HELP! my too is afraid of me.....

[dereknae]

does anyone know how to gain a cockatoo's trust?he's friendly with everyone else except me... Any advise would be helpful

[Oscars Mom]

Can you give us some details?Like the age and history of the bird,was it a rehomeetc? was it always afraid of you .And how do you interact with it now or any changes in the birds life (or yours) lately that could affect it?

[KimBear]

Often it's helpful to spend a lot of time sitting near the bird's cage while he's in it. At first you don't have to do much because just being there may be enough to make the bird nervous, but over time, he should become more relaxed and you can increase the level of interaction. Gradual decreases in contact are often better than trying to do too much too soon. Anytime you can keep the bird from becoming frightened, you're more likely to establish trust.

Don't be discouraged if a bird behaves differently with you than with someone else. Parrots have their moods and they have their preferences, and we aren't privy to what gives them these opinions. Just work on your own relationship and keep your expectations modest at first. Focus on progress and don't stress too much over set backs. Setbacks happen, and it doesn't mean you're failing. Back up a bit to a point where the bird seems comfortable and try again.

Food is a good way to win an animal over, so get something the bird likes, and offer it to him. If he won't take it from you, at least drop it in his bowl for him to have later. Once a parrot will take food from you, you know you're making some progress.

Hang in there!