jessie

[tellybug]

Jessie was 3 years old, when we got her, from day one she was very skittish and still is, we have had her for 10 months now she will take a nut from me while she is in her cage but I cant get close enough to her for any interaction at all if she comes near she bites and flys off I really want to get her to interact but I don't know where too start I have read countless articles and asked advice from lots of people and most start by saying getting her to step up which I have tried every day but she wont have any of it she goes for me and flys off she has loads of toys and I vary her diet and her cage is clean and I let her fly around pretty much most of the time I'm home some days this is all day but we now have a new problem she has started to chew on everything she lands on and again I tell her no and shoo her off said thing but 2 minutes later she's back and I have read that to put her in her cage and leave her for 10 minutes (tried and failed) makes no odds so please I'm asking for very basic help here to get us on the right path I have tried step up with sticks and we did make some progress but it soon failed as she sat for a second for a few days then she just went for me again each time I tried I feel like I'm failing her and would hate for us to continue this way thank you for any help you can give me

 

[LordTriggs]

okay, there's a couple things here. Definitely not impossible to get her to enjoy you but you need the will power.

Firstly, avoid shooing her as any trust built up gets destroyed whenever that happens which would explain her biting you.

If possible try getting her eating set meals as I assume you opt for food being in the cage all day, it should make her more receptive to training foods. (note not so much with holding food but much like with a child making sure she can't just eat all day, then you can do some training a bit before food.

Unfortunately there is a side of the chewing where, she's a bird, and birds chew. Try getting some soft wood toys out of the cage for her to chew on, instead of stopping a behavior it's far easier to redirect it.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html Take a read of this thread, it should give you some ideas of where to go.

Of course always remember that she was 3 when you get her and could have lived in a very abusive home for those 3 years causing some very deep seated trauma for her that she needs to get past

 

[MonicaMc]

Have you tried training using positive reinforcement training techniques? Often under the guise of clicker training.

If she will take a nut from you, then you can work off of that. Will she go to you for a piece of a nut? Will she step up for a nut? Can you teach her to target for a nut?

 

[tellybug]

thank you for this advice i will work on it and hopefully she will be a happy bird thank you again

 

[LordTriggs]

no worries, also an option considering how close you are to London on June 10th there's a expo/bird show type thing going on in Kingston called "Thinkparrots" where there's lots of classes and experts who may be able to give you some more in-depth advice (along with bargains on parrot toys and stuff)

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Jessie! Hope the great information you've received (and the trust/bonding link) help form a closer relationship!

 

[tellybug]

I have already started on the advice by moving a toy to the out side if her cage and hopefully she will like it tomorrow I will start on all other tips thank you again for the advice

 

[smbrds]

Welcome to the forum! Small steps. Heed the info given. It sounds cheesy, but trust and relationships take time to build. Progress!