New Green Cheek owner need a little help

[Pajarita]

Yes, LOL - they are grumpy when you first open their cage in the morning but what I do is I open it and busy myself doing something else (misting and or watering the plants that are next to his cage, changing the paper from the bottom tray, wiping the bars, etc) while I talk to them saying nice things (they know Good Baby, I love you, Pretty bird, etc) in a soft tone of voice but not looking directly at them and, before I know it, they come out and fly/climb to my shoulder in a good mood. As to putting them back into their cage, yes, they really resent and fight it but mine don't get free-fed seeds so what I do is put a single safflower or sunflower seed in their food cup and, putting my shoulder next to the open door, I tell them: "Go get your peanut" and in they go without a single argument. The trick to getting parrots to do something they would normally would not want to do is to either trick them into believing it's their decision or providing them with enough incentive to do it.

[lights106]

Lol yeah after my first morning with him, I just open up the large door and let him climb out until he chirps for me. Yeah, if i'm home he pretty much will chirp and eventually squawks at me to get him out. Silly bird. Ok I'm hoping my image is going to work.

[janetafloat]

Yes, I think a lot of parrots are slow starters in the morning. With regards having him come off your shoulder when he doesn't want to, I really recommend using a target stick. I didn't get the point of targeting except as a trick thing until Alfie became aggressive following a course of meds. I worked with Michael and on his advice went back to square one and started retaming Alfie using targeting. We're completely back on track now but I now realise how useful targeting is. He's pretty good about stepping up most of the time but on the odd occasion that he doesn't want to come off my shoulder (he's a cuddle bug) or resists going back in his cage I just use the target stick and he happily complies every time, and it means I don't have to put my fingers in his face when he's indicated he's resistant which is just inviting a nip.

[lights106]

A target stick is essentially just a stick, right? I started using my sons magic wand to get him off the rope. Funny!!!