Hey all. I created this account to hopefully get some advice. I purchased a baby conure in which I named Xatu when he (still waiting on the DNA results, but I'm used to saying he) was 3 months old, and I've had him for almost 3 months now. I have a cockatiel as well, and sometimes they get along, sometimes they don't, but if they start fighting, I just separate and cage them for a little bit, or if it's a really bad day, only one comes out at a time.
I work full time from home, and both of the bird cages are in my office near my desk, with Xatu's cage being the closest near me. I talk sweetly and gently to him, worked on target training (he's doing decent at it), and also sometimes am able to hold him. This is where things get sticky and have caused me so much frustration (no, I don't take it out on the bird). He will only step up when he is getting out of his cage, because he absolutely hates his cage and always has. Always clean, has fresh water and food, large, and plenty of toys to play with. He has a play stand on top of his cage where he spends most of the day. He will eat, play, bath, and just mainly perch near me and watch me. He fluffs himself up and beak grinds as well while just facing towards me. Unfortunately, he is damn near impossible to get to step up when he's out of the cage without bribing him with millet (which I feel is bad because in my view it just enforces him that he will get a treat to step up if he waits), will screech and bite me randomly if I'm either asking for him to step up or if he is already on my finger, and he just literally wants nothing to do with me about 90% of the time. It's so frustrating because I've done nothing but pour love into it. I don't force him to step up unless he's on the floor or if I'm trying to get him into his cage, in which I just bribe him with millet. 80% of the time he will step up without an issue if he's on the floor.
I just don't know what to do at this point. I've tried everything on YouTube, these forums, reddit, books, etc and nothing seems to work. He just doesn't want me 99% of the time unless he wants something in the end (getting out of his cage, treat, etc). I'm just about to give up on him and just not try to bond at all anymore and let him just be by himself all the time. Take him out of his cage, set him on top and leave him be with 0 interaction, and put him back when it's time for him to go to bed. I've never had a bird that has taken this long to even want anything to do with me, and I have next to no hope that he ever will. Does anyone have any ideas at all? Am I just destined for him to never bond with me?
I work full time from home, and both of the bird cages are in my office near my desk, with Xatu's cage being the closest near me. I talk sweetly and gently to him, worked on target training (he's doing decent at it), and also sometimes am able to hold him. This is where things get sticky and have caused me so much frustration (no, I don't take it out on the bird). He will only step up when he is getting out of his cage, because he absolutely hates his cage and always has. Always clean, has fresh water and food, large, and plenty of toys to play with. He has a play stand on top of his cage where he spends most of the day. He will eat, play, bath, and just mainly perch near me and watch me. He fluffs himself up and beak grinds as well while just facing towards me. Unfortunately, he is damn near impossible to get to step up when he's out of the cage without bribing him with millet (which I feel is bad because in my view it just enforces him that he will get a treat to step up if he waits), will screech and bite me randomly if I'm either asking for him to step up or if he is already on my finger, and he just literally wants nothing to do with me about 90% of the time. It's so frustrating because I've done nothing but pour love into it. I don't force him to step up unless he's on the floor or if I'm trying to get him into his cage, in which I just bribe him with millet. 80% of the time he will step up without an issue if he's on the floor.
I just don't know what to do at this point. I've tried everything on YouTube, these forums, reddit, books, etc and nothing seems to work. He just doesn't want me 99% of the time unless he wants something in the end (getting out of his cage, treat, etc). I'm just about to give up on him and just not try to bond at all anymore and let him just be by himself all the time. Take him out of his cage, set him on top and leave him be with 0 interaction, and put him back when it's time for him to go to bed. I've never had a bird that has taken this long to even want anything to do with me, and I have next to no hope that he ever will. Does anyone have any ideas at all? Am I just destined for him to never bond with me?
