Good morning! First, let me tell you that as a teenager, I had a parakeet, but none of us had any idea what to do with him really... he was an ornery kid. My Grannie decided she wanted him, and he lived a long time- but since I bought my new kid just this last Wednesday, I wanted to do the right thing this time. I've researched and researched, and was so glad I found you all! I've hand raised chickens- they were so tame that they would roost on me- and missed my 'flock'.
I know to Gooooo Slowwwww with the little guy- he's a beautiful blue by the way. We have a very nice sized cage that has more horizontal room than vertical. I even made my husband catch him at the pet store so I wasn't the one who was the bad guy...heh heh heh. I talk to him, sing and whistle, my hands only go in the cage when I'm changing his feed and water- although now I can put my hand on the outside of his cage and he doesn't freak out or move off. Last night I was sitting next to him, and started singing to him. He whistled and chirped first, then started closing his eyes like he was going to sleep! When I stopped singing, he would open his eyes to look at me. Does that mean he's starting to relax a little around me? Also, if he hasn't seen me for a bit, when I walk up to his cage and say hi, he stretches- one leg and wing and then the other. sometimes he'll fluff out and then settle. I've read that that sometimes means he's trying to relieve stress, or that's he's happy to see me. Just wondering, I know it takes awhile for them to settle in, but it would be great if he's getting used to me a little. I've only had him 4 days, so no, no hand training or anything. Thanks!
