Hi, so I have a cockatiel who is around 14 years old. His name is Stitch. My mother bought him for my sister when I was around 7 and she was nine. Unfortunately, she didn't do much research in how to care for a bird properly and the time and effort that should go into it. Growing up I felt really bad for Stitch and always wanted to buy him toys and a bigger cage but I didn't have the money (I was a little kid) and it was made very clear it was my sister's bird, not mine. Now I'm 20 and my sister recently moved away to another state and left Stitch behind. There's more empty space in my room and now I have a job, so I bought him a much bigger flight cage and new toys and I'm going to try to change his diet because he currently eats all seeds. I also bought him a play gym for when he's out of the cage. I'm also taking him to an avian vet next week because he's never been to one. He's not clipped and I don't plan on doing so.
However, Stitch has of course become mistrustful of people and he is very afraid of hands. He doesn't like anyone in my family besides me. Even then, he hisses at me a lot if I'm near his cage and won't let me pick him up. He's very hot and cold with me. He is a lot nicer outside of his cage, and when I do get the chance to pick him up he constantly asks for head scratches and becomes very nice and cuddly. I'm trying to get him used to my hands by giving him treats when my hands are lying still nearby and seeing if he wants to come near it. Today he felt comfortable enough to walk over my hand to get some millet and stepped up on me without biting twice. Sometimes though it's hard to train because he wants me to scratch his head and doesn't pay any attention to the millet.
My questions basically are how should I go about getting Stitch to become more trustful of my hands? What questions should I ask the avian vet/should I ask him to do any specific tests? How do I teach him how to play with toys (he's never really had any)? Should I start training him in the cage and let him out when he becomes more trusting of my hands (I don't really want to do this because he's been cage-bound for so long now)? How should I go about changing his diet to a mix of pellets, seeds, and fresh vegetables? How do I make chop? What do I do?
I want to turn this poor little bird's life around because I truly do love him and dislike how my family and myself have treated him in the past. He's been through so much that no animal should ever go through, and it breaks my heart. I'm sorry this is so long I just need all the help I can get. If you take the time to read this and respond thank you so much.
However, Stitch has of course become mistrustful of people and he is very afraid of hands. He doesn't like anyone in my family besides me. Even then, he hisses at me a lot if I'm near his cage and won't let me pick him up. He's very hot and cold with me. He is a lot nicer outside of his cage, and when I do get the chance to pick him up he constantly asks for head scratches and becomes very nice and cuddly. I'm trying to get him used to my hands by giving him treats when my hands are lying still nearby and seeing if he wants to come near it. Today he felt comfortable enough to walk over my hand to get some millet and stepped up on me without biting twice. Sometimes though it's hard to train because he wants me to scratch his head and doesn't pay any attention to the millet.
My questions basically are how should I go about getting Stitch to become more trustful of my hands? What questions should I ask the avian vet/should I ask him to do any specific tests? How do I teach him how to play with toys (he's never really had any)? Should I start training him in the cage and let him out when he becomes more trusting of my hands (I don't really want to do this because he's been cage-bound for so long now)? How should I go about changing his diet to a mix of pellets, seeds, and fresh vegetables? How do I make chop? What do I do?
I want to turn this poor little bird's life around because I truly do love him and dislike how my family and myself have treated him in the past. He's been through so much that no animal should ever go through, and it breaks my heart. I'm sorry this is so long I just need all the help I can get. If you take the time to read this and respond thank you so much.