How to make a birdie more "cuddly"

[lemonypickett]

Any tricks to get my bird to like cuddling in my hands? He is a "step up" champion and even seems to "turn around" when I whirl my finger, but I want him to like more handling (cuddling) type things. I know he is a wild animal, and just may never like it much. I can stroke his head and go against the grain of his head feathers and he will close his eyes, so I was thinking that their may be hope.

What works for you all? And how long after one has a bird can I expect him to be as tame as he will ever get?

[thebubbleking]

Your way ahead of me lol i have had my 2 over a year now and alls i can get is step ups and kisses when they are in the mood.
I just look at thier personality (my birds anyways) and figure they are like cats with wings attitude wise lol
I do know there are many owners who use a laser pointer and a clicking device to train their birds and the birds do tons of tricks you can find many examples on youtube but i personaly dont have the 15 hours a day for a year it takes to train them lol

[Z28Taxman]

Well if he steps up and lets you scratch his head, you're off to a good start.

Be careful what you wish for. Snuggly velcro birds can be a pain sometimes. Like when they're napping in your hand while you're lying on the couch watching tv and you need to go to the bathroom. They don't like being disturbed just so you can pee. :rofl:

[LauraO]

It sounds like you and Eddie are getting along fine. The thing to remember is that most birds are not snuggly creatures. I would say just continue spending as much time possible with Eddie as possible. Carry him/her around on your shoulder or give him perches in different rooms or wherever you get ready in the morning and just let him hang out with you. Over time, Eddie will get closer with you as long as you don't force things.

Dave is right, however. Velcro birds are nice but the time and attention they demand can be difficult. Lovebirds spend all their time with their mates, and essentially a velcro bird has chosen a particular human as their mate and they totally expect to spend all their time with and on that person. It sounds great, but can get tiresome as we can never satisfy a lovies' needs.

[lemonypickett]

Maybe a velco birdie is not so good after all.

How long will it take before Eddie is as interested in me as he will ever be?

[jayme]

I agree about the velcro bird. If you make a bird too attatched to you it's gonna squawk to come out of its cage ALL the time. Then you will take a hearing test and find out your ears are not as good as they used to be. I guess, however, that some birds are different than others. A neat thing you can teach your bird to do is to lay on its back in your hand. Whenever you have your bird in your hand let it clentch a finger then turn him over on different angles just slightly each time. After a while of doing this (careful you don't do it too often to scare it) it will gain trust in you. I've been doing this and my bird can now lay on its back in my hand with its feet in the air while I scrath its tummy and neck. It's a good way to calm my bird down and make it sleepy.

[Z28Taxman]

Fortunately Ditto and I have found a happy balance between being in his cage and being a velcro birdy. I can leave him in his cage and he plays quietly or will just sit and watch me. Sometimes we'll just chirp to each other and he's happy. It helps that I"ve got his cage right here in the room where my computer is and he can see into the other room where the couch is about 12 feet away so no matter what I'm doing he's right here.


When I open the cage... It's velcro time! :happy:

[lemonypickett]

Thanks Jayme,

I will try that. Say for instance I had him on my right finger, would I take my left hand to cover him and then start to flip him over?

[lemonypickett]

Dave,

Ditto sounds better and better every day! Why don't you post some new pics?

[Z28Taxman]

Dave,

Ditto sounds better and better every day! Why don't you post some new pics?

Ditto pics aren't easy to get. When he sees the camera he thinks the lens is a nice expensive perch. :rofl:

[lemonypickett]

Well, I guess that's another reason a velcro birdie may be tough. Eddie seems to like his picture taken.

Well, do your best getting one.... I love the pieds!

[Janie]

Ditto pics aren't easy to get. When he sees the camera he thinks the lens is a nice expensive perch. :rofl:

Same here! :lol They want to be on me and/or the camera and Big Boi likes to swing from the camera shoulder strap..... not the best way to get a clear photo! :D

A velcro birdie is a great companion and Oliver is just that (he's napping on my shoulder, under my hair right now) but the other two are not and they are just as much fun. :) Some lovies do not like to cuddle, some do.

[thebubbleking]

I personaly am glad my lovies entertain themselves otherwise i would feel bad at work and all day be thinking if they are ok lol