Aww, thats so cute! :D I'm not sure if you've found this out of not, but if you scratch right over their ears, they yawn. A lot. It's hilariously cute, especially when their tongue pokes out ;)
Haven't tried that yet. Though this morning she was turning her head this way and that for me so I could get all the itchy spots, and I got to scritch under her chin for the first time ever! XD
Well, Buffy was hand-raised, so she LOVES people and wants to be as close to us as possible at all times.
Our other cockatiel, Spike, was not, and it has been a very slow, steady journey of trust with him. He still hates hands passionately, but allows (brief) kisses on his shoulder. He's not quite a year old.
It really just takes time, and constant reassurance that you are not going to hurt them.
One of the bird forums I frequent suggested sitting beside their cage and reading to them. Sounds crazy but it really works. They get to observe you from the safety of their cage for a lengthy period of time without you directly interacting with them, and it really seems to help. I know a big breakthrough with Spike came after I had spent a couple of days painting beside his cage. So he could watch me without the threat of being handled. I chatted to him on and off all day, and he learned I was safe! :~)
Our BZ used to love having her head scritched. Thing is, she didn't like fingers, so I did it with my nose. She'd make those little peeping sounds which are adorable.
We started with noses! Annie got her accepting fingers within a day. ;~P I kind of prefer doing it with my nose cos I can't feel her very well with my fingers and I'm afraid of hurting her!
if i would try that with my bird, she would bite my fingers of. i really wished she would be more tame...
do you know how i could get my bird less shy/bitchy? i myself think it's too late, as she's over a year now DX
Our other cockatiel, Spike, was not, and it has been a very slow, steady journey of trust with him. He still hates hands passionately, but allows (brief) kisses on his shoulder. He's not quite a year old.
It really just takes time, and constant reassurance that you are not going to hurt them.
One of the bird forums I frequent suggested sitting beside their cage and reading to them. Sounds crazy but it really works. They get to observe you from the safety of their cage for a lengthy period of time without you directly interacting with them, and it really seems to help. I know a big breakthrough with Spike came after I had spent a couple of days painting beside his cage. So he could watch me without the threat of being handled. I chatted to him on and off all day, and he learned I was safe! :~)