Snuggliness!

[Anansi]

Awww! It's a family thing! Keep those pics coming, my friend!

 

[Hufflepuff]

Oh my goodness! I am loving all the snuggle pictures! I hope my birdie grows into that someday.

 

[Birdman666]

Zoe is absolutely adorable! I heard Macs can be cuddly but that is amazing :3

NAH! Zoe is false advertising...

Macs are super aggressive birds that would just as soon rip your lips off with that big beak, or chase you around the room...

eerrr... uhhh... ummm....



Actually, they're more like lap birds.

Feathered puppies.

 

[Kiwibird]

For our bird, I think his "cuddliness" is a result of years of trust-building and a bit him wanting to make us happy because he knows we enjoy cuddling him. No one (to our knowledge) ever handled him before us, now he snuggles in my hubbies shirt He has a different set of interactions with me, and will preen me and let me kiss his head and back. He's a good boy.

Getting a hug from mommy

Playing with hubby on the couch

This is a bird who was turning my hands into hamburger meat after we first adopted him. Now he allows THIS. He is so social now and you can tell, loves interacting with trusted humans (he's even getting better with strangers).
Just keep working with your bird, and someday he will come to trust you and WANT to show his affection for you

 

[Birdman666]

And that's really the key.

Folks who don't work with their birds/handle them, don't get this.

Birds locked in cages get angry, or territorial, or both.

Parrots are social by nature. They just have instincts that protect them from being eaten, that says "don't do it." So they are afraid. Once they realize it's safe, then they start to open up to you...

What you have to realize is that in order to do this with you, a parrot is quite literally trusting you with its life. Think about that one for a second... that's a lot of trust.

How often do you completely trust another human with your life?

The more they get socialized, the more social they become.

All living things respond to love.

It may not appear on any scientific periodical tables, but love is still an essential element... for all life forms.

 

[thekarens]

....

...your boys are very handsome!

......

Thank you so much, Karen! I'm LMAO here because that's "our" Mark in both of the photos. Unshaved in one...semi-shaved in the other.

But our oldest is quite fond of the gang, too.





....and so is my husband.

Ha! Well your youngest is handsome with and without hair and your actual eldest is also handsome

 

[Weezerj]

...any hints on how to built that trust would be greatly appreciated!

I am doing step up training every night with his favorite treat and trying to to give vocal praise often.

He also seems to respond well to taking him outside on my portable PVC perch

Are there any other activities that help built trust?

 

[henpecked]

Yes there are. Expose him to new people and situations. help "set the tone" by being outgoing, friendly and he'll follow suit. he'll also learn to look to you for protection and leadership . yes there's much you can do to build trust. take him out and do things. Good socialization skills help make a cuddly parrot.

 

[Kiwibird]

...any hints on how to built that trust would be greatly appreciated!

I am doing step up training every night with his favorite treat and trying to to give vocal praise often.

He also seems to respond well to taking him outside on my portable PVC perch

Are there any other activities that help built trust?

Allowing him to eat with you at the table (bird safe human food, or he gets his own dish of yummies), showering with him, including him in family activities like watching a movie, prepping food (put him up before you start cooking though) ext... Once he's mastered stepping up, move on to other tricks, or initiate a play time with him.

He's still very new. Give him time Sounds like he's already making good progress!

 

[Kyoto]

KYO CUDDLES

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UnxY12-NrI"]Sleepy Kyoto - YouTube[/ame]

this was in the first few days of having her… totally fell in love immediately.