It is very important to be sure to return the bird to its cage every hour or so to allow it to eat and drink if it wishes. If you hover over the bird to see if it is hungry, it will be distracted by your presence and will not approach the food. Give it at least twenty minutes before you go back to get it. Also remember that it’s important for the bird to have to time to sleep and rest.

Offer your new bird treats from your hand to get it used to you, and let it explore your lap. Try not to allow it to climb on your shoulders or head-remember, this baby is not potty-trained! Do not let the bird explore your mouth-the bird's immune system cannot handle your germs and bacteria, and it might become ill.

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BE SURE THE BIRD EATS

The stress of going to a new home can affect your baby bird's eating habits. You must remember that to the bird, this might be the most frightening thing it has ever experienced. It has never been away from its siblings before, never been away from its "home", and never been handled by strangers without "Mom" being there to comfort it afterwards. The stress of all these changes will sometimes cause hand-fed baby birds to revert to wanting to eat from a syringe instead of feeding themselves. (NOTE: this is not very likely to happen to your bird if it is over three months old.)

You must be sure to watch your bird closely for the first two to three weeks to be sure it is eating well. Monitor the level of the food in the dish, and be sure the bird is not just playing with the food and dropping it to the cage floor. Watch to be sure the bird is defecating-if it is not, that could mean that it has stopped eating. If you feel that your bird has stopped eating contact your veterinarian or me.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

The first week or two, your baby may seem to try to bite a lot. You may think you have gotten a bad one! Be patient this is natural behavior, it is a nervous reaction to the sudden change in surroundings. The bird needs time to forget about its siblings and previous human "parents". Once it has adjusted to you and your home, it will calm down and behave. Don't allow it to bite-if it tries to bite you while standing on your hand, simply drop that hand a couple inches, very quickly, while saying "No bite!” Be sure not to confuse biting with the natural behavior of reaching with the beak first before stepping onto a hand. Birds use their beaks as a "third foot" when climbing, and will reach with their mouths first to test the surface they are going to before stepping on. Do not jerk back when the bird reaches for you-doing so will only make the bird afraid to come to you.

Give your baby a lot of comfort and affection, and reassure it. Eventually, it will grow to see you as "mom" or "dad", and will love you as much as you love it. Just remember to always be gentle-never play rough with a bird. Not only can you hurt it easily, but also this will encourage the bird to learn how to bite hard, and may make a habitual biter out of it later in life!

Just talk to it a lot, give it time to get used to you and play with it when it’s ready. The more gentle and affectionate you are with your bird, the more gentle and lovable the bird will remain as it grows up.

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The Cage
Toys In The Cage
Lining The Cage & Type of Perches
Recommended Branches & Safe Foliage
Harmful Plants & Trees