How to help sun conure overcome fear of hands?

[KiwiMango]

Hi. I have a sun conure that is afraid of hands. My hands, my daughters hands, everybodys hands. My sun conure (Mango) is about 3 months old and was hand-fed. I'm guessing she is afraid of hands because the breeder didn't teach the birds to step up, she would just reach in the cage and grab them. I've been target training Mango for about a week now and she is catching on quickly. She takes treats from my hand (cautiously) and will step on my arm to follow the stick. I can't approach her, but she will approch me. When she has out of cage time she will step up onto my arm, groom my hair, and such. But as soon as my hands move, she freaks out and jumps back into her cage. She won't let me touch her. I would really like to be able to bond with Mango and have her trust me. I'm just not sure how to incorporate the target training into her allowing me to touch her or approach her or what else I should do. Help?

[coolhady13]

i think this video will help you a lot



also read the article at http://trainedparrot.com/taming

[KiwiMango]

Thanks so much, coolhady! For some reason, I didn't come across that video and article in my search. I started right away last night with the handtaming exercises. Hopefully before too long my sun conure will be the loveable little thing I have been hoping for.

[coolhady13]

Thanks so much, coolhady! For some reason, I didn't come across that video and article in my search. I started right away last night with the handtaming exercises. Hopefully before too long my sun conure will be the loveable little thing I have been hoping for.

you are welcome , i dont think i will take him long to get used to your hand as he is already not afraid from you at all , try putting some food on your hand and see if he will eat or not . this will help him get used to your hand . it worked with my budgie

[KiwiMango]

you are welcome , i dont think i will take him long to get used to your hand as he is already not afraid from you at all , try putting some food on your hand and see if he will eat or not . this will help him get used to your hand . it worked with my budgie

I have been hand feeding him treats and fresh fruits/veggies. He will eat out of my hand, he just freaks out whenever I move. Skittish would be the best way to describe him. He just doesn't trust me yet like my quaker does.