Fussy Senegal

[Kim S]

I'm afraid I'm stuck with a fussy Senegal. Kika takes everything I give him, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, fresh fruit, veggies, even bread or ricecrackers. Takes it... and drops it. My bf gives him anything, even pellets... and EATS it!
I am the primary caretaker. Unfortunately I am between jobs at the moment so I am home most of the time. When I am home Kika will be out of his cage (unless I am cooking or cleaning). When my bf and I are home together Kika will come to me first, wants to cuddle with me and sit with me while watching tv. He actually likes my bf and will stay put if my bf takes him to sit with him. But given the choice Kika will come to me.

But why, for the love of God, will he take food from my bf and not from me?

Is there a way to use attention ans a conditioning method? The problem I have with this is that giving a treat is a fast reward. Trick, click, eat, next trick. If I were to do this with attention there would be a longer time between two tricks. Trick, click, cuddle and praise, next trick. I'm afraid Kika will miss the connection between the first and the second trick and maybe not see where I want him to go.

[Michael]

Could it just be a factor of timing that your bf gives food to Kika in conjunction with the time when he is hungry? Parrots usually don't eat in the middle of the day so could that be the issue?

[Kim S]

Ok, after a couple of days trying I'm coming back to the issue. He takes dried bread from me. Thats it.
O, yes, two or three sunflowerseeds. After that he just wants to sit on my hand instead of taking the treat thats in it.

Ive tried a lot.
Taking away his food in the morning and training in the afternoon before giving him his food back. Didn't work.
Not giving him any millet, which he loves, and then giving it to him outside the cage for training. Didnt work.
Waiting till my bf was home, have him feed Kika 2 or 3 treats, and then trying it myself. Didnt work.

Ive talked to a friend about this and she had a possible explanation. And I am NOT happy with it.
Apparently, Kikas previous owner found it cute if the parrot gives kisses. And not only give kisses, but takes care of your dental hygiene while hes at it! So she started to feed him treats from her mouth... Its a daily thing for the senegal she still owns. So my friend thought Kika might be used to eating treats from a womans mouth in stead of her hands.
I must say, Kika is a very kissy bird. I dont mind. But I will not feed it from my mouth!!

So, now that I probably figured out the problem. What to do?