Is my bird too old for training?

[kristi]

My pet bird is very old, relatively - my parents bought him a month before I was born and I'm in my early teens now. Since the other pet bird died a few months ago, they're letting me take him as a pet. The only problem is he doesn't seem to be doing too well. I can pet him - usually - and he doesn't bite me unless I really deserve it (invading his "home" is the typical cause) but he it's been over a two months with no progress in eating from my hand or stepping up, no matter what I try.

The only reason I'm particularly worried that he'll never get any farther is he went over ten years with basically no human interaction. (Obviously, I'm not bird expert - he's the first bird I've ever handled, so it's entirely possible I'm just paranoid.) Is it a lost cause or will he come around eventually?

[Wolf]

The average lifespan for a Quaker Parrot or parakeet is about 25 years although with good care they could live much longer. Also their age has very little to do with their ability or desire to learn new things. Although parrots have been kept as companions for thousands of years not that much is really known about the more than 350 different species of parrots and there are very few scientific studies regarding them that are even 20 years old. Ten years of little to no real human interaction, does not help in any means and depending on the actual treatment may be difficult to turnaround, but that does not mean that it can't be done. And just so you know there are no such things as experts when it comes to parrots unless you want to include the parrots themselves as they are the only experts on parrots.
I will say that invading his home does not endear you to him nor does it foster any feelings of trust in him towards you. Think about how you would feel if the tables were reversed and someone was invading your home and how that would make you feel. I am not saying to apply your feelings to the bird because there are only some areas that this can be useful and even then only generally speaking. They are however very intelligent and they are very much self aware, that is they are aware of themselves in much the same manner that you are aware of yourself as an individual.
The more information that you can give us in regards to his daily schedule, interactions with you time out of his cage as well as his diet the better we will be able to assist you in your efforts to create a good relationship with your friend.

[Navre]

We have old birds come into the rescue who have been neglected or even abused. And every bird that comes in is dealing with the loss of his flock members, be they human, furred, or feathered.

I don't think your bird is really "old," but even if he were, he's not too old to benefit from taming and training.

So, is a bird ever too old for bonding, taming, and training? I don't think so.