How to get My Quaker to like me?

[Chico's Mom]

First let me say I posted here before, re: getting a name for my Quaker, and chose the name Lima Bean. Then the next morning as I came out of the bedroom and saw the bird, I said, without thinking, "Hi Jasper!"...where did that come from, I don't know. But that is his/her name now, and I call him/her Jazz or Jasper, Jazzie, etc.

Anyway, I've had him about a week. I am trying to get him to associate me with good things, and I've tried giving him treats when he is on my finger, but he doesn't seem to like anything I've tried. So that makes it hard to give him a food reward for stepping up. Instead I praise him, and speak quietly and pet him, and give kisses and tell him how good he is. None-the-less, he still hesitates to get on my hand, and when I do get him and take him out of the cage, he tries to fly away. Since he's clipped, I always get him back. He'll step up from the floor, but seems to want to get off me and back to the safety of his cage (which is also his playstand when I open it up).

Also, he's really quiet, and I really would like him to talk. I leave the tv or radio on for him when I go to work so he hears music or talking all day while I'm gone.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[pi77]

when you go to the cage does he approach you or does he retreat to the back of the cage?

after only a week i am sure he is stressed out to the max at being in a new home. wouldnt YOU? he doesnt know you from adam or eve .

i have a love bird that is extremely aggressive even after i have had her almost 8 months she does none of the stuff that jasper does. lucky you. so if your bird will at least perch on your finger and not bite count your blessings hehe.

personally i would just back off at trying to force him into doing anything for now. EARN his trust.

since he isnt biting you i would guess your half way home.

be patient! he will come around.

[Emmilyy]

A week isn't really long enough to gain his trust. You have the right idea with getting him to associate you with good things, but you need to give him more time to get used to you and his new home .

And i like the name Jasper! Cute!

[hsmoscout]

Don't worry!! He's still settling in!!! He will learn to trust you, but it takes awhile. Also, even though Quakers are good talkers, there's still no guarantee he'll ever talk. Also, don't be nervous or upset if he doesn't talk right away. Every bird learns at their own pace.

[Chico's Mom]

I guess you're right...one week isn't very long. Thanks for the encouragement. I moved his cage a little while ago, to right in front of the sliding glass door so he has a better view of the other two fids and can see outside. I gave him a couple of new hand-me-down toys the other guys were ignoring, and he checked them out, and he is climbing on the outside of his cage. Moving the cage also puts him a lot closer to where I am sitting. I have heard him squawk a couple of times this afternoon, not the scream-squawk he did when I had some workers in the apt. making a lot of noise, but a regular squawk. So that's progress. I am very persistent, but I am not very patient, so I will have to just relax. Thanks again.

[Emmilyy]

I'm glad you're having some progress, but i have one question. Did you quarantine him? I'm wondering because you said you gave him some of your birds toys...

[Chico's Mom]

He is quarantined and has no contact except visual through a window with my other birds. The toys I gave him are from my healthy birds, not the other way around. I have had my other birds for several years and they are vet-checked yearly and are healthy, so I figured the toys are ok to give to him.

[Emmilyy]

Okay. I guess it *would* be different if you had given some of his toys to your other birds. :P Are you having any more progress with him?

[Chico's Mom]

I was beginning to, but yesterday I had to put him in a small carrier to bring him back to get weighed, and he didn't really like that too much. I handled him a bit when we got home, and he is doing ok. I am sure that all will be well eventually anyway. Thanks for asking!