bonding/trust building

[ostromk45]

It is clear that my bella favors my wife more then me but even then she is sketchy about being picked up from her cage. If she is away from her cage it does not matter the first person she see's she will run to and if you do not pick her up she will try to climb our leg. After that the first chance she sees to fly back to her cage she is gone. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to work with her to get her to start trusting and bonding with us. I am also looking for a video that will do the same but I don't know what to trust and don't want to pay $50 like a lot of ones that i have found.

 

[Cowtown]

Welcome to the forum..

1st of all how old is Bella?
How long have you had her?
Is this her 1st human home?
How many are in your family (including dogs, cats and Kiddos)?

I have had Abby since August. She was hatched on 05-12-10.
After I left her settle in for a few days I started sitting next to her and talking with the cage door open.

she would go to the back of the cage and ignore me.
I have 2 dogs and 1 cat and she did not mind them coming up to the cage.

It took about 2 weeks for her to get where she would step up easily.

She then would do what Bella is doing. If she was out of the cage she would step up for anyone. But not real found of anyone but be taking her out of her cage. My son has moved in with me a couple of weeks ago and he has been bonding with him and a friend from out of town came over this weekend and she (Abby) went straight to Tina and stepped up and let Tina rub her neck and only pecked... did not bite.

I believe that it will just take time and patience on your behalf.

They are great birds with a lot of personality. I am seeing more and more of Abby personality come out each day.

Good luck and be a loving and patience guardian.
Some birds take longer than others.

 

[2Birds3Kids]

Try approaching her with a bit of a treat (1/2 a pine nut for example) and at the same time pick up her feet to perch on you. Since she is so comfortable with you away from her cage, I would get a harness or a tether and take her out. This really helped me and our children bond with our ekkie, who has sadly passed away.

Ekkies are very sweet and very charming. Just be patient. They do come out of their shell more and more.