towell method with BJ

[Elivia]

No progress yet. Its been ten days so i am not expecting any miracle within the next couple of months... but just wanted to see what others think about this

So bj is a nightmare to get him out of his cage. dont want to stress him more than he already gets so have been leaving door open and walk away from cage. He gets himself out and has a wander then takes off for flight. This is when i get my towell and catch him this way. He carries on and tries to escape the towel. I sit down on the couch and hold him in the towell (when he is in the towell his head is out of the towell. He is never held in tight. I always make sure he is comfy enough but make sure he cant escape) I let him settle (as soon as i cannot feel his little chest beating like crazy). I then place my hands with him inside the towell and open the towel up so he can get comfortable. He is then completly calm still. I then pat him and sweet talk to him. This goes on for 15 minutes each session. When my fingers go near his beak he bites but its as if his not biting me at all. I wouldnt even call it a bitE! He softly puts his beak around my fingers then lets go. this happens every time my fingers go near his beak. He nibblles ont the towel and my jumper zipper. i tried offering treats while i have him but he;s not interested.

After the 15 minutes is up i then release the towel away and once he realises he can fly away he will. If he flies away i then wait till he lands and get him in the towell then place him back in the cage. or sometimes i just place him in his cage when he starts getting restless in the towell after the fifteen minutes.

Before i started this towel method he would just go mental in the cage trying to get away whenver i put food in or changed his water/cleaned bowls out ect. BUT now when my hand goes in he attacks me fully and draws blood every time to my hand! The attacking only started after the towl method

Any reason or suggestions why? He attacks me in the cage but when i have him in the towll he is a completly calm non moving bird (once he settles) Also can anyone helkp out with why is he just softly clamping his beack around my fingers while i have him in the towell

[ringneck]

Hey Elivia,

I know how exciting it can be to want to start holding your feathered friend, but I would personally hold back on the toweling method. Though I am not against it, I believe you can quickly accomplish the same results through positive reinforcement. I know you had mentioned your parrot not wanting to eat from your hands—fine, now it’s your job to get him to do this. How can this be done? Start by removing his food 2 hours before a training session.

1st Objective

Your first goal should be just to interact with him through the cage bars and making him feel comfortable while doing cage chores. I know, it’s a simple task but your ringneck must learn to accept your presence. Start by talking to him in a soothing voice avoiding direct eye contact. Take a chair and just sit by his cage and read, watch television, or do something other than focusing on your bird. Occasionally look up and talk to him. You are showing your little friend that you mean no harm. Drop a treat into his food bowl and go about your business. Do this for several weeks until you are sure your ringneck is content with you around. Believe me, you’ll get to learn so much about BJ and it will be fun as you make progress.

Find a treat that works. It might take some trial and error on your end, but I am sure you’ll find something. Believe me, once your ringneck knows you are not going to hurt him he’ll start to go and investigate the food.

2nd Objective

Now get him to eat from your hands. Start by holding the treats and seeing if he will take them. Just remember to only use the treats for training—not for basic feeding. Gradually the ringneck should start to take food from your hands. Once this is complete work your way into the cage until he eats from your hands.

3rd Objective

Now it’s time to work on step-ups. If your little monster is eating from your hands inside and outside the cage(through the bars), try to get him to step-up onto a perch. Don’t use your fingers as you don’t want to get bitten. Pace the food in a way the parrot has to step up onto the perch. Once your parrot steps on to the perch—reward with a treat. Continue this process and gradually move the perch outside the cage until you can carry him out completely.

4th Objective

Now start walking around with the perch until you can take your bird into a private quiet room and start working with him. In this quiet room, practice step-ups onto your fingers.

I hope this helps a bit. Remember to make sure your parrot is hungry a bit before you begin each training session. I know this method is long and does take time; however, you are building a trustful relationship between you and the bird.
Be sure to get the wings clipped as this will help a lot! Getting the birds wings clipped will make him dependent on you.

Please keep us updated and give BJ a treat from all of us here! I am off to work. Sorry for any typos as it's been a long 24hrs for me:)

Best wishes,

IMRAN-C

[Elivia]

Hi,

Thankyou for your reply

i am going to start your methods on Monday. it sounds really good. i wil deffinatly keep you updated! i am just a beginner with these birds so i am very gratefull for your objectives. I have a nearly one year old but we hand raised him ourselves so BJ is quite a challenge with his behaviour.

[ringneck]

I know it can be a challenge These little devils can be so stubborn sometimes. I look forward to all your progress:)

Best wishes my friend,

IMRAN-C

[rituparno]

Hey!this is the same problem with my birds too.But another problem I have tried hard to hand feed them but they dont.