How To Bond With Your Parrot
Caring for a parrot can be a rewarding experience for you as well as your new feathered friend, and it is important that you and your family form a bond with your bird.
First off I would suggest getting as much information about your parrots likes/dislikes from their previous carer if possible. It can help with making a connection with your bird and in building trust between the both of you. Parrots must be able to trust everyone in the household completely.
Building Trust With Your Bird
Parrots are incredibly smart, they know that people can be dangerous, so everything you do to build that level of trust must be done gradually and calmly. Start off with letting your parrot relax in their surroundings. Let them become accustomed to any new sights, sounds, and the other members of your family. Even the tone of how you speak to your parrot can have an impact on whether they like you. Having some background information on your birds favourite treats or toys can also really help in building a bond with them.
When you start out building trust between the both of you I recommend being in a quiet room with minimal distractions. Close the windows and doors, sit down with your bird, and have a little chat to them. Watch for any behaviour changes while you talk to them. Some rescue parrots love listening to music, some like the tones of human speech. They will likely approach if they are interested, just make sure it is on their terms and that you don't make any sudden moves.
Often a parrot that is accustomed to human interaction will want their head or neck scratched and will lower or turn their head to the side to allow you to do so. This is a great step forward in the bonding process indicating your parrot already sees you as a trustworthy friend. After some scratches and attention you can also offer them a treat or toy to help further build their confidence with you.
You may also notice your parrot seems to prefer a male person over a female person for their interactions. While it seems like it wouldn't make a difference, some rescue parrots will favour a male friend over a female or vice-versa. It depends on their previous situation. It is very beneficial to have other family members interact with your bird so that they do not bond strongly with a single person. I recommend getting the family involved in playing with and talking to your parrot so that they socialise and gain experience with other people.
Know Your Parrots Limits
An important aspect of forming a bond with your parrot is knowing their fears and dislikes. If they have a panicked reaction to certain situations or stimulus you can help them avoid whatever frightened or upset them. There will always be a reason for their alarmed response and it is often from past experiences.
Never leave your bird in a stressful environment in the hope they will adjust, it can set off feather plucking habits, loss of appetite, and a number of other issues. Parrots can often indicate a dislike or fear of something with a quick raising and holding open of their wings, sudden retreating, or possibly a unique screech. For some parrots the holding open of their wings can also be part of how they play, so experience over time with them should give you a good indication.
Include Them In Your Activities
One of the main goals in bonding with your bird should be to include them in some of your activities. Parrots love attention, once they are familiar with their environment and your family members, they start to really enjoy life again. It doesn't have to be an all day event, just include them in part of your day when it is safe to do so. Our parrots also need to have adequate time for themselves to rest, feed, and preen, so keep that in mind.
Having a movable natural branch stand for them to sit on can be a great idea. With the addition of a water dish and separated feed dish your rescue parrot may prefer this option. If they enjoy perching on you instead I would suggest having them on your hand or forearm rather than on your shoulder. While it may seem neat to have a parrot on your shoulder it can sometimes result in an unexpected peck as you turn to look at your bird. The natural branch stand option would be my recommendation as it also keeps them entertained and helps their feet.
Most of all, bonding will take time. There is no short cut and no solid rules to follow, you both need to adapt and learn each others behaviour and intricacies.
