training Petey

[Bekah]

OK I have been training Peteysince yesterday and I he has this really cool trick called fly to me. I hold him on my finger a little ways away and I say "Petey fly to me" HEs really good at this but still learnign it. I weill give him millet when he does it. He has been really good lately and I am happy he is bonding with me a little more but he is still alittle scared. I will bhe training him some more tonight anybody have any more sugjestions on what i can do. He has the step up command perfectly. thank you

Ps. also he is very hard to get of my shoulder what i do is when i get hom o0ff aster awhile i give him a treat. is that good or should i do somethign else where he is not tooo used to my shoulder. THank you for any replies

[Lovebirds1578]

all of you guys are so dang lucky!! i can't even get my houdini to let me touch it, let alone have it on my finger, do tricks, or sit on my shoulder!:cry: :( i would say just stick with the commands and give the reward when done. Keep sessions under 30 mins so you don't tire your little Petey! Best of luck!

-Ben:wink:

[Tango's_Mom]

Ben - you have only had Houdini for a little while, give it time and the relationship will come, I have had Tango for 2 months and we are just starting to really understand each other, he will now come to me as soon as I open the cage and will sit with me for a long time - to the point that I now have to put him back in the cage myself to make sure he is eating and drinking enough, because he won't go back just for a drink on his own, so it will come, he wouldn't let me near him at all in the first two weeks.

Also if I remeber right Bekah got her bird from a breeder and you got yours from a petstore, often breeder birds are a lot better socialized, Tango was a petstore bird and he's doing well now, so I'm sure Houdini will come around, just give it time and you guys will be the best of friends, I know how you feel, it wasn't that long ago that i was in your position and it will get better.

Bekah - congratulations on your progress with Petey, that's awesome, as for the shoulder, I had the same problem with Tango when we first started bonding, I was thrilled because he wanted to be with me, but I couldn't get him off, what I do is have a small bowl with a nutriberry (use whatever petey really likes) and I offer that to him to step onto and then put that wherever I want him, I also use that to put him back in his cage, and then once he's in the cage on a perch, I offer him a small treat from my hand. I seems to work pretty well, and it's pretty easy to get him in the cage when I need to, I also do 15 minutes out, 15 minutes in, this way I make sure he has a chance for a snack and drink, and makes him easier to put back when he knows he'll get to come back out in a few minutes.

[kimsbirds]

Great advice, Jenna...:)
Ben, I know it's so hard to hear of happy bonding stories, but try to remind yourself that each birdie/person relationship is unique and forms in it's own way. Patience is hard to learn...I know :)
You and Houdini might need several weeks before the trust begins. A little bit of work each day without expectation goes a long way.

Encourage Houdini with your voice, rather than with handling. In a birds' flock, you have to be acceptable to the bird to be included as a companion.

Wait.....wait....it'll come :)

Kimmie