Need advice with new bird

[UlyBirb]

*Long Post Ahead, Sorry*

I brought home my first parrot on Saturday night! His name is Obie and he's 4 months old. Breeder told me he was hand-fed from 2 weeks.

I understand that he is in a completely new setting and new cage (likely much larger than what he was used to- it's a Prevue with a playtop) but his behaviour at the breeders' versus here is night and day. At the breeders' I could flip him on his back and scoop him up and give him scritches and he was totally fine with all of it. Here, he is skittish. I've been using food as an incentive (I'm transitioning him onto a pelleted diet right now, so he's probably a little hungrier than he would normally be- but I am not withholding food, don't worry), otherwise I reckon he wouldn't come near me. Only today he decided to hop onto my hand and eat a millet spray I had sitting there, but I had to coax him by getting farther and farther away. When I very slowly move my other hand up underneath the one he's sitting on, he gets spooked. He doesn't panic, but I have to move him a bit closer to a perch so he can get away. He also bites my fingers in a non-aggressive way I think- it's hard to tell- but I've been gritting my teeth and sitting through it. He will try to attack fingers through the bars, and he didn't yesterday.

Today he made a point of clambering onto the bars right in front of me and chirping and flapping his wings. Not sure what that was about- but it tells me that he's not *totally* afraid of me, I hope?

The breeder told me to make the outside of his cage interesting so he'll feel tempted to come out. This is difficult. I've attached a perch and some toys to the inside of the door and have left it open yesterday and today but he still won't budge. I have to offer millet to him while he's inside his cage.

I work with him maybe 4-5 times a day for about 10 minutes. Is there anything I could be doing differently? I know patience is key, but it's so hard to see how he was at the breeders' vs. how he is here I hope he gets comfortable soon. I've spent time with larger parrots but overall am a new parront and have no idea what I'm doing. Here he is today.

EDIT: I forgot to add, when it came time to move him from his travel cage to his larger cage he stepped up for me no problem. I don't even want to ask him to do that right now, I have a feeling he'd run away.

 

[UlyBirb]

*Bump* Does anyone have any input? I’d like to know that I am indeed doing all this right, I have a fear that he could become cagebound :s

 

[LordTriggs]

there's a simple thing that he is scared like you mentioned purely because he's in an unfamiliar place and his family disappeared. Give him some time, read to him in the cage to get him used to your voice/presence and offer him treats and the like. Being in a cage for a week or 2 if he runs from you isn't going to damage him. He just needs time and love to settle and learn he's safe. Becoming cagebound takes months/years of neglecting in a cage to happen

 

[LordTriggs]

as for time with the sitting and talking do it for as long as you can, I found reading a book was the best.

I also found it much better first real time letting out of the cage to completely close off the room you are in and just sit and leave them to figure things out and get over the initial excitement of the space. Only coming to the rescue if you're needed

 

[UlyBirb]

Perfect, thanks for your reply. As his favourite perch is beside the chair where I study, he gets maybe about 4-6 hours with me a day and I read my notes out loud.

I have a feeling it’ll be another week at least until he ventures out by himself, but I’m crossing my fingers that it will be soon x

 

[Squeekmouse]

I've read books and articles that suggest when you first bring your bird home to leave him alone to get used to his new home for a week before trying to handle him. Yoda was unusual I guess, he settled in quickly and didn't let me leave him alone. Every fid is different though, your guy probably just needs some time to feel like he is at home and not in some dangerous, scary place. I imagine if I was suddenly kidnapped by aliens and found myself in a bizarre, unfamiliar place, I probably wouldn't be very cuddly and friendly either, right?

LordTrigg's advice is of course excellent. Just be near him, be patient, and let him move at his own pace. All will be well!

 

[UlyBirb]

I had read that as well, but every time I bring out a piece of millet he is very eager to set at least one foot on my hand. I’m happy with the progress we’re making, and he’s getting more comfortable with stepping on to my hand to get a treat every day.

 

[LordTriggs]

sounds like he's getting close to figuring it out then. Try holding the millet a little further away so he has to really struggle to reach it without hopping aboard

What I also did was before dinner time poured some treats into my hand and just held it in the cage so he has to get on your hand to eat the food which worked wonders