Expert: Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott - 11/4/2009

Question
I brought a Meyers parrot just over a week ago, he is 2-3 yrs old and close rung.He was well looked after but in a very small cage, Ive transferred him into one approx 3 times the size with lots of toys etc...
The person I brought him from told me he was hand tame..I can feed him by hand through thre bars and I talk to him everyday for hours on end..I open his cage every morning and just let him come out as and when he wants to.
Hes fine until I try to get near him, then he either bites me or his feathers flare up so I know to back off.
How long shall I leave it until I try to go near him again?
Do you know of any trainers that can come to a home and help me with this?
He is a lovely bird and very vocal when he wants to be :-) I would just love him to be hand tame

Answer
I'll bet you can do this yourself and I'm going to give you a step by step to show you how

The first thing I'd suggest is providing a "sleep cage" .   It doesn't have to be a big cage, just one with a single perch (preferably a rope perch which is easy on his feet and legs), a source of water and a small amount of food.   It should be in a quiet area, preferably with low light, but you'll be covering it anyway so the lighting isn't vital.  

  If you can't do the sleep cage, at least establish a routine that includes covering at night.  If you typically start your day at 8 a.m., put your companion  to bed around 8 p.m. during spring/summer, and as early as 6 or 7 p.m. in fall/winter months.  Try to be consistent.

Make uncovering an event - be enthusiastic and greet the day - your bird will quickly know it's time to "step up" and go to the daytime area, or at least be uncovered and have breakfast served.   I offer a whole grain meal of natural oatmeal with fruit (banana, apple, raisins, mango, papaya, whatever is on hand).   Even if they don't eat a lot of it, at least they have the choice and you never know, one day you could be surprised.

 Also allow for plenty of vocalizations at this time, in keeping with their nature.   Birds stretch their vocal chords when they first greet the day - so join in with a song and let them scream if that's what they want to do.   After a few minutes settle down to breakfast and they should too.

 In order to transport a biting bird in and out of the cage layer a couple of old, thick socks onto your arms.  Cut the toe part off and pull them up over your forearm, then put your shirt down over them so it doesn't look unusual or frightening to the bird.  This way, when the bird bites it's going to pinch, but it won't be awful.  Once you stop reacting to the bites, the bird learns the action doesn't get a response and they'll usually stop.  

 To pick up, make a light fist with your hand and tuck it down and under so the bird doesn't notice.  Bring your padded forearm in to the bird's chest, just above the legs and as you touch there, issue the 'step up" command.   Whenever you go to pick the bird up, use the command.  

 When it's time for bed, make that an event like getting up in the morning.  Sing a song, allow for vocalizations and when you put him in the sleep cage offer a small treat like a grape or piece of a favorite nut.   

This should be in conjunction with plenty of out of cage time during the day, even if it's just to have your companion sitting on the sofa or chair with you while you watch t.v. or use the computer.   You can see some more ideas and pictures here  www.4AnimalCare.org/birds   

It shouldn't take more than a 1 to 8 days to see a difference in behavior, so keep up the efforts and the consistency.  Remember, patience!