Click to view attachment We have had Pete Pete for a month now. He is doing awesome and is a complete joy to have. Petey has bonded to me quite fiercy though. He goes to my bf as well but preferes me. Kind of like a kid! LOL..I guess what my question is, How do I get him to warm up to other ppl. My 9 year old son absolutely LOVES him. Talks to him, will ask to let him out, wants to play with him, but Petey boy wants no part. I keep trying to tell Zack that it is because he is in school all day long and Petey just doesan't get enough time to be around him. I have two little ones, 4 and 2 and Petey seems to tolerate them well.Although has never gone to them willingly. I feel Zack is doing the right thing. Always talking to him, giving him treats. I am hoping this summer Petey will bond with Zack.. I am hoping anyway..We are having some issues with him and I am noticing that with Petey's arrival, Zack is doing better. I guess what I am trying to ask is, Am I doing enough?? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Your son is doing really good already. I had a similar question not too long ago (Louie didn't like my hubby). I was given some great advice and this is what worked pretty good for us.



If time permits, have your son feed Petey (put his food dishes in the cage - with you standing a bit out of sight), maybe have your sond help clean the cage. Take Petey to a different unfamiliar room and only have your son handle him and "rescue" Petey. Does Petey have any favorite games he likes to play with you? If so, have your son play these games with Petey instead.



Basically have your son do as much as possible with Petey, maybe even get a little table perch stand and have Petey sit there while your son does homework. Or if your son eats something at the table, have Petey there too with your son giving him goodies from his plate etc.



Just some suggestions that worked for us. I'm still Louie's favorite person, but at least he is nice to my hubby now and interacts with him as well.

Thanks for the suggestions! We do a little of that already..Except I never thought about having Zack help me clean his cage..That actually might serve two purposes! LOL.. Anyway.. I told Zack that is was going to take time, patience and persistance. I think he understands, but then again, he is only 9. He just wants to play with the bird and not get nipped! Thank you for responding. We will keep working at it!

Christine

when I first got my Kiwi, 7 years ago he would go to anybody, then my husband started going out of town and would be gone 3-4 days a week and it got to the point where Kiwi would not have anything to do with him. It was kind of heartbreaking but we started the "Rescue" thing and always away from the cage, so at least now Hubby can hold Kiwi and without bites. Just like always it is true, patience and persistence and repeat, repeat, repeat.

With time I am sure petey will warm up to Zack. Have Zack do his homework and practice his reading near petey as part of his spending time with him every day. Offering treats as you are doing is a good idea too.

If you are trying to use treats as a tool in this, then your son can be the only one to give him this treat. Also, I am not sure the rescue method was explained well enough. You take petey to a neutral room that he is not familiar with (i.e. the bath room, dining room, laundry room) and leave him there. It usually doesn't take very long for them to start "flock calling", and that would be zacks cue to go and "rescue" him. Also, it might help if you explain about how birds can sense fear, and not pulling away and even pushing into a bite. Also instructing him on how to approch him would help also. My TAG can be nippy, but if you come in with your hand from the side and below, you are MUCH less likely to get pinched (it may be a different way for you but what ever works). Also begin sociallizing petey with other people, friends, and extended family will also help, as he will begin to see that other people are not a threat.