How to Bond with Your Bird

Sometimes it can be a struggle to form a great relationship and bond with your bird. Especially, if you didn't have your bird when they were young. Birds have a lot of personality and can make a very special bond.

You want to make sure that your bird feels safe and comfortable. You want your bird to be secure, calm, and relaxed. If you notice that your bird feels or looks uncomfortable or scared, stop whatever it is that is causing your bird to feel this way. Continuing and activity that your bird dislikes or is scared of will harm your relationship and bond with your bird.

You can accomplish that by:

- Moving slowly

Keep your actions and movements slow. Sudden motions will startle your bird. Keep your bird in a calm environment.

- Being quiet

Speak with a soft and gentle voice. Loud noise can scare birds. If your bird is listening to you as you speak that is a good sign. Spend time talking to your bird while your bird is in the cage.

- To get your bird use to your hands, move your hands and fingers around outside of the cage, while your bird is still in the cage. Eventually, you will be able to put your hands inside of the cage and your bird will feel comfortable and safe around you.

- Keep them in a comfortable, safe location. Their cage is their safe space, put it in a place that isn't too overwhelming with movements and sounds. Move them around, from room to room, while they are in their cage. Do this so that they can be in the same room as you, watch you, and listen to you, while still feeling being safe. Eventually they will feel comfortable coming out of the cage. You may open the door and let them come out on their own. Do not force them out. Keep the door to their cage open so that they can return at any time.

- Being patient. It may take time, especially if your bird has had negative experiences with people in the past.

Once your bird is more comfortable around you, you can really start to grown your bond together. To grow your bond with your bird, you need to be patient and go slow. Here are some things that you can do to help build that relationship:

- Give your bird treats and their favorite foods. Find a yummy fruit, vegetable, or nut to feed to your bird. Try hand feeding it to your bird, while your bird is still in the cage. Once your bird is use to you and your hand, you can feed outside of the cage.

- Provide enriching activities. Put new and exciting toys in their cage. Use bird friendly puzzles and games.

- Play music at a low volume or sing to your bird. Some birds will dance! Find a song that your bird enjoys and enjoy that song together.

When you have a solid relationship where you bird feels safe and comfortable around you and being touched by you, you can expand that bond even more, by doing training your bird some tricks, using food as a reward and teaching your bird specific words and sounds.

Remember! If your bird doesn't like something, is scared, or not enjoying an activity stop it right away! Pushing them and making them feel uncomfortable will only harm the relationship.