So my first "noob" question...

[ChemESGH]

As most of you know, we brought Albirdo home yesterday. I was told not to try and handle him or put my hands in the cage with him for the first 2-3 weeks until he is more comfortable here. Well, always being the impatient guy, I like to push the envelope when I can while minimizing any bad outcomes (i.e. a freaked out bird who drowns himself in his water dish due to the scary bearded man). While I can see letting him get used to his new environment to an extent, do I really have to wait that long before starting to work with him on finger training, not biting at my hand when it passes close, etc? If it's best and a general consensus then I'm definitely willing to wait, but I want to start working with him ASAP. What do you guys and gals think?

[ndeben]

I did NOT wait 2-3 weeks to play with my new bird, I waited 2 days, and things have turned out just fine. I did let Sweet Pea walk around on top her cage the second day before I played with her.

[Xen]

Make a decision based on your bird. I've had two birds that were fully tame and wanted the interaction from day one, but I've also had a bird who was scared and angry so had to take it at her pace. Took a few months, but now she's the most cuddliest.

If your little guy is tame and well adjusted he'll just wonder why you don't want to play.
Start interactiong with him now, he'll let you know how far he's willing to let you go... no mistaking that.

I'd suggest spending as much time with him as you think you'll be able to on a regular basis in the future. If you have him out non stop right now he'll expect it all the time... if you suddenly stop and can only offer him half the time you may have a confused and complaining bird. Let him get used to cage time for that reason. Cage time should be just as fun.

[ChemESGH]

We constantly talk to him now as we walk by, and sitting here in the living room. However, I have only put my hand in the cage with him once when offering him a piece of watermelon. He just stayed very still, opened his beak once or twice like he was going to nip, but didn't strike out. However he still gets quiet and goes to his favorite spot on top of one of his happy huts if raise my hand towards his cage when I'm talking to him. He doesn't freak out or fly around, just gets quiet and watches. It looks like he's breathing quickly too when I am close enough to tell, though it might just be his normal respiration rate.

[Melonie1121]

Wow, I never heard about the waiting bit. I got my little Dax just two days ago, and I've been taking him out and playing with him since I brought him home. He's doing really well. :D

[Amaranita]

DO NOT WAIT 2 WEEKS! He will get used to being inside that cage and will not want to come out of his safety place. (in my opinion) It sounds like your little guy is getting used to you just fine. He is not freaking out, just cautious as he should be. I would sit next to the cage and talk quietlly to him often. Then I would slowly move my hands so he can see them. Perhaps, offer some millet through the bars. In a few days I would open the door and offer my finger and say "step up" Probably, he will not know what to do. But, hopefully he will be curious enough to be interested and realize that your hand is what gives that yummy millet. I was lucky, From day one Bigboy wanted out and knew how to perch on my finger. (He did not know the command step up though, he just did it.) Best of luck. Keep us posted.

[Powder]

I thought my little guy was breathing labored, or heavy or too quickly too. But it seems to be normal now, it was probably me just studying him so closely. I've had mine for 5 weeks, he doesn't step up yet and I still need to catch him in his cage to take him out, but he's never tried to take a bite of me! He is warming up slowly. He steps up when he's not in his cage and a lot less fearful once he's out w/ me.

[ChemESGH]

Alright, day 1 of opening the cage and working with Albirdo has commenced! He has been opening his beak at my hand and givine me his "scary face"!! If I put it right in front of him he is biting, but it doesn't hurt at all and he usually stops within a second or two. I did make the mistake of pulling away the first couple of times as it startled me a bit, but now when he goes to bite I push my hand closer and it seems to make him stop.

I have been using this guide:

How to Tame Frightened or Aggressive Parrots | QuakerParrots.com

And while I wouldn't consider him aggressive by any means I figured if it worked on aggressive birds it should work with him. I'm on step 2. He quickly climbed out of the cage hwen I opened it, but he ran away from me and flew to the ground. I tried to pick him up once and he flew back over to his cage but can't fly high enough to get back up to it. So I took the guides advice and got a hand towel. I was about to throw it on him when he runs over and jumps into it! I guess he felt safer being covered. So I picked him up and put him back in his cage. He's currently preening and chirping. Day 1 went pretty well in my opinion!!

I was curious, exactly how hard can these guys bite? It looked like he was trying to be assertive but it didn't hurt at all...except one time, it stung a bit when he got me between my finger and fingernail, but he didn't draw blood or anything. I just feel like I'm going to crush him in my hand if I try to pick him up i.e. when he came out of his cage tonight. We're really enjoying him though, he's an excellent addition to our family!!

[Amaranita]

They are tougher than they look, and yet terribly fragile. When Bigboy wants to, when I really piss him off, he can draw blood. He knows how to control that little beak so that a bite can be a tickle, a nip, a small taste or a gnaw. That said, he rarely gets that annoyed at me, and I usually deserve it. Bigboy loves to be held, especially if I scritch the back of his neck or under his chin. If you hold him, speak quietly and calmly to him. He should calm down. Bigboy routinely gets moved where I want him on a towel. He will hop onto it and gets transported. (He is fully flighted. He only gets the towel treatment when I want him to go where he doesn't want to go) They are such fun aren't they!

[ChemESGH]

Yeah, he is so funny. Around 9:00 PM must be his bedtime because he climbs on top of his yellow happy hut and gets quieter. He never goes on it during the day, only at bedtime....at least he has the past 3 nights! But tonight I could tell he was ready to be left alone because he got much more aggressive on there, opening his beak, making little hissing noise and lunging out through the crate if I acted like my hand was gong to come close. I told him "No" a few times but just figured it was his way of saying "leave me alone and cover me up, it's bedtime!"

Also, I left a radio playing softly today while we were at work. I wonder if he had a pet party while we were gone today?