Khizz
Rollerblading along the road
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- Joined
- 3/31/19
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- 4,495
I just thought I'd put together a few tips for ways to enjoy a positive relationship with your 'untame' birds based in my own experience!
- Stop comparing your birds to social media birds. Alex, Dominic and Merle are all incredibly cute and very friendly birds, but they aren't a picture of how these birds naturally are as pets. Your birds shouldn't be held to such standards, or you will always be disappointed.
- Bathtime! If your bird likes showers as much as mine do, you can have a good laugh watching them bathe and have fun. Mine get angry if you stop!
- Design/create toys and enrichment activities. Just be sure you do your research on bird-safe materials. It's so rewarding to see your bird busy themselves with something you created.
- Let them out! Many people are scared of letting their untamed bird out because the question is, how can you get them back in? The first few times it can be difficult to get them back in, but eventually you learn your own tricks from knowing your birds' behavior. Birds need to fly around, and watching them soar around and exploring is amazing!
- Talk to them. They listen! They might not want to come over to you but they sure love being talked to or sung to!
- Try some form of training. If you can't get them to do target training, there's other things you can do just by establishing a routine. Everytime I sit at my desk near their cage, Mabel scuttles over looking for a treat because everytime I sit down I offer her some millet. I give her small pieces and she lets me gently touch her head. It's a very small bonding experience we have and I love it. Its also highly impractical when I'm trying to type one-handed
- Spend time just hanging out. Just having them around while you watch TV or read a book is also a form of bonding, they can watch you without feeling that you are expecting something from them. It's not always good to be constantly forcing contact with them.
- Finally...lower your expectations! Don't ever use the phrase 'when they are tame..." because hey, maybe they will never be tame? It's highly likely! Are you willing to still put in the time, love them and make them a member of your family regardless of their lack of interest in you? Just take every step as it comes, and enjoy the time with your birds now!