taming a princess parrot

[porkncheese]

Hi my name is Paul. I have a cockateil and a princess parrot. Iv had the teil for a year and a half. Shes the 2nd teil iv tamed from a very young age. I had no probs taming them.

The princess parrot is another story. Its under 1 month old, iv had it for a week now. I can get it to step up when its hungry to eat from my hand. Apart from that it plays hard to get. Iv only grabbed it twice when i first got it. Once to clip its wings, another to put it away. Otherwise i havent forced myself on it.

Perhaps i just have to be more patient with these but if anyone has any suggestions im all ears.

Cheers Paul

[marie83]

Under 1 month old? surely it isn't even weaned yet? are you handfeeding?

[friend2parrots]

i've got the same question about the princess parrots age: if its under a month old, how can it even have any feathers long enough on its wings to clip? and how could it be in your house, unless you are handfeeding it?

if perhaps you meant that youve had it for a month, and that thsi is a weaned bird, then this is what i think:

- Princess parrots are one of the Australian grass parakeets. (i've got an Australian grass parakeet as well : a Bourke Parrot) this entire group of Australian grass parakeets feed on the ground, looking for seeds. in the wild they run around very fast from an early age. so this is what your bird is doing when he, as you say "is playing hard to get". mine did exactly this when i frst brought him home to my house (after he was weaned and fledged). this whole group of parrots is EXTREMELY ACTIVE, especially as young birds, and they LOVE to fly and run around everywhere. (i've recently described his behavior when i first got him home in a thread titled "what was your parrot like when it was a baby" that's pretty recent - you mihgt want to check it out)

the Australian grass parakeets are extremely powerful flyers and run like lightning. its part of their nature. "taming" them will not cease the running around everywhere behavior. my bourke is very tame and very attached to me, but is always looking around for the opportunity to run like lightning everywhere, just because thats what he likes to do. the Aust. grass parakeets are generally not meant to be wingclipped or restrained with your hands, beyond step up. they are very active and energetic. they will show affection to you by sitting on your shoulder and wanting to be with you, and getting a neck and head scratch from you. they are very gentle and 100% reliably sweet birds. the only thing you reall need to do with them is to train them to get them to go back into their cage, the step up command, and the come command. if your bird is already wingclipped, i would advise allowing the flight feathers to grow back in, and allowing your bird to be as active as possible. just allow the bird to explore your house, and you will see how after its done exploring, it will jump up onto your shoulder and sit there, all on its own. this may take some time. but please do let him fly and run asmuch as possible - it will maintain his good behavior with you, and actually make him tamer, rather than trying to handle or pet him too much.

also, since these birds are powerful flyers, they need an aviary style cage where they can fly in the cage... just something to keep in mind in case you are still shopping around for cages.

hope this helps - best wishes with your Princess - they are gorgeous and sweet birds!!

[Pricey_boy]

2 problems sounds too young and even if its only had him for a month it's still probably not ready yet a lot of hand reared birds tame them selfs and learn to step up and be friendly.

Grabbing the bird is poor handling maybe your bird thinks your gonna grab him when he comes close just be patience and you won't need to rain such a young bird yet