When to pet?

[Tiana13]

When did you guys know to scratch your cockatoo for the first time? Lynx seems to be pretty fluffy and calm in front of me, which makes me think he is almost ready for pets. But he also will sometimes go to bite me when my hand gets to close. I don't want to move to fast for him nor do I wanna get trapped and him lure me in only to get me lol. I know biting is part of cockatoo ownership but I'd still rather avoid it lol. The closest I've gotten to touching him is I felt his crest when it was out which he didn't mind. He's about 30 years old guessed, his previous owner was great to him for a year, but before that he was abused in the terrible world parrot refuge incident on Vancouver Island.

 

[Birdbabe]

@JLcribber
@cassiesdad

 

[cassiesdad]

He is a handsome guy!
That being said...he has a lot of baggage with him.
Give him time to unpack...let him show the way!
'Toos are excellent teachers to us humans...

 

[cassiesdad]

What's his name ...we have to welcome here to the Avenue properly!

 

[Tiana13]

What's his name ...we have to welcome here to the Avenue properly!

His name is Lynx

 

[cassiesdad]

Welcome to the Avenue, Lynx!

 

[Love My Zons]

Hello and Welcome! Pet is a no no anywhere behind their head. Head scritches are all that you may want to do with any Too. But touching, stroking towards their back on down to tail feathers sends them another message that is behavior you do not want to stimulate.

 

[sunnysmom]

Oh my goodness- you have one of the WPR birds. My heart still goes out to all those birds and the amazing people that rescued them. @Danita has WPR birds also.

Does he step up for you yet? So with my 'too, I usually put my hand out with my fingers curled, wiggle them a bit and ask if he wants scratches. If he does, he puts his head down. If the doesn't, I don't scratch him. So you can try something like that to see if he knows what scratches are? And move slowly when you do reach towards him. A sudden movement can definitely result in a nip. It takes a little while to figure out how to read a cockatoo but once you do, they are usually pretty easy to read.

 

[cassiesdad]

...there is a fine art to reading cockatoo body language... as @sunnysmom said!
They are great teachers, like I said...all you have to do is keep your eyes...and you mind open to a new experience!

 

[Tiana13]

Oh my goodness- you have one of the WPR birds. My heart still goes out to all those birds and the amazing people that rescued them. @Danita has WPR birds also.

Does he step up for you yet? So with my 'too, I usually put my hand out with my fingers curled, wiggle them a bit and ask if he wants scratches. If he does, he puts his head down. If the doesn't, I don't scratch him. So you can try something like that to see if he knows what scratches are? And move slowly when you do reach towards him. A sudden movement can definitely result in a nip. It takes a little while to figure out how to read a cockatoo but once you do, they are usually pretty easy to read.

Thank you! It's just been a few days so he hasn't stepped up or anything, we just let him play on his cage all day and I'll talk to him, dance, it's fun getting him to yell a bit That's definitely the trick is learning all of their individual body language!

 

[sunnysmom]

Thank you! It's just been a few days so he hasn't stepped up or anything, we just let him play on his cage all day and I'll talk to him, dance, it's fun getting him to yell a bit That's definitely the trick is learning all of their individual body language!

I think I might try hand feeding him a treat before I progress to petting. That helps him to see that hands bring good things.

 

[cassiesdad]

Thank you! It's just been a few days so he hasn't stepped up or anything, we just let him play on his cage all day and I'll talk to him, dance, it's fun getting him to yell a bit That's definitely the trick is learning all of their individual body language!

...see, Lynx is already got you in training.
Milton da Too would be proud!