I've had Petey for about six months now and I've just been feeling a bit helpless with him lately. Like, we got a few steps closer to having a relationship, like he'll let me pick him up and will get mad if we ignore him, but it's like... lukewarm.
Today, for instance, I just finished my last exam and had gotten a bunch of stuff for his new bigger cage because it was bitterly bare. He was nervous at the one new toy and stayed away from it but he never wanted to hang out. I got him out to spend some time together and he flew off down to the tv stand, where there is glass where he can see himself. He loves his reflection. I mean, I've done movie marathons and he's spent the entire time napping beside himself. I spent hours trying to hang out with him, but he ignored me and flew away to either his cage or the glass so I decided not to push it but it kinda broke my heart.
So I came on here to browse the new threads and everything else and I'm not gonna lie I got jealous. Especially as I started searching for threads on "bonding". I just want to note, I wouldn't give up Petey for the world, but it just seems like he honestly could care less about me. His only social interaction requirement is to have someone look at him periodically, maybe talk to him. I want a relationship like so many of you have with your bird, but I'm starting to wonder if it'll ever happen.
Back when I first got him I did a bunch of training. He's target trained, and shakes his head "no" on command.... when he's in his cage. I hit this roadblock and kept trying and trying but can't seem to overcome it. Then he started coming out to play more and I turned to desensitizing him to the living room and back room so he won't panic when something surprises him and he takes off. And then school started and training because an every other weekend thing while I worked and had school. I still spent a lot of time with him, just more "hanging out" rather than training.
Now the only time he wants to hang out with me is if I let him nibble my necklace, which I wouldn't mind if I wasn't so paranoid about metal poisoning. It's a birthday necklace and isn't like gold or silver so I don't trust letting him do that. So he flies off and ignores me again...
When I originally got him from another girl, she thought he'd never be a bird who wanted to be pet or anything (and I dealt with that) but he just needed some work to fit in and he would probably like to hang out with the family, but I'm doubting this right now.
To put my bias into perspective, I've been having a bad week. Really lonely and just overall emotional (thank you teenage hormones and drama), so I might just be overreacting.
Any ideas for bonding exercises, training methods, ANYTHING to build a relationship with him? I want to avoid cutting his wings, because he's such a beautiful flier, if possible. I mean, I managed the taming with him fully flighted, and thats probably the hardest part.
P.S I tried doing a search and well... " bonding " has mixed threads with breeding and human-bird bonding, with a lot of "new bird" bonding, while "taming" pretty much ensures everything I've already done or more "new bird" bonding, which we've passed. If you guys have written threads on your own experiences, please tell me a few key words and I'll hunt it down, save you some writing.
I'm desperate....
Today, for instance, I just finished my last exam and had gotten a bunch of stuff for his new bigger cage because it was bitterly bare. He was nervous at the one new toy and stayed away from it but he never wanted to hang out. I got him out to spend some time together and he flew off down to the tv stand, where there is glass where he can see himself. He loves his reflection. I mean, I've done movie marathons and he's spent the entire time napping beside himself. I spent hours trying to hang out with him, but he ignored me and flew away to either his cage or the glass so I decided not to push it but it kinda broke my heart.
So I came on here to browse the new threads and everything else and I'm not gonna lie I got jealous. Especially as I started searching for threads on "bonding". I just want to note, I wouldn't give up Petey for the world, but it just seems like he honestly could care less about me. His only social interaction requirement is to have someone look at him periodically, maybe talk to him. I want a relationship like so many of you have with your bird, but I'm starting to wonder if it'll ever happen.
Back when I first got him I did a bunch of training. He's target trained, and shakes his head "no" on command.... when he's in his cage. I hit this roadblock and kept trying and trying but can't seem to overcome it. Then he started coming out to play more and I turned to desensitizing him to the living room and back room so he won't panic when something surprises him and he takes off. And then school started and training because an every other weekend thing while I worked and had school. I still spent a lot of time with him, just more "hanging out" rather than training.
Now the only time he wants to hang out with me is if I let him nibble my necklace, which I wouldn't mind if I wasn't so paranoid about metal poisoning. It's a birthday necklace and isn't like gold or silver so I don't trust letting him do that. So he flies off and ignores me again...
When I originally got him from another girl, she thought he'd never be a bird who wanted to be pet or anything (and I dealt with that) but he just needed some work to fit in and he would probably like to hang out with the family, but I'm doubting this right now.
To put my bias into perspective, I've been having a bad week. Really lonely and just overall emotional (thank you teenage hormones and drama), so I might just be overreacting.
Any ideas for bonding exercises, training methods, ANYTHING to build a relationship with him? I want to avoid cutting his wings, because he's such a beautiful flier, if possible. I mean, I managed the taming with him fully flighted, and thats probably the hardest part.
P.S I tried doing a search and well... " bonding " has mixed threads with breeding and human-bird bonding, with a lot of "new bird" bonding, while "taming" pretty much ensures everything I've already done or more "new bird" bonding, which we've passed. If you guys have written threads on your own experiences, please tell me a few key words and I'll hunt it down, save you some writing.
I'm desperate....
Sure he's probably been a bit upset with the change of attention.. but after a bit of patience and reassurance.. it will come back. Being a teenager is hard enough as it is.. it's a lot to remember that there's someone else that would love to have your attention too. 
