Boba has been getting much better at talking the past couple of weeks. When he is using his inside voice (quieter voice) you can really understand him. He has even started picking up some new phrases, like "How are you?" And "Bobas cute." He still loves to say "pew-pew", "treat" and "pretty bird" but is also saying "silly bird", "good boy" and "whatcha doin?" A lot more. He calls me daddy clearly now and uses it to get my attention. He almost takes food from my hands from out side of the cage, but as soon as he sees my hand he goes back to the top of his comfy perch, or sometimes he will go to his sleep perch and get quiet for a while after.
I'm trying to get him out more by placing his stand further from the door so he has to come most of the way out for treats, it's working slowly. He will step onto my arm or shoulder when he feels cuddly, which is, unfortunately, becoming less frequent. I'm not sure why, but I think it has to do with hormones and molting. I'm trying to go at his pace, as always, but it's difficult at times. If I feel like I'm getting frustrated I step back and just talk to him after giving him a reward (tied to his stand) for being a brave bird. He still hates his pedi perch, and screams at it when he sees it.
Lately he will come to his lower left perch and talk to me while he holds into the bars with his little toes with one foot and will "beak" the bars. He has also been climbing the bars a lot more. I've been trying to do more target training, but he is terrified of the stick(s) that I've tried using. Poor little guy, he seems scared of everything but my head, shoulders and arm. Occasionally he will ask for a scritch when he does sit on my shoulder or arm, and although he's still timid of my hands, he's better with them out side of his cage though. I'm not sure why that is, but I'm not complaining when he wants scritches.
I've been distracting him when he displays for me by asking him if he wants to get his toy, sometimes it works and he plays with his block and rope toy, other times he just keeps on showing off. I wish I could get him more comfortable with my hands or training stick so I can better divert his attention.
Thanks for reading,
Sam and Boba