Finally!

[Machelle]

I've had Merrick since October and he's been really slow to trust me. He gets let out of his cage but he hates being touched. I cant even hold him. He FINALLY let me scritch his little noggin the other day through the bars! His crest stayed down, he didn't hiss or anything. Just made happy little singing noises while I did it. He let me do it again last night too. I think he's finally starting to trust me. I am so excited!! I know he watches me with the others and he watches them eat also. I couldn't get him to eat fresh foods before and now with watching the others, not only does he wait for me at the door of his cage for me to give it to him, but he also uses one foot to eat it with. He dropped a corn kernal and quickly ran down to get it! LOL! It was really funny. I've never seen a cockatiel eat with their foot before. Things are finally going great with him. He's letting me pet him and he's eating a healthier diet. I was beginiing to wonder. So for those of you who get really frusterated because your sweetie wont let you touch him or wont try new foods, be patient. It's taking Merrick 9 months but he's finally getting there!!!!

[tielfan]

Head scratches and hand-fed treats! Cockatiel bribery doesn't get any better than that, so you have some powerful motivators when you want to encourage other behaviors.

Most cockatiels don't eat with their foot, but there are a few talented individuals who can do it and you obviously have one of them. I have a young tiel who tries to use her foot as a hand, but she isn't very good at it.