Hi I've had otis for about four months now, and he doesn't really enjoy out of cage time.He won't take treats from me, so its hard to reward him, and I want him to like being out of the cage. any suggestions? I don't care if otis talks, or do tricks, I just want him to like people. Does anyone else had this problem. By the way, he's seven months old.

maybe if you explain your daily routine, we can understand a little better and then see if we can offer advice. For example, what time does he get up, do you cover the cage, just kind of stuff like that...hours of sleep, out of cage time. One on one time???

Well first of all, i don't cover him. We wake up around seven. at about 7:30 i put him on my desk and alk to him and pet him ect. until about 7:40. Ath eight I leave for scholl and he takes naps. At 3:10 i get home put him on my arm or shoulder stomach and let him ride around for a while. (about 20 minutes). Then when he's back in his cage I talk to him while i do my homework. At 5:00 I TRY to train him to step up with no avail. He hates this the most. Then at seven I let him run around in my room a little(its quaker-proofed) to exercise. At *:30 we go play on my desk again till 9. at 9:30 it's lights out. all of this he doesnt seem to enjoy, and if I'm within a foot of his cage he'll fly back to it.

it kind of sounds like you need to "clip his wings" He will then have to rely on you for transport. Clipping their wings has a way of "humbling" them. How much sleep does he get most of the time? What kind of diet is he on? Has he had vet check up?

I assume from the sounds of it he's kept in your bedroom,is this correct?

Are there other family members that interact with him at all?


Does he bite you when ever you try to take him off our out of his cage?

I'm not sure I quite understand why you're saying he doesn't like you. The fact that he will ride around on your shoulder or arm or what ever for 20 minutes is pretty good, Granted some will do more some not.

My little gal goes through streaks where sometimes she wants to be on me all the time and then there's times when she doesn't really want anything to do with me at all.

HJe is on a pellet diet, he usually gets at leats 10 hours of sleep a day, and he has gone to the vet and is perfectly healhy. He is in my bedroom, and other family members interact with him at varied times about twice a day. he only bits when i try to take him physically out. When I open his cage so he comes out before I pick him up, he'l only do it about half of the time.

I would suggest more work OUTSIDE of your room. Find a neutral room that he doesn't visit at other times, and go there ONLY for quiet time or step up training (try to keep that varied). I will second the getting cliped suggestion as well. Some times quakers have a funny way of showing they like you, and the single fact that he will ride your sholder without taking chunks of your ear at every chance is a very good sign !!! He may not have chosen you in a sexual bond as many birds do it is actually healthier that he doesn't.

I think that I understand what you are trying to say when you say you think he doesn't like you. He does all these things with you, but he doesn't show any affection towards you or the signs of "wanting" to be with you, right? Maybe he just is a very passive bird and doesn't do these things. How does he interact with other family members? Does it look as if he is enjoying their company more?



I heard from somebody that they earned their bird's love through his stomach, LOL

I'll explain. Does he have a favorite food - anything? How about when he is on your desk, you have a plate of food with veggies or pasta, bread rice or something he likes. Eat your food in front of him and I'll bet it will catch his interest. Don't give him any, just let him watch. He may even eventually walk up to your plate to steal some food. Before he does, hold a piece in your hand and offer it to him. Or pretend like you are eating it and then offer it to him. As I'm told, eating together is one of the different ways of bonding. Give it a try, maybe it'll work.

I agree with the more time outside your room! Quakers are notoriously flock orientated....they need the excitement and movement of others. One of my quakers flock calls almost all the time if he is not in the same room as you...and we have 4 of us in the house. He just has this NEED to see what's going on. He only does it when he can hear noises and movements of someone being home. If there are other people hom while you are not it may be irritating him to not be able to see what's going on....just a thought.

I agree try more away from the cage time where he can't see the cage...have you bought a portable perch? Maybe he will like that this way he can be with you and the family anywhere in the house.... also try finding out what food he will do almost anything for...I found out my fids are crazy over popcorn(although they only get it once a week)but if I take a piece of popcorn out they will be SO cooperative...patience is the key just keep trying I'm sure he will come around

Here is Summer's opinion.

When I got Fezzik, I'd never really had a "pet" bird before. I'd had birds, but they were lookie-loo's. It was very frustrating to me that Fezzik didn't *love* me immediately like a puppy does.

1) Getting wings clipped will certianly help. Fezzik was 100% more willing to be with me when he couldn't fly across the room back to his cage.

2) I second what most people said about working with him out of your room. Take him to the bathroom, or some other safe place where you can practice your step-ups and what not.

3) Be patient. This is the hardest part. I had Fezzik for almost 6 months before I really felt like he liked me. And to this day, if we are in the room with his cage, he'd much rather be hanging out on his cage with me nearby him, than to be hanging out on me. I say that he's got an independant streak!

I love the little stinker now, but he was very trying to me in the beginning.

Hang in there!