How Social Is Your Parrot?

[Michael]

How socialized is your parrot toward other people? Who can handle your bird? Who can't? What means do you use for socializing your parrot?

Please vote in the poll and post your story below. Also, read this to learn about things you can do to improve your parrots response to other people, not bite, and let strangers handle it through socialization.

[cml]

Stitch used to be alot more socialized than he is today, he was fine with being handled by me and my wife, a few friends and my mother. Recently he's regressed though and is only allowing us to handle him. He's as social as ever with us, if not more, still loves training, but grabbing and touching is now a no no. We're working on reversing that though, and we still try to socialize him with other people when possible !

Leroy is a shy one, it took him time to warm up towards us, and when there's guests over he's cool about ut, so long as he can stay in his cage. He doesnt want to come out though, guests can be scary you know ! Leroy likes to hang around with us more and more though, and he loves the out of cage time he and Stitch get together most of everything in the world (they are out both separatly and together most days).

Great article by the way, full of useful tips and information as always =)!

[pennyandrocky]

penny is very social he'll go to anyone.mya so far only people that live with her,but she's getting better.

[Eurycerus]

So my little buddy (who I've had for a week!) is quite friendly and tame but she definitely will nip or bite when she gets scared or doesn't want something to happen. So I'm not saying that she's perfect, or that she doesn't bite, but she is remarkably well behaved (as long as people are nice! but everyone was).

I took her to my hometown, since I wasn't going to leave her alone for the weekend, and she loved everyone walking by, saying hi to her, or targeting her around for a treat. The weekend was filled with parties and friends and family. I was a very nervous bird mommy and hid her in a quiet place for a while while she got used to the setting and then I brought her out. I gave everyone who wanted to say hi to her, instructions on how to behave and it worked out great. So I would say, for being thrust into increasingly new and different settings, she's really good. She never acted frightened or upset.

We have not gotten to a place where I think she wants to be touched, so we only do step up and sitting on a shoulder right now, no petting, or scratches, since I don't think she wants it yet.

[Grey_Moon]

Jacko is a bit of a tough case because she only likes me handling her.

HOWEVER, she'll go through with just about anyone asking for a step-up if they're confident and cue her right. She'll grumble and get upset with people pet her but refrains from biting.

I dunno if calling it her being unsocialized works though. I mean, parrots are prey animals. Thus, prey animals are notorious for only liking those who they trust and know. So I think its unrealistic to expect a parrot to behave like a dog.

I personally think a better definition of socialized for a prey animal is being used to and comfortable in new situations, being confident and curious and non-aggressive with strangers and well-bonded with familiar people.

Jacko in these areas is pretty rock solid and is improving. She loves to ride in the car, adjusts pretty easily to new homes, and her fear response in new environments and places is rapidly improving. She accepts food from strangers and is non-aggressive when they approach---but she makes it clear she doesn't want to be touched.

[naomi]

my will not let stranger handle him.he loves women and sometimes he will accept a small touch and will not bite them.even if he decide to bite,its just a pretending bite and dsnt hurt at all.
but if a man approaching him,he will let them know!a nightmare bite will happen!(even to my husband)

my cockatiel is a love sponge!he will let stranger pet and handle him.he always be my guest favorite!

my goffin loves men!they can do everything to her,even lift her wings!!

[marie83]

The majority of my birds will have been handled by anyone up to the level I was at with them or a stage or so before where I got to with them, but I've had to work very hard with most of them being rescues and ensure only people who wouldn't potentially harm the work already done with them could handle them. Ollie will be handled by anyone in whatever manner they like (within reason) but he will quickly work out if they are nervous of him and then take advantage of that fact.