Training 2 untame Parrotlets

[swesson000]

About a week ago I started training my 2 untame 4 month old Parrotlets after giving them a month to get used to me and their new surrounding. I'm making progress in that I can get my finger near them if I move slow without them running away in fear but I want to start training them away from their cage because I read that is best. If I try to remove either of them from their cage they bounce all over the place making it very difficult. It seems like a traumatizing experience for them to try to get them out and I don't want to start off our training sessions by scaring the crap out of them.

I've tried coaxing them out with treats but that doesn't work. They will take millet out of my hand, but wont come to it. I have to bring it to them.

How should I handle this?

Thanks
Sam

[liz]

Put just a little millet outside the cage where they can see it. Once out you can hand feed them a little more. Even a small piece of bread crust will entice them. Then you can work on putting a finger down between the bird and the food. It will learn to step on the finger to reach the food.

Good luck. Those little guys don't just bite, they pierce.

[swesson000]

bump

[friend2parrots]

theres a thread in this same forum titled "taming a bird under a bed sheet", check out the last post by caitlinrice about setting up a table with a sheet over it. i think this would really help you.

good luck!

[Jenabee]

Do you think it might be easier to keep them in separate cages? Maybe they would bond more easily with you and want to come out more if they weren't a united front with each other in the cage. More incentive to explore. Although... this will require you to get one of them out of the cage. They may also drive you nuts screaming and calling for one another if they are separated.

I'm no expert, though. I only have 1 little parrotlet and he is def. a handful (but worth it)!