Looking for Tips for Bonding with a New Parrot !!

[salaasmarcello]

Hi everyone,

I am a first time parrot owner and recently brought home a beautiful African Grey. I have been reading a lot about how intelligent and sensitive they are but I want to make sure I’m doing everything right to build a strong bond with my new feathered friend,,.

So far, I am spending time sitting near the cage, talking softly to him and offering treats but he still seems a bit shy. I have avoided sudden movements and loud noises but I am wondering if there’s more I can do to make him feel comfortable and safe.

Do you have any tips or tricks for building trust with a parrot: ?? How long did it take your parrot to warm up to you: ?? I would love to hear your experiences, especially with African Greys or similar birds: I have also read this thread https://www.parrotforums.com/threads/tips-for-bonding-and-building-trust-rpa but looking for more tips and advice.

Looking forward to your advice !!

Thanks in advance,
Marcelo Salas

 

[Thechoplady]

I would start target training him. It will start to build bonding and trust between the both of you. Best wishes with him!

 

[wrench13]

Patience, patience and then.................. more patience. Some parrots take weeks and weeks just to settle down in a new home. Continue as you are. Try and figure out his most favorite special treat, and that becomes the training and bonding treat. My 'zon LOVES pine nuts - he would plow the back 40 for a pine nut. Experiment. Walnuts, almonds, pistachios all good choices to try. Use small pieces of them.

 

[rheashard2]

Hi everyone,

I am a first time parrot owner and recently brought home a beautiful African Grey. I have been reading a lot about how intelligent and sensitive they are but I want to make sure I’m doing everything right to build a strong bond with my new feathered friend,,.

So far, I am spending time sitting near the cage, talking softly to him and offering treats but he still seems a bit shy. I have avoided sudden movements and loud noises but I am wondering if there’s more I can do to make him feel comfortable and safe.

Do you have any tips or tricks for building trust with a parrot: ?? How long did it take your parrot to warm up to you: ?? I would love to hear your experiences, especially with African Greys or similar birds: I have also read this thread https://www.parrotforums.com/threads/tips-for-bonding-and-building-trust-rpa but looking for more tips and advice.

Looking forward to your advice !!

Thanks in advance,
Marcelo Salas

Evaluate your reasons first. I got my first grey to be a replacement for a hormonal contrary, needy teen who was going military after graduation. So I now have a perfect replacement. Make sure of your normal schedule too. Do you work, have normal outings, routine meal prep times etc. Then plan your bounding around that. This decreases separation anxiety issues. Tape and listen to your voice. My first grey had a dictatorship. It was my vet who pointed out that I sounded like I was asking for favors. Use voice and treat praise. Especially voice, nothing is worse than running out of expected treats. If you have other pets aka dogs, cats have boundaries set on them. My grey has a game of dropping food in cage. She eases down lower and lower then hacks out at the nose or tongue. Been doing that since 3 months and she's near 20 yo now. Decide on stimulation when you're not around. Both my greys liked tv and video games. Grey #1 loved action shows and anime. #2 loves comedy talk shows and anime. I knew that I was a traveler for work, trips w vet trips thrown in. I emphasized travel. So no stressing out about that. Pay attention to yourself, your grey will. I believe that they have a bizarre humor based on our behaviors. Had a dog who had highly aromatic and explosive farts. I got in habit of deep inhale and holding it for as long as possible. Discovered that my grey would mimic it to watch me react. It's impossible to tell what will stimulate reaction. Greys are emotional. They are self centered. My vets primary attendant feels they have market cornered on neurotic behavior. PAY attention to feathers on cage bottom. I've found that to be best indicator for begining anxiety issues. It could be something as simple as tv timer not working. I discovered this forum and found information that I discovered by accident. Read even the older threads. I've found many, Many, MANY saying in practical terms what nearly 4 decades being owned by a grey taught me. Also in that includes information I found in numerous books primarily grey specific. I am wondering if greys name themselves. My first grey renamed himself Richard. 2 calls herself Nameliss Margaret Ann. Have fun, patience, fun and enjoy.

 

[Talaya]

Welcome to the forum and being a Grey slave lol,
It sounds as if you’re being the right kind of company. Quiet and slow not threatening etc. if you decide to target train, The very first step with this is getting them used to the clicker. You just offer a treat and as soon as they take it you click. Bird Tricks have a few you tube videos on this, but first you have to get them used to the sound..before you Introduce the target stick, so yes try several types of treat and find out which one he is happiest taking from you. My boy loves all nuts but cashews are his favourite; he just swallows those little nibs whole without even chewing. I got lucky with my boy, after a week he chose to climb down from his high perch and sit next to me, I built his trust feeding tiny cubes of apple through the bars because he had never seen a nut at that point, it can take weeks or months to build trust.
A Regular routine too Good luck.