Layla's Training Journal

[Rachel Keeth]

Layla is a seven year old olive green budgie. She is not tame and gets scared vary easily so I will be updating here on how her training is going.

Today Layla's training didn't go vary well. Whenever I would stick my hand in the cage she would runaway or bite me. I think the reason for that is since when I was clipping her nails the other night she moved and it cut to high and started bleeding badly and scared her.

She is doing better when I place her on my head though, she will stay there longer, but she won't get on my finger if she is on my head and gets scared of it. But if she is on a curtain rod she will most of the time gladly get on my finger.

She still won't taste the vegetables or fruits, and I didn't put any in the cage today since we didn't have any fresh.

She is also still scared to eat from my hand but is getting more relaxed with my moving the millet near her. As soon as she will eat from my hand I will try getting her used to the camera.

[Rachel Keeth]

Layla just made a huge breakthrough! She let me pet her once, she has never let me do that! I tried to pet her again but she pecked at my finger, usaly she will bite down on it hard. Yay! :jumping1:

[emmajoelydia]

How exciting for you! :)

Lucky thing you are - at least you can get her on your head... mine are getting slowly used to my hand being in their cage... moving things about and I sometimes keep it in there for a few mins. just to let them know that I'm not going to hurt them.. it is a long patient process isn't it?

So, excellent progress for you... :congrats::congrats::congrats:

[Rachel Keeth]

It is, how old are your budgies? Thank you!

[EA1088]

How exciting for you! :)

Lucky thing you are - at least you can get her on your head... mine are getting slowly used to my hand being in their cage... moving things about and I sometimes keep it in there for a few mins. just to let them know that I'm not going to hurt them.. it is a long patient process isn't it?

So, excellent progress for you... :congrats::congrats::congrats:

Isn't it true that when birds (I know it is true for macaws, but I'm not sure about other birds), are on your head or shoulders, they are trying to "dominate" you? I.E. I have a bird who enjoys dive-bombing peoples heads (namely my fiance and I).
I always just assumed it was a sign of dominance. Wouldn't allowing a pet bird of any kind to be on your head or shoulders be allowing it to be in a position of dominance?

[Rachel Keeth]

I don't think so. With my experience (which is only with three budgies) it just means that they love you and trust you. Part of the reason might be that they are so small and don't feel as if they are dominant. They also try to either groom our hair as if they are feathers, eat our hair, or play with it. I am not sure which it is but I like the idea that Layla love me so much shes trying to groom it like she does with the other budgies.

Maybe your parrot (what kind of parrot is it?) is not trying to dominate you but is trying to say "Come Play with me!", what do you think?