new bird hates hands

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:42 pm

i've had him for about 2 months not sure how old he is but he's gotten to a point where he loves to be on us all the time loves to be kissed and i can even lay on him if i want and he's fine with it but if i even get a hand close to him he'll try to bite me not hard but just enought to tell me to stop i know the place he was at before probably mistreated him and just wanted to know if theres anything i can do to get him to let me touch him i can hand feed him just fine just not touch him any suggestions?

Donna · Post by **Donna** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:03 pm

Just because he does not like hands does not mean he was mistreated. Ringnecks are fickle little creatures and there are some that just don't like hands. But you can work with him and it might take awhile and even a few hard bites. The big thing you want to remember is not to pull away or scream ouch when he does get you. Birds love drama and they will keep that bad behavior up as long as it gets a reaction. You can offer a treat at the same time you want him to step up. He don't step up he don't get the treat. A way to the ringnecks heart is through the tummy!!

Donna

Post by **Lauren** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:23 pm

Gilbert doesnt like hands either but steps onto my arm, try your arm? Gilbert will only step up if I have his bell. Its sort of become a habit. I once tried to coax him out with his beloved bell and now wants me to take his bell everymorning! :roll:

He wont step up till I have it. Sits ontop of his cage trying to unhook it. If you find a food or toy that he likes it helps. :wink:

awesome-o · Post by **awesome-o** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:19 pm

Just keep trying to pat / step up all the time.. Thats what i did with Charlie.. and she sooned figured out that i wasnt trying to hurt her and she now LOVES pats and tickles. Just expose your RN to your hand everyday and get her used to it!

Bird crazy · Post by **Bird crazy** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:12 pm

I put Priya on the perch then show her the sunflower seed, say step up and offer my hand to step up on to. I hold the sunflower seed just out of her reach in the other hand, she would lung and try to get the seed without stepping up, It only took a few tries till she realized if she steps up she gets the seed if she doesn't she won't get it. But I first had to feed her sunflower seeds in a pile so she knew she liked them and wanted them. (And she takes food from my hand, so I guess the first thing is to get the bird used to taking treats from your fingers.)Once she got the step up step down I only rewarded her with a seed if she did not put her beak on my hand to step up. I hold the seed up above her so she has to stretch up to get it and step at the same time that way she can't even put her beak on my hand. It's worked for her and I got the idea from the Womack brothers training tapes. Now I have a problem with her on my shoulder and she won't step up, runs to my back so I'm trying the same thing there, tried tonight for the first time and it seemed to work.