worried

[veronica.munoz]

Hi my name is veronica and i won a show parakeet from a rafel at a bird club meeting. I named her violet, I brought her home a week ago and she seems to want nothing to do with me she wont take treats from my hand she prefers to fly away from me. She dose not bite but if she is not flying away she is running away. Im a new bird owner and im not sure if this is normal any advice would be welcomed thank you

[liz]

Violet does not know who you are and where everything she knows went. She is confused and scared. No one told her that you were taking her to your home to love her. Give her time and don't force her into anything. Give her time to realize that she is now Violet and that you love her.

[DustyTheGrey]

She's just scared and not sure who this big person is! with weird hands and no wings.

1) Put her cage in an area of the house where she can observe you during the day or the family. But up against a wall (so she doesnt have to always watch her back) so she and not right in the traffic of the house (so she's not surprised by people or pets suddenly close to her cage).

2) Provide a "safe corner" for her to hide in, perhaps place a perch in her cage thats by a corner, and drape a towel over that corner for her to hide and peek out from.

3) Don't crowd the cage at first with too many scary toys. Provide one or two non scary looking toys away from her "safe corner"

4) Sit by the cage sometimes, doing something else like watching tv or reading. Also sit and talk softly two her through the cage bars. Dont wave your scary hands around too much.

5) Give Violet 11-12 hours sleep per night. Cover the cage and move yourself to another room so you dont bother her. Cover the cage gently, dont swoop the towel over the cage like a big scary towel-monster

6) Buy parrot books from the book store or from amazon.com.... Look for basic books to more advanced books like "The parrot problem solver"

7) research parrot food.. and introduce new foods slowly

8) basically read read read all the parrot/bird books you can get your hands on.

9) Develop a sense for what your bird sees and experiences: for example dont wave your hands about when you talk, its scary. dont make load noise without letting your bird know first, you can say "Big Noise" in a cute voice before you put on the vacuum cleaner. Try and see the world through Violets eyes.

[DustyTheGrey]

Wishing you the best of luck with your new birdy! Post some pictures if you can one day. (dont use a flash!)

[laducockatiel]

She is getting used to her surroundings and she is settling in. Try all you can to make her feel as comfortable as possible in your home. Don't try and feed her treats yet because that may make her feel more scared of you. In the day whistle to her and talk to her in a soft voice, just so that she gets used to you.

Good luck!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Regards,
Laducockatiel