I will be bringing my new Senegal parrot home Wednesday. I've been visiting him at the petshop everyday and Saturday he was in a cage (he's pretty much been on display during store hours otherwise...) due to a dog rescue that was onsite for the day. The shop keepers allowed me to take him out myself and he stepped right up. He had been sleeping in the cage when I approached and upon hearing my voice, woke, stretched and became alert. Anyhow, we had some familiarization/bonding time and after about 20 minutes I was ready to put him up and leave. This is where the fun started - I had to put him back
I tried placing him next to his perch - no luck - he scooted as far away as he could back up my arm. I tried luring him with apple - but this is difficult and didn't work out . His treat "drive" was lower due to getting apple while he was out with me and when he was interested inside the cage, was able to snag a bite without getting onto the perch. Dropping pieces in his bowl didn't even begin to fool him.
Finally, I decided to take the leap and pick him up (like a football - as shown in Micheal's videos) and simply set him on the perch. It worked out fine. He squawked - but didn't struggle and seemed fine with it. I'd been working with him over the last several visits to get used to my hand being around him and I had picked him up (about an inch) for about 1 second the day prior. However, that was when he was distracted with a mouth full of treat. This was the first real pick up.
So, my question is - what is the best manner to put him back if he chooses not to go? Should I brush him off my arm? Pick him up? Try some other sort of luring? Saturday was a good opportunity for me to identify something I don't know.
Thanks,
-Calvin