Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/9/2006

Question
I received a parakeet for Christmas this year.  Raj took a while to get accustomed to us, but eventually he was out of his cage and socializing.  He allowed me to touch him, pick him up, and was totally comfortable being in my hand.  He bonded with me, we had little games we would play with poker chips, etc.  

After a few months, I realized that most of the household was out during the day, and that Raj must be terribly bored and lonely.  So about a few months ago I got a new parakeet for Raj (and a bigger cage). The new bird we assume is female, but we really don't know. Actually, we really don't know whether Raj is male or female either, but it probably doesn't matter in this case.

They are very happy with each other, which makes me happy. It was a good decision. I assumed that Raj would bond with the new bird, and he has.  And that is okay, that is what I wanted.  The problem is that since Rani came home Raj's behavior has regressed to what seems like that of a wild bird.  He will barely get on my finger now.  The new bird will not even come close to my hand at all.  And when I let them out to fly for exercise, they do not want to go back in the cage when I want them to.  I originally chose not to clip their wings because I wanted them to be able to fly around.  What happens is they fly around and land high on the kitchen cabinet ledge.  They will get on a tall perch that I hold up to them.  They both jump on the perch and I can carry them back to the cage.  

However, lately they have not even been willing to get on the perch, they fly away from it.  I wanted to avoid having to clip their wings, but it is becoming almost impossible for me to let them out, because I can't get them back to their cage.  Should I clip their wings?  They only get to be out of the cage once a day at a certain time late in the afternnon after everyone in the household has come in for the night and is not going in and out of the front and back door.  If I had the opportunity to just let them out for very long periods of time, I would work with them. (who has long periods of time?) But then again, all they want to do is fly to the high cabinet ledge and stay there.  I am back to square one.  
Do you have any advise?  I am very patient and I am willing to work with them, I just need some sort of direction to go in.
Thank you, sorry so wordy.

Answer
Hi, Lisa.  Thanks for posting.

The first mistake you made was getting a second bird if you wanted tame keets!  Birds prefer other birds to humans, so this is your problem.  Your keets don't need you any more...they have each other.  I understand why you purchased the other bird, but the best pet parrot is a single parrot in the home.  Also, you need to keep their wings clipped if you want to be able to work with them.  With flight feathers, they can get away from you whenever they want...you can't work with birds who can flee from you at their whim.  With clipped wings, they are at your mercy for mobility.  Parrots/birds always perch on the highest perch/place available to them in an area, i.e., the kitchen cabinets!

If you want to work with them, you'll need to do so with each separately.  You don't need long periods of time available, as birds' attention spans aren't nearly that long.  You have to have their undivided attention during training sessions.  Once their attention is gone, that particular session is over.  You should start out by clipping their flight feathers.  Take each one separately into a neutral area of your home, where they can't get to or see their cage or each other, and just interact with each.  You'll only be able to hold the bird's attention for a few minutes at a time, then that session will be over.  Do this as often as you have time available.  You will not be able to work with them both together, as they will focus on each other instead of you.  This process will take much time and patience and you'll need to learn all you can about keet behavior, etc., in order to know what you are doing and how to react to their behavior.

My website has much information about birds in general if you want to visit:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Come back if you have questions.

Chrys