My Grey is Scared

[RoyRogers]

First I need to say that there are so many birds out there that need good homes. My Grey is another rescue bird for me. She is about twenty years old and she, Bonnie came to our home along with her friends Bert and Pincher, both Yellow Nape Amazons also about the same age. All are healthy and lots of fun. Bonnie has been here now about six months and likes to whistle and make other noises and responds to outside stimulus like when I'm talking to her. She must be comfortable as she has just sais her first word ever in her twenty years which is "Hello"!

She comes out of her cage and playes on the cage top when ever we open the door, and goes back in on command. She is deathly afraid of hands and can't be touched, so different than my other birds. Her original owners handled her with... GLOVES so we understand there is some fear. If I endure the pain of biting and take her away from the cage she will sit on my hand, because she doesn't know where else to go. This is not a territory problem.

How can I assure her that she is safe to step up? She watches the other birds being held and loved and appears to be interested somewhat.

[Tom Lawless]

Have you tried a food reward for stepping up? Barbara Heidenreich has a great video on training and she kind of goes over how to go about this. It might be helpful to you.

Good luck. It sounds like you have a nice flock.

[chapala]

I would start by offering her a little treat from your hands several times a day (an almond cut into about 5 pieces works well, each piece a little treat). As she learns your hands bring special treats, she will begin to lose her fear of hands and look forward to your offerings. First maybe it's through the cage bars, second offering the treats through the open door, third (and this process might take months, done every day, shorter if you're lucky), with one hand fixed on a perch and the other hand holding the treat so she has to lean across the fixed hand to reach the treat. A little further, and she will have to step onto the fixed, which doesn't move, to reach the treat. Pretty soon you will be able to pick her up (extra treats for that!) and move her just a few inches while treating. The main point is to work very slowly, rewarding every tiny step in the right direction, not pushing the bird, watching the body language, backing off when necessary.

Good luck!