Where do I go from here?

[lbutler2852]

I am a new cockatiel owner who recently adopted an older lutino from a parrot rescue. I have had her (Sunny) for a week now and so far I can put my hand in the cage without her hissing and have gotten to the point where she will step up onto my finger while coaxing her with some millet. How can I wean her off of the millet where she just wants to step up onto my hand?

 

[Selestine]

If she's a week out from hissing when you put your hand in the cage, she might just need a little more time to get comfortable. Do your best to make her out of cage time relaxing and fun so that she desires to leave the cage.

You could also do some "variable reinforcement training" which is where sometimes when she does what you've asked her to do she gets a treat (the millet) and sometimes she does not (but still praise her and tell her she is a good bird).

When the bird doesn't know when the treat is coming, it strongly reinforces the behavior. Actually makes the behavior more solid than just giving a treat every time.

But if she's still pretty uncomfortable, I'd just give her more time.

 

[Taw5106]

Time is key and talk, talk, talk, and whistle to her. Also see if she likes other things like fruit, veggies, sunflower seeds, etc. she will warm up but it takes time. Once you are flock buddies she will loosen up. My Sam would visit with me almost every night, call for me, loved head rubs but it took a little while. Keep up what you are doing.

 

[veimar]

I'm in the same situation - I just rescued an untamed 2 yo male cockatiel week ago who is not tame and hates hands. He was in very poor conditions before - never handled, no toys and treats… But he is not afraid of me, just hates my hands - hisses at them and tries to bite (not really hard). I'm not sure if I'm doing a right thing, but I let him sit on the windowsill most of the day, with his food and water dishes. I talk to him a lot, and try to pet his head a bit regardless of his hissing, and he let's me after a little while and even closes his eyes. I hold his food dish in my hand and he already has no problem eating from it. When I need to handle him and train to step up I put on thick light colored leather gloves to protect my fingers. I try to make him used to my hand being close to him - first he would hiss and lunge at it, but then calm down and ignore it. My idea is that the bird has to understand that there is no danger coming from hands and that the hissing and lunging won't help to scare them away. I also try to make him understand that my hands are part of me, and not some independent dangerous objects. LOL
Oh I forgot to mention that I had to clip his wings on the first day since he flew into the wall and hurt himself. He was never let out of his small cage in his previous life.