Pictures I have two Parrotlets HELP!

[Teagan Hall]

I have two Parrotlets that are brothers. I bought them together in the shop and they've been in a cage together ever since (they come out together too).
The thing is they still are extremely timid around me. I've had the pair for two months now, and while I know parrot taming can take time, I know it can take that much longer while they're in pairs.
I've progressed leaps and bounds with my pair of Green Cheek Conures, taking food out of my hand and almost touching them (and sometimes succeeding!).
I would love some advice to make them less timid of me evey time I approach the cage or go in to change their food/water.

 

[Beasley]

How do you interact with them? What is their experience/life like with you?

Respect and understanding is the most important part of bonding. Even though I know I only want to love and care for them, I understand my fids must learn that about me, no level of trust is inherent, but earned. I am an enormous predator and they are caged prey animals that cannot escape me when they feel threatened. It’s pretty terrifying to be housed in a confined space with such an animal (humans)!

My primary goal then is to introduce myself to them as I am (dedicated servant) and to give them every opportunity to learn that I am not something to fear. Ambient attention is a fantastic bonding tool, talk to them without staring at them (we have forward facing predator’s eyes), sing, read, laugh, be silly, describe what you’re doing and why; let them get used to your voice, sounds, and movements. I talk with my hands so they are able to witness them not as terrible grabbers, but simply as extensions of myself and always ambient attention is provided from a safe distance.

Cover a corner of their cage so they have a safe reprieve if they feel intimidated, I also make sure they have a toy big enough to hide behind. Millet is a great bridge for parrotlets. For it to work let them finish what’s in the cage and don’t replace it. You are the vessel that provides millet. I snip the spray into smaller pieces and start by approaching slowly, talking gently, and drop a piece into the bowl. Then back off, let them eat it, hopefully with you nearby but at a distance they feel safe with. Keep talking to them and showing them you are the bringer of good food! Eventually you will transition into holding the spray through the bars or door and offering millet from your hands.

Free flight in a safe room with plenty of perches and toys gives your parrotlet the opportunity to fly, play, and enjoy the space with you while learning to trust and push the boundaries of their proximity to you. Eventually (in my experience quickly) you are able to walk by them without them abandoning their perch to flee you. When they have the ability to escape you, they become emboldened to check you out! And so long as their door is open and the food and water is in their cage, they will always return home when they’re ready.

It takes time, patience, and the understanding that you are asking a very small, captive animal to go beyond instinct and to trust you. It is really a constant honor to be an exception to the instinct of a wild animal, and our fids are exactly that.

 

[fashionfobie]

I agree with @Beasley. Take is slow and have patience, if they have choice they will have more confidence to get to know you.

From the image you shared I wonder if a larger cage may help. It could just be your travel cage, so I am not judging only trying to help. If they feel a bit like "fish in a bowl" it may be hard to develop a meaningful relationship. Parrotlets are fairly independent and care more about their own desires. You need to try and be interesting to them so they come around to you. Since you are the bringer of food you will already be more exciting! Consider singing to them, reading to them it could help spark their interest in you.

 

[Leih]

I have a pair of bonded linnies and they are not "tamed," and it's taken nearly a year for them to not be so afraid of me. And I do what @Beasley mentioned, I just talk softly to them and make slow movements. The thing is, though, a bonded pair is difficult to train. I don't have a ton of experience with it so I base this off my linnies. I've considered separating them for a while just to be able to work with them individually, but I gave it up because one is very dominant and protective of the other, who is very timid. Now that they are more comfortable with me I may try again, the timid one actually seems to actually like me while the other I'm just the food source. Btw they're gorgeous! Such a vivid green!

 

[fashionfobie]

If you are interested in a more technical read you may find this interesting or at least it can help prepare you for sibling parrotlets. :: See link below

As they get older they will most likely go through some rejection phases that can cause fighting, lashing out or violence. My two male parrotlets live separately. They are not biological brothers but were raised as brothers by the breeder. As adults they fought and do fight, they can interact nicely in the common space for short stints but it doesn't take much for them to explode into a ball of feathers.. as a result we have reduced some of their interactions. I just warn you of this now, even if they are close bros now, you never know what the future may hold It is a natural behaviour for them to reject siblings as they age and go off to create their own family.


Socialisation Tactics of the Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) on JSTOR

 

[Teagan Hall]

Thank you for everyone's advice!
I think separation is the best course of action for safety and training.
@Beasley my experience with having a bird is only limited. These are my first! So all this is definitely a learning curve.
I try to let them out the cage every day, for as long as possible (they're in my room) but when they do come out they find a place to sit and never move. Occasionally they'll fly to my light or tv but they're usually preached on my railings.
This could be due to the fact I don't have any outside toys, like one of those birdie play area (which I will be purchasing soon). However, they have never touched any toy I but in there. Only once when they saw my Conures playing with one. The most I get out of them is jumping back and forth to a peach and a bridge for a few minutes. This could be due to the cage size?
I but my hand in and talk softly twice a day, speak to them when I come in the room.
Sometimes they're on top of the cage or on a perch and they stare at me as a walk closely by, mainly however, they're ready to fly, but it takes time, I know.
I think being more vocal would help, thank you!
@Leih thank you for your help on separation! (They are beautiful aren't they!).
@fashionfobie there's a picture of the cage somewhere in this post, could it comfortablely house one Parrotlet? I was thinking of getting another, similar cage next to it as it's in my budget rage and will fit in my room. (I apologise for the mess, I am currently moving around my room). Also thank you for the link.

 

[fashionfobie]

This is what I have for each parrotlet. The two cages are stacked and it works for my two sassy potatoes!



The foot print is 500 x 800 mm. --ideally I would have a 600 x 900. I actually thought that was what I had... but just measured and bummer... now I feel like I need to upgrade my boys. I think a 600 x 900 is perfect because they need to fly to get places which is important for their health. As a rule of thumb it is more important for the birds to have more length than height in the cage so they can fly from side to side. (You can see little Picard on the branch... A good size cage means you need to search for your bird ) We change the branches, perches and toys around once in a while. In fact this is an old picture and his current layout is very different.
Even in my current 500 x 800 cages my guys can fly around in the cage to get to where they want to go.



Neptune was molting here and Pi was photobombing!
I will add that they do get time to fly around the house also. I have a few play stands and a larger tree stand. When they are out around the house they are amazing acrobatic flyers, really amazing stuff. When you have flighted birds you need to adapt your life to them. Doors and windows and fly screens are also something you need to monitor to death.. so none of the birds get out and fly off or get out of your house. It seems obvious enough, but so many very careful and caring people have lost birds from fly offs. It does happen. You need adapt to being a bird keeper, it changes your life in big ways Big wonderful ways

 

[Leih]

Definitely get a boing! Birds ALL love them, although they may take some time to discover it's awesomeness. And my lovebird didn't start playing with toys for I think at least a month, I thought she was broken, but it's normal! They take longer to settle in than we'd expect (these are my first birds). And conures are very different from parrotlets. I have never had a parrotlet, but they and lovebirds have a similar temperament. Ie they're a big fearless (sometimes bully) bird in a small bird body! My conure is pretty chill most of the time but gets wound up to play and was just more social with me immediately than my other birds. You're on the right track though.

 

[fashionfobie]

Some of the changes in Picard's cage include a rope swing, which is sorta like a boing .. but is a neutral colour and is in a ring shape. He was a bit weirded out by it at first but now it is his day time nap spot

Good idea on a boing @Leih!

@Teagan Hall keep an eye on boings or any rope toy and replace them if they are getting frayed up. Also each bird is a little individual so if you see your bird ingesting rope then dont use them with that bird. Neptune has a long piece of sisal that simply hangs in the centre of his cages and he loves hopping on it and running up and down it. Natural sisal is also pretty cheap so it is easy to replace and tie in different orientations.

Also consider organising the branches so that your birds' feet can move in many different orientations. Birds can even perch on vertical branches and it is good exercise for their ankles. Think about tree branches in the wild, they grow in many directions and birds can navigate them just fine.

I hope we haven't overwhelmed you yet! If these are your first birds, it doesn't hurt to give some random advice that maybe wasn't obvious so keep reading and ask any questions you think of.

 

[Teagan Hall]

@fashionfobie they're beautiful!
Thank you for the safety tips. I definitely think separate cages is the best bet. I'll try and find a longer cage instead of the high ones i have, if that's more beneficial for their health and enjoyment.

 

[Teagan Hall]

@Leih I'll look for one of those! I'm glad it's not just me with the toys.

 

[Teagan Hall]

@fashionfobie I love all the advice! Just want the best for them. I definitely think they need more places to jump. Hopefully the boing will bring out their playful side out!

 

[Teagan Hall]

They've started to sit here recently! Just a work in progress! Thank you everyone!

 

[Leih]

An

@Leih I'll look for one of those! I'm glad it's not just me with the toys.

And everything for small birds is way cheaper than large bird stuff! Not that I don't like large birds, but I couldn't afford it, not at the rate my small four pack destroys.

 

[fashionfobie]

Once they have the confidence you are working toward you will see how playful they can be.

It is your job to make everyday exciting and fun for them. They are highly intelligent beings who need lots to do and to think about. Parrotlets can pluck themselves if their needs aren't met. If budget is a concern don't forget you can source branches from safe forests. Look up parrot safe woods the forum will have heaps of info on it. Leaves are so much fun, cost us little effort and are simple to replace.

A vid of Neptune with leaves.

Lol! It posted the wrong clip first ...whoops!

 

[Teagan Hall]

@fashionfobie I'll take a look at the forum. Also I think that may be the wrong video.

 

[fashionfobie]

@fashionfobie I'll take a look at the forum. Also I think that may be the wrong video.

Yelp my phone is mental. I was watching that documentary and it linked that instead LOL! Fixed it now.

 

[Teagan Hall]

@fashionfobie Neptune is stunning! I adore blue birds

 

[fashionfobie]

@fashionfobie Neptune is stunning! I adore blue birds

He is a cutie! Though green parrotlets are my absolute favourite colour for parrotlets, especially the wild appearance of the pacific parrotlets found in Peru.

Parrotlets rock!

 

[Teagan Hall]

@fashionfobie how is your Parrotlets with fruit? Mine has nibbled apples, oranges. They weren't a fan of bannas, but they were chopped small so they might have eaten some.
My guys definitely love seed and will sit there for some time, but will pretty much ignore the bowl when it's fruit.