Increasing Friendliness/Socialization

[grizwaldfubar]

I have a rehabilitated baby Caique - 4mos old. Sweet girl, friendly and loves to play but she rarely wants human-time - instead wants to go directly onto the playground to go play with the lovebirds or just play on her own.

I would love to cultivate more social behavior in this bird. Anyone have suggestions on how they've formed more social behaviors & patterns in a Caique?

 

[Laurasea]

You could try playing with a small toy, krinkle paper beside her, focus on your game and see if she gets curious and wants to come play with you. If the other bit
Birds let you cuddle them, do it in front of her. Or do a group preen. My Quaker Neptune is less snuggle than than all the other birds but if I am petting my GCC he comes over for head scratches, it if they are preening each other he let's me join in. Good luck!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome!

Thank you for rescuing this darling!

Here are a couple of threads we love...
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

Birds often begin by preferring the company of other birds, depending upon how they were reared. Yours is so young. Truly a toddler! I'd suggest taking her to a room where you're alone with her and then trying some of the tips above.

Good for you for reaching out.

 

[itzjbean]

Gail posted some great links above.

Know that some birds just prefer other birds... especially if they are parent-raised birds. Sometimes you just have to let them do what makes them happy, and if that means little human interaction but ltos of interaction with other birds, that something you may have to accept. One of my birds is more content to be with other bids then people, and that's okay. I love him unconditionally and want him to be happy.

 

[noodles123]

EDIT--
Forgot to mention the importance of time and relationship building. Parrots move in slow-motion, so before doing any of the things below, try to build trust and take it slow. Birds are obviously a comfort zone.


Try to find what else she enjoys and see if you can make her like you better by associating you with favorite treats etc.

I don't know about your particular bird, but you might look into the "model-rival" method (which would use your other birds as examples for human interaction). It can work with greys and cockatoos, but I haven't tried it on others. If she enjoys being around other birds and attends to what they are doing, this might work...and the reward could be a treat in some cases, but because it sounds like it is their interaction that she wants, you could leave one of your 2 other birds on the playstand (while one models- preferably the one whose behavior with humans is best)and then place bird #2 on the playstand when it does what you want..over time, you new bird might make the connection and follow the pattern (stand on hand for 10 seconds, let human touch head, go to playstand with my bird friends)

If being with other birds is reinforcing to her, you might be able to use that as a reward. It would take time to work your way there, but basically, some time with you= time with the other birds right after. Side-note: If you try that, you would only want to give her that time after spending time with you though, otherwise the association would be difficult to establish. It would have to be done in baby steps. Increments would need to be short at first (both for special human and bird interaction)...and there would need to be standards for behavior, but I don't know what she does when you try to interact with her, so it's hard to guess.

 

[grizwaldfubar]

Thanks all around to everyone for the input! I did try Clicker training - first session was almost laughable. She won't eat from my hand (very suspicious) so when I clicked and offered her a shard of Papaya (her fave) she just sat there looking disgusted at me. Finally brought it right up into her mouth - and she reluctantly nibbled it - but was clearly not happy I was any part of her papaya. Each time the shard would fall and she didn't get to eat it - she'd give me an unhappy squawk. I may have to just offer it on a dish or tray. She won't hesitate if it's in her food bowl.

She is patterning her behavior/style after my fischers. (Probably because she has coloration in-common with this tiny lovebird.) Will keep trying for social time - and share any updates!

Muchas Gracias!

 

[EllenD]

Something that might help us with giving you advice is some history about your Caique...You mentioned that she's only 4 months-old, but that she has been "rehabilitated"...What do you mean be this? And where did she come from, a private breeder, pet shop, etc.? And was she a hand-raised baby, or a parent-raised baby? At only 4 months old it sounds like she may have already had to deal with quite a bit of physical, psychological, and/or emotional trauma, or a combination of all of these. So depending on what the issues are and what she has already been through in her extremely short life, there may be certain things that you can change/modify/start doing that will help her get through any trauma that his holding her back from being very social with humans.

 

[grizwaldfubar]

I don't know a lot - I know she came from a breeder with two siblings - all three were somewhat unfriendly; prone to biting and throwing fits. They received a lot of nurturing and rehabilitation (reinforcing good behavior and ignoring bad) so they have come a long way towards being friendly to humans. Sunny does, at times, get squawky about dinner time (Hangry) and sometimes about 'her space' in the cage and me not invading it. I try to respect that and encourage her to 'come out' when she's ready. She has never acted out to me. She's faked attacking/biting once but there was no ferocity to her nip. And when she settles down for bedtime - she makes the cutest little 'eagle squeak' while in her snuggle hut.