Taming a caged bird requires patience and consistency. The goal is to build trust so that your bird feels safe and comfortable with you. A key step is to associate you with positive experiences, primarily food. Here's a guide to help you successfully tame your feathered friend and determine how long they should be out of the cage each day.
Initial Steps: Building Trust Through Food
Start by creating a controlled hunger environment. This doesn't mean starving your bird, but rather establishing a feeding schedule. Allow your bird to go without food for a reasonable time period, typically around four hours. This slight hunger will make your offering more enticing. Then, offer food by hand inside the cage. Place the food on your open palm and slowly move your hand into the cage. The bird should eventually overcome its fear and approach to eat. If the bird hesitates, try again after about 30 minutes. Persistence is key, and you should not keep your bird hungry indefinitely; if unsuccessful after a few tries, try again the next day.
Transitioning to Handling and Bonding
Once your bird is comfortable eating from your hand inside the cage, try extending your hand with food just outside the cage door. While the bird is eating from your hand, try calling its name gently and frequently. This will help it associate its name with positive interactions with you. Gradually increase the amount of time your bird spends out of the cage while hand feeding them a few seeds or small treats at a time. Practice "choking" which is the act of gently holding the seed between your fingers in order to have the bird take it directly from you. This method can help the bird become accustomed to your touch. The more time you spend calmly interacting with your bird, the more comfortable it will become.
Daily Out-of-Cage Time and Supervision
It’s very important to provide your bird with regular out-of-cage time. Aim for at least one hour of supervised freedom daily. Ensure that all windows and doors are securely closed to prevent escapes. Most birds will initially explore the area near their cage. Allow them to do this without startling them and continue with your normal activities nearby. They will observe you and learn to trust you. The more relaxed and predictable your behavior, the faster your bird will gain confidence in its new environment. After three to four days of consistent interactions, your bird should become more comfortable interacting and playing with you.