Should Sonny Come Out?

[Nancytole]

Hi everyone -

Input needed please

So, I welcomed Sonny an Austrailian creamino female lovie about 5 weeks ago. I've been taking it slow to build up that trust. She came from a home where she was abused. She still attacks my fingers, lunges for them actually. She is doing well with target training, but only through the bars of the cage. Put your hands inside the cage and leave them there, ATTACK THE FINGERS is her main focus. :demon: She will eat seed and millet from my hands through the bars.

Ok so my question is...do I hold off on letting her out? I spoke to someone today who has experience with birds (I do wonder how much experience) and she said I should be having her come out, take the cage away and work with her that way. Show her I own the cage, not her. Is that the right attitude? Should I still be building up that trust and wait?

Any questions you have, let 'em fly". Lol. I want to do the right thing! :confused:

[thebubbleking]

All bird need as much ouside cage time as possible. With most hens and even a few males they view thier cage as home and guard it with thier life, i have several birds who are fine outside the cage but dont mess with them while inside.
So yes work with her outside the cage less distraction and she wont be in house guarding mode :)

[JohnUK]

Nancytole: My two still go to bite my fingers but aren't very agressive when they are out having free time. I would let Sonny out and supervise closely.

[Nancytole]

Thank you John and bubble :D

I let Sonny out this evening and it went better than I expected. She was out for about 20 minutes. The first thing she did was go on top of her cage, look in the mirror (we were in the bathroom) and proceed to attack the mirror. I then covered the mirror. She did step onto a perch but remained on top of her cage. Tomorrow the cage goes into hiding when I take her out! Other than that pretty non-eventful. She didn't seem to lunge for my fingers so much while out so I praised her a lot for that.

Thanks for responding. This has been such an adventure. ;)

Nancy

[JohnUK]

Nancytole: Glad Sonny was ok being out an' about :-). When my two first started coming out I would give them about 2 hours free time and 'coax' them back home. Now, when I'm home I just leave them to come and go as they please from about 2pm until it starts getting dark.

Do you think Sonny will be ok if you hide 'his' home next time he has free time. I take Amor and Vida's home out to clean and Vida always seems to get in a bit of a panick.