm doing wrong. If anyone can help me I sure would appreciate it. I'm not totally dumb about birds I have 2, 7 year old cockatiels that are just "perfect" but I have had them since the were weaned and it seemed to be much easier for me.

He is very talkative and will "chatter" while I'm in the room, he has also picked up a few phrases and words so I don't know if he hates me totally or partially or what . I don't know what to do... I need HELP!

PLEASE HELP ME!

[ParrotsForLife]

I recently got a plum headed parakeet he behaved exactly how your Rock pebbler did I worked with him in a small room too first just getting him to step up on a perch and then on my arm (He is less afraid of my arm than my hands and will use his beak to hop up) You should try using your arm but maybe first let him get used to his surroundings and Talk to him and to get him used to your hands place them in the cage for a few minutes each day until he is comfortable with them being around him.Next you can move on to feeding treats through the cage bars and then inside the cage.(You could also place one of your other tame birds next to him and pour seed in your hand and your tame bird will eat it and your new bird might copy and start to eat.You can also let him watch your tame birds stepping up and such.Hope I helped

[Wolf]

I really can't say that I know much about this species of bird, although I do know that they are normally considered to be an aviary type of bird once they reach adulthood. If he was hatched in April of 2014 then he is old enough to adulthood that if he has not already done so then he is about to enter puberty.
Although they appear to be just as affectionate and as dependent as other parrots before maturity they are really not very cuddly or touchy, feely birds after they become adults. I don't see much that I would say is wrong with his diet, but would like more details on it to be sure. I think that you may be pushing him a little too fast for his nature and that I would have spent more time with the taming process particularly in the area of earning his trust. He has only been with you for about a month so perhaps if you slow down to give him a little more time to adjust and concentrate more on earning his trust, you may be able to correct any thing that you may have done wrong with him.

[liz]

Being technology impaired I will do multiple postings.
I run on instinct and absorb as much as I can from Wolf and Pajarita. What they don't know they research so you cannot ask a dumb question. (all of the dumb questions have already been asked by me)

[liz]

You adopted a child with little or false history given to you. The kid is super scared and stays in the safety of his room (cage). You do have an advantage that he will talk to you if you do not invade his space. So what do you do?

[liz]

1 Do not invade his room (cage).
2 Bring his food to the doorway then back off.
3 Talk to him from the doorway without eye contact. He talks to you if he is in his safe room.
4 When busy with chores, talk or sing so he knows you are near by and thinking of him.
5 No matter how bad the room gets you do not go in to clean it. Instead you pull the area rug (poop catch drawer) to the doorway to pick up dishes and trash.
6 Soon enough he will go into the hallway (on top of cage) so you can clean the room and add some new toys and maybe leave a piece of cake (treat) for him to find when he goes back to his room.

[Wings]

I apologize if I'm not posting things right, I'm new at this. I don't know how to respond to an individual posting

I did research before getting him and I did read they made great pets when hand fed. I did also find a few videos on YouTube on people who had them. I know they are typically kept as aviary pets but I did read they made great pets outside the aviary and can do well with Cockatiels since they are also laid back that's why I got him.

I have probably gone too fast too soon. I need to back off a little and "start" all over again, maybe?! There are times that he calls me (like he wants out of his cage) it's a very distinct call. But seems not to want me to be there (not sure if that makes sense... I want you but stay away...lol) so when he calls should I ignore him or take him out?

I have the book "Companion Parrot Handbook" by Sally Blanchard. I was following her advice since it worked for my other two birds (but like I stated they were babies). There are times when he has the body posture where he wants to be "part" of the group and will step up on the training stick without much though, he preens, chatters, eats and mimics Spike and Ozzie or watches them intently. Then he will "snap" out of it and he wants back. I can't tell what happens or what I do to make him "snap" out of that moment (the desire to be part of the group) I hope this makes sense.

There are times that he will "agreeably" step on the stick and times he won't. So should I just let him be when he doesn't? I guess that's what throws me off.... he is not constant with his behavior. He is not necessarily "shy" because he is curious of what we do. If people come over and we talk in the room he chatters away (so I'm guessing it's not a bad thing) he also does laugh every time I laugh.

When do I know or how can I tell if I'm pushing too hard? What body language should I bee looking for? (other that the obvious flying away) I guess since the progress is not constant I feel that I take 1 step forward and 2 back and I haven't gotten anywhere with him.

Someone asked about his diet. He was eating only seeds "budgie seeds" like you buy at Walt-Mart. I did switch him over to what my tiels eat. Roudybush pellets. I do offer the same veggies and fruits that I do my tiels and sometimes he will eat them and sometimes he won't. I think his diet is MUCH better now and he does eat well.

[liz]

7 He will venture into the hallway when he hears you singing at a distance or talking. He will be learning your voice and be curious as to where you are and what you are doing
8 He will start exploring his new world (your home) a little at a time.
9 Do not touch him even when he starts looking over your shoulder (sitting on shoulder) to see what you are doing.
10 Since bad people (preditors) have grabed him from above before, first touch should be one finger touching his feet. I say the words "tickle tickle" as a warning that I am going to touch.
11 This child will now want to be with you and into whatever you are doing even though he does not yet want touched.
12 He will soon get so curious about his new world (your home) that he does not feel as much fear and want to get into what ever your hands are into and loose fear of them.
13 When he looses fear and takes a chance to hug you (cuddle at neck) is when you should start touching but always give the signal like "tickle tickle"

[liz]

14 You now have a toddler that wants to be with you more than he wants to stay in his room. Kid proof (parrot proof) your house to reduce him getting into trouble.
15 He will learn to talk just as any other child. Use words repeatedly such as "let me help you" or "do you need help?" He will learn the word help means you will come and take care of whatever.

Just my 2 cents. If Wolf or Pajarita disagree with something I said then go with what they say.

[Wings]

I recently got a plum headed parakeet he behaved exactly how your Rock pebbler did I worked with him in a small room too first just getting him to step up on a perch and then on my arm (He is less afraid of my arm than my hands and will use his beak to hop up) You should try using your arm but maybe first let him get used to his surroundings and Talk to him and to get him used to your hands place them in the cage for a few minutes each day until he is comfortable with them being around him.Next you can move on to feeding treats through the cage bars and then inside the cage.(You could also place one of your other tame birds next to him and pour seed in your hand and your tame bird will eat it and your new bird might copy and start to eat.You can also let him watch your tame birds stepping up and such.Hope I helped

I tried putting my hands in yesterday for a few minutes and he was curious about them (or the toy that I was playing with). He did come to me to "investigate" and tasted the toy and my hands also nibbled on them a little then he tried to take my nails off...lol I think he wanted to know what those were. It didn't hurt much and I tried not to move too fast. I guess I need to go back to the drawing broad and take a closer look at what I could possibly be doing to scare him?!