Training an Older Parakeet

User Question
Hi, about 1 yr ago I inherited a parakeet that my mom had for 6 yrs. My problem is they never interacted with the bird. It had a companion who died and then it was really alone. However, my family loves this bird and has been trying desperately to get it to understand that it can trust us (we've just gotten him/her [don't even know which] to climb onto our fingers), but it is so skittish. I would love to be able to let it out to move around the house. I tried today but it was terrified. PLEASE HELP!

Lisa's Answer
Even if that bird was perfectly hand trained, it would still be skittish right now. Think of it as if you were in 3rd grade and all of a sudden halfway through the school year your family moved to a new country where they all talked differently, everything was strange, and you were thrown into the new school. You would be skittish too!

There's no reason to rush anything. Just take it slow. Let the parakeet settle in, get used to its new home, its new smells, the new sounds, everything. After a while it will learn that this is a safe area ... and then that you are safe people ... and then that it can explore outside its home (cage) in safety. But it'll all take slow, gradual steps.

All Questions in this Category

List of Parakeet Question Categories

NOTE: Because of the huge volume of incoming questions, I no longer answer them one by one. Instead, we have created a live, free Parakeet Forum which is very active, where people are online 24 hours a day to help you with your parakeet related questions. If you have any questions about parakeet care - or simply want to share your parakeet stories and photos - please join us!

Parakeet Forum