I have two parakeets that are more interested in each other then letting me near them so I bought a cheap smaller cage for training and each day I plan to put one in the smaller cage so I can have one on one time with each bird away from each other and keep them apart for part of the day and when I am at school and at night and when I am not interacting with them put them together in the big cage. I just don't no how else to train them both. They are also still babies. If you don't think this could work please offer suggestions as to how I can train them without getting rid of one or completely separating them.
I just want them step on my finger and not freak out every time i put my hand in the cage. I would like to be able to handle them both
as well stated before me, birds will always be more interested in other birds than you. i was warned about the toy-mirror thing too, as stated above.
i am no expert, but i can share my experience: i only have a single bird though, which makes it easier.
i have a 9 year old lovebird who is 'bonded' to me, because instead of buying two, he would be my bird specifically and so i didn't want him distracted by a mate. he 'bonded' to me because i was the ONLY family member to interact with him AT ALL for the first two week to a month of his living with us. Lovebirds are not wildly known for their 'love' of humans, ironically, but he is just the SWEETEST thing to me because of this bonding period.
Secondly, i took small baby-steps towards handling him. I established myself by the dominate 'bird' by, when i held him, only cupping him against my chest, with most of his head covered to keep him calm. this closeness allowed me to establish my 'alpha', as it were (i would also either tap, or briefly hold shut his beak if he bit me), and allowed him to feel safe being very close to me. as the weeks passed he progressed to being held, not against my body, but merely in my cupped hands (recieving 'preening' in return for his good behavior, and toy/treat time). then when he was no longer nipping at my fingers i allowed him to stand on my fingers every now again, and now…8 years later, he pretty much perches where ever he wants on me. the important part was to make him comfortable being held closely to me.
I'm not sure how you would want to adapt this for a pair of birds, but i'm sure you can do it! even if it means keeping them separated for a few months while you tame them.
good luck! and once you have a feathery friend, they are friends for life.
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July 1st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Usually if you have two parakeets together they will always be more interested in each other than you. Unless they are already trained to step on your finger. I am not sure they will really like the stress of being grabbed each day and taken to a new cage. They should probably each have their own cages but they will still cherp with each other. Good Luck!
References :
July 1st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
as far as training goes, separating them will work. But, birds kept in pairs and up make a "flock" that is why they pay attention to each other and not you. Even if you just put a mirror in with a solitary bid it will become infactuated with itself and neglect you altogether.
It will be alot harder for you to train them. Mainly since they are parakeets.
What are you training them to do?
References :
July 1st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
as well stated before me, birds will always be more interested in other birds than you. i was warned about the toy-mirror thing too, as stated above.
i am no expert, but i can share my experience: i only have a single bird though, which makes it easier.
i have a 9 year old lovebird who is 'bonded' to me, because instead of buying two, he would be my bird specifically and so i didn't want him distracted by a mate. he 'bonded' to me because i was the ONLY family member to interact with him AT ALL for the first two week to a month of his living with us. Lovebirds are not wildly known for their 'love' of humans, ironically, but he is just the SWEETEST thing to me because of this bonding period.
Secondly, i took small baby-steps towards handling him. I established myself by the dominate 'bird' by, when i held him, only cupping him against my chest, with most of his head covered to keep him calm. this closeness allowed me to establish my 'alpha', as it were (i would also either tap, or briefly hold shut his beak if he bit me), and allowed him to feel safe being very close to me. as the weeks passed he progressed to being held, not against my body, but merely in my cupped hands (recieving 'preening' in return for his good behavior, and toy/treat time). then when he was no longer nipping at my fingers i allowed him to stand on my fingers every now again, and now…8 years later, he pretty much perches where ever he wants on me. the important part was to make him comfortable being held closely to me.
I'm not sure how you would want to adapt this for a pair of birds, but i'm sure you can do it! even if it means keeping them separated for a few months while you tame them.
good luck! and once you have a feathery friend, they are friends for life.
References :
my experience with my 9 year old male lovebird, who was hand fed as a chick, and remains single (except for me. lol).