Hello from New Hampshire!

[Maighen]

That all makes sense! I have noticed that he is wanting me to hand feed him fruit now.....when I go over to his cage....he opens his mouth and watches my hand! I won't force any petting.....I just find myself wanting to after he takes a treat. I just have to be patient and I think before I know it he'll let me touch him! What should I try next? I sit next to his cage and talk to him quietly 2-4 hours a day....sometimes even more I think I'm obsessed! I offer him oranges...apples....grapes...and other fruits which he takes and eats with no problems! Now what is something else I can work with him on?

[pirategene]

Hi and welcome
There are a lot of "bird smart' people on this forum that will help you along. The bird that you have is a very intelligent creature. If he does'nt already, he will talk, whistle, imitate sounds and can be trained to do most anything...but it takes time, not force. Don't forget, as tame as parrots can be, they are still wild animals and are capable of still carrying-on that way.
As far as the bites go, yes they are very painful and can be very severe. Do you use a glove on your hand when you approach? It may help. When a parrot bites, he either wants you to go away. If he is even kinda tame, and he bites, usually the owner first, seldom a stranger, it is that he knows that you will take him away from an uncomfortable situation. In other words, if I bite you, we are outta here! In the near handling time, keep fingers away, esp. children's, and use your hand and not just a finger. Good luck
pirategene and tambo 9yo blue & gold macaw

ps Not to start a flood here...but let Frankie on your shoulder!!

[Maighen]

Hello and Thank you!

I would love to have him on my shoulder but he wants really no part of it! He will step up onto a perch or stick but only if he has no other choice! I do not use gloves...I didn't really even think of using them. I want to continue to earn his trust....I just do not know the next step!

[captwest]

The next step is time, take your time and don't undo the progress you've made by pushing him in more than he's ready for .I'd read some of the threads on target training, it's some thing that you and him can learn together but yet dosn't require him being out of his safe zone. Soon you can target him out of the cage or on to your hand or perch.

[Maighen]

I will check them out....thank you!

[Roger P]

Those sound like horrible foster parents if they are recommending you to force Frankie to do anything. They are helping you to get bit for sure. If you force him to do something, like step up on the stick for example, and you continue to force him whether he wants to or not, eventually he will step up on the stick (the technique is called "flooding" and it is a bad training technique) but you will have damaged any relationship you have been able to build to this point. Frankie will do what you ask but he will not enjoy it and he will lose trust in you and be afraid of you.

Please do not follow their advice, keep doing what you are doing and work at Frankie's pace. If you make it fun and rewarding (food, scratches, etc.)for him to do things, he will continue to want to do them for youbecause he is receiving a reward for it.

If these "foster parents" are a part of a rescue organization, I would be reporting them for their treatment of Frankie and the tactics they use and advocate for new bird owners to use. They are very much "old school" thinking they should not continue as fosters if they still believe this. Just my opinion, do what you think is right, especially for Frankie as he is your primary concern.

As far as something else to work on, if he is now taking treats regularly from you, begin getting him to "work" for them. I would suggest using targeting while Frankie is inside the cage. Use a chopstick or some other thin wooden stick and see if he will touch it with his beak. Start right in front of him and slowly get him to follow it to different parts of the cage. Every time he touches the stick, praise him lots and give him a treat. Once he is following you around the cage, you can start working on targeting him to move towards your hand to begin to step up.

Good Luck!

[Maighen]

I agree whole heartedly about Frankies former home.....they call themselves a foster and rehome birds on a constant bases. I have called the BBB and the SPCA because they were the only people I could think of that could help. I wish someone with more bird experience had gone with my husband and me when we went to pick Frankie up. I say this because we have never owned a bird before and the foster dad was very forceful with Frankie. I could tell it wasn't right.....Frankie was all puffed up....cornered....wings open....beak open and was screaming really loud. He bit the gentleman really hard and drew blood.....we were then told to expect a lot of that! He told us Frankie disliked him because he made him do things he didn't want to do and we shouldn't expect a lot from him because he was strictly a breeder bird. He tried to offer us a baby ekkie and said that we would have more enjoyment and could do more with him. The baby was cute....but I had already fallen in love with Frankie

[captwest]

Well, lucky Frankie found you.

[Roger P]

From what you have described, you are already leaps and bounds ahead of where the "more knowledgable" ( sorry, made myself sick typing that) foster parents were with Frankie. If he is already taking treats from you he is beginning to trust you, which is wonderful. Keep working slowly with him. If he moved around a lot and had to put up with these last guys, his trust level is going to be very low and will take a while before he can trust again. Sounds like you are headed in the right direction though. Consider where Frankie is coming from and be proud of small successes. I have no doubt they will come more frequently the more time you spend with Frankie. You have already done great so far .

[Maighen]

Thank you! I really enjoy the small successes.....I just know Frankie and I will be great friends someday in the future! Am I allowed to tell the former home I'm all set with advice and information from them? I keep receiving e-mails from them requesting pictures and updates almost every 1-2 hours....I have no problem with sending them pictures once in a while. Frankie is still nervous around my phone and growls a little. But am I forever tied to these people? I don't believe they really cared for Frankie.....it was all negative when I inquired about him and then when we went to meet him they tried to push other birds on us. But I just love my little Frankie