Taming Your Bird

When you first bring your new pet home,remember that it may be scared.Start by talking softly to it or even whistling a tune; many birds enjoy listening to music on the radio. Once you feel that your bird really feels at home, you can begin to tame it. Start by placing your hand on the outside of the cage. As soon as your bird remains calm at the sight of your hand, you can try putting your hand inside the cage. If the bird becomes frightened and begins to flap its wings in panic, remain still. Jerking your hand will frighten your bird even more.

Within a few days your bird will begin to accept your hand and may even come and perch on your finger. Now place some seeds in the plam of your hand. Once again it may take a few days, or even a week, but eventually your bird should eat out of yor hand. Occasionally it may be necessary to remove the seed cup to convince your little pet that it should eat from your hand, but don't forget to return the cup within two or three hours. A small bird eats small amounts all day long. A feed cup that is missing for a prolonged period of time can cause starvation and death.

Once you have taught your pet to perch on your hand,you are ready to teach it to sit on your finger. Put your hand into the cage, extend your index finger, and, very, vry gently, place it on the bird's breast, pressing just firmly enough so that it has to leave its perch and either step onto your finger of gly to another perch. Once you see that your bird is contentedly sitting on your finger, you can begin to move your hand around the cage.

After several weeks you will find that each time you put your hand into the cage your bird flies to you and perches on your finger without any coaxing. It is at this time that your bird is ready to be let out of its cage.

The first time you let your bird free can be a most frightening experience for both you and your pet :
* Be sure that all windows and doors are closed.
* Be certain no one in the room is afraid of a bird when it is flying.
* Allow plenty of time for your bird to fly around. It will come back to you or fly directly to its cage as soon as it is tired.
* Mirrors can be dangerous, as can clear glass, curtainless, and blind-free windows. An unsuspecting bird may fly headlong into glass and have a fatal concussion.

So beware--look around the room carefully before allowing pet its new freedom.