How do I start?

[Sheila88]

Hello Michael,

I am awaiting your #2 CD from Las Vegas. I don't know how to start with my 4 month old brown headed parrot.

Have had him 2 weeks tomorrow. Topper lets me move things in his cage, no panic. He will take bites of millet from my hand, but sometimes he grabs at it and doesn't actually eat it. He eats well, tries every new veggie and fruit. Actually sits at feeder door waiting for me to return a fresh bowl. Loves his toys. Really likes it when I talk to him and has been experimenting with his voice. He runs back and forth across the bottom front of the cage when I talk to him.

But, he doesn't like my hand placed near him. This brings on a growl sometimes, a squeek at other times.

The breeder hand fed him, but admits she fell behind in teaching step-up. He was out in the aviary with many birds. She told me to wait an hour after I bought him home and then take him from cage. I had no trouble getting him from carrier to cage, but he did not like coming back out of the cage. Bit several times, a little blood, left me a bit nervous. I think now, that this was done too early. I think the experience was bad for him. So, I have been letting him get use to me, his cage, the noise of the house.

It is time to move on, but I am not sure what to do if he doesn't want my hand near him. And, not sure that the millet is the right treat for targeting. As I said, he kind of pulls at the millet then moves along his perch and then onto the side of cage. I don't chase him. I have tried apple slices and pieces of birdy bread, but he really doesn't eat them from my hand. I am thinking of plain shelled almonds or even a chick pea. He does love chick peas.

His wings are clipped.

Thanks for any advise. Hope the CD has some visuals I can follow. Sheila

[Michael]

The DVD is mostly of me talking about what to do rather than visual but there are demonstrations with rescue birds included in the process. It is a great way to catch a lot of small things and concepts without having to do much reading. You can skip the vet intro in the beginning if you find it a bit boring.

Here are some additional resources to help you get started:

http://TrainedParrot.com/Treats
http://TrainedParrot.com/Taming
http://TrainedParrot.com/Caging
http://TrainedParrot.com/Socialization

Honestly with a bird that young it should be fairly easy and it sounds like the issue is more of your uncertainty. That's ok though, you can use a training based approach. Just don't withhold food too much while it is still so young and growing. 3-6 hours is probably the longest it should spend without food at this stage so keep that in mind in case I'm suggesting anything different elsewhere for adult parrots.