The untouchables.

[Hofstadter]

Who here has parrots that dont like to be touched?

I have a little lovebird that i have had for two months. Over that time we have bonded well. Hes turned into quite an attention seeker recently. He runs around the bottom of his cage waiting for me to bring him out, and then he either runs around my desk wreaking havoc, obsessivly crawls all over me to try and get at whatever im eating, or sitting on my shoulder beak grinding away.

So im pretty sure he likes me. But he HATES being touched. He has absolutely no problem with stepping up on my fingers. Doesnt care. But if i get within one centimere of him he will give a lunge or warning nip.

I dont mind him not being cuddly. He likes sitting up on my shoulder and chiling out, and im content with that. But of course giving him a scritch would be nice.

So im basically asking, how many of you have birds that dont like you as a person but dont like being touched?

 

[FreddyCheeks]

My daughters parakeet is the same way. It will hang out for hours. As soon as you go to scratch or pet it, it yells at you and flies away. It's hard to explain to her as she doesn't understand why we can pet Fred, but not Star.

 

[Birdman666]

I've never had much luck with lovebirds.

I have a 40 year old lilac crowned amazon who is absolutely as sweet as can be, and does not bite, but also does not like or allow touching...

Hand shy protocols only stress her out, so I let her alone, and she hangs out on my shoulder making kissing noises, and doing the happy head bob thing.

Some just don't...

In the wild, you would never in a million years get close enough to touch. It goes against thier basic instincts.

Some just don't ever overcome that.

 

[Betrisher]

Yep. Same with my Alexes: touch me not! The closest I get to petting my birds is smearing peanut butter on my fingertips and allowing them to lick it off (no, I'm not kinky! I learned this from keeping mice). While they lick, I stroke their little heads. It's not the same as the snuggly cuddles my husband gets from our Galah, but it'll do. Love my Beaks.

 

[SarahT]

I have an Amazon who I have never had step up, I can give him tickles but god I'd love to have him sit on my hand!!

 

[Jewelz]

My love bird loved to hang out but also hated being touched unless he asked for scritches by rubbing his head on my hand

 

[Agapornis]

Whew, hearing all your stories makes me feel better about my Sundance. He is not a cuddly GCC, that's for sure. He will step up, ride around on your shoulder, he even gives kisses on your cheek....just don't put your hand near him! He has done this since he was a little 2 month old baby when he got him. I thought he would outgrow it, but no luck yet. I don't want to force him, so I just let him be. It's a bummer though, cuz I would love to put a harness or flight suit on him and take both birds out. Fiji will wear one, but I can't even imagine trying to get one on him. Oh well, maybe when he gets older.

 

[Birdman666]

There are hand shy protocols you can use, and they do work with the vast majority of birds. Some don't respond to them though.

My Lilac Crowned Amazon was wild caught. She started her life in a central american jungle somewhere, and was stolen from a nest, and imported into the pet trade. She still has her wild instincts.

She's a sweet little bird, and the hand shy protocols only stressed her out with little or no improvement. So I stopped them.

Essentially, with a conure you would use two popsicle sticks, and make a point of touching him all over with him.

Then, slowly, over time (a few weeks) work your hand down the popsicle stick until he allows you to touch with your finger.

 

[Agapornis]

Birdman666, I like that advice with the popsicle sticks. I'll start with that, and keep it up until he is comfortable with the sticks touching him. Then we'll see how it goes!

 

[Birdman666]

Birdman666, I like that advice with the popsicle sticks. I'll start with that, and keep it up until he is comfortable with the sticks touching him. Then we'll see how it goes!

First few times HE WILL freak out. After about a week or so, he will freak out less. After two or three weeks, you should see real progress.

 

[Hofstadter]

Man it is so good to know there are others out there with birdies like this