Quaker Parakeet refusing to come anywhere near me

Hmm I thought it was a good thing from the things others said online... I'll try removing a couple of toys though, and I'll remove one ladder (he sometimes likes chewing on the ladders, which, again, I see as a positive because he used to be uninterested in chewing his toys at all). Thank you for the advice : )
 
Hmm I thought it was a good thing from the things others said online... I'll try removing a couple of toys though, and I'll remove one ladder (he sometimes likes chewing on the ladders, which, again, I see as a positive because he used to be uninterested in chewing his toys at all). Thank you for the advice : )
I don’t know if that’s the current consensus but whn I first got my bird I was told less is more. If he chews the ladders that's all good. (Wasnt dissing your set up. :)....)
 
Nope, he changed his mind. He did it once, and now he's refusing to come anywhere near the apple if he sees a hand in sight. It doesn't matter whether I'm holding it or not, if he sees a hand, he isn't going to take it. He doesn't mind when I stand close to the cage. Nothing changed in his cage, and nothing happened that would scare him (unless it happened when I wasn't in the room with him). I don't know.
 
I decided to take it a few steps back, stepping away from the cage again, and after a couple of days, he took the apple. He's been taking the apple now for 3 days in a row, I think he's got the hang of it :). I've also been switching on the radio during the day, he seems to really enjoy listening to music haha
 
More good news: he's now taking pumpkin seeds (his favourite) and small pieces of apple. He used to lunge to grab the treat quickly, but his body language is a lot more relaxed now!
I want to try to give him treats when he's outside of the cage, I'm not sure he will take them though. I think once he's very confident with taking treats when he's in the cage, I'll try it outside.
 
Fantastic news!!! Well done! :applaudit:

Try breaking everything down into small stages. When he's confident taking treats through the cage bars, then try through the open door. When confident taking treats through the open door, try when he's in the vicinity of the cage eg. on the open door or on top of the cage, etc.
 
When I open the cage door, he instantly jumps to the back of the cage and clings on to it until I close the door again. Is there any way I could break down that process further?
 
When I open the cage door, he instantly jumps to the back of the cage and clings on to it until I close the door again. Is there any way I could break down that process further?
Looks likes you are going to have to spend a fair bit of time just hanging around with the cage door open but not trying to do anything until he relaxes more. Perhaps not even actively watching his movements or reacting too much when he makes a move away from the back of the cage. Then as @Roz says, small incremental stages, little by little... Till he is happy to take treats from you through the bars with the door open. Only then can you consider the next steps.
 
Breakthrough: I decided to try to repeat the process using the apple when he's outside of the cage, rather than putting my hand in his space. I feel like I would lose his trust that way. It only took a couple of days for him to start taking the apple straight from my hand! I'm very excited about this. Thank you for the advice everyone.

try making a shelf up that fits just out side the cage door that you can leave the treat on
I'm not quite sure how I would be able to make that, but I will keep this in mind for the future, thank you :)
 
Hmm that's a good idea. I've wanted to get one so that he can have a proper bath (rather than me spraying him) in his cage. I'll look into it
 
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