How long does it take new parrotlets to adjust?

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How long does it take new parrotlets to adjust?; Adjustment, Biting
Topic Started: Mar 24 2008, 10:53 PM (758 Views)
nkabram	Mar 24 2008, 10:53 PM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 5 Group: Full Members Member #2,384 Joined: March 23, 2008	Hello We just welcomed a new 7 1/2 week old parrotlet into our family and she is quite timid and sometimes bites (hard). We gave her the entire first day to get used to her new cage and find her feed. She is quite timid and readily runs away from us. It has been about four days now and she continues to do this. She isn't showing any signs of adjusting or getting used to us. When we do get her to perch on one of our fingers she will reach down and bite. We have tried shaking the hand and firmly stating no, and sometimes have tried to just gently grab her beak and say no; however, she persists. We have tried to minimize our reaction to her biting. Does anyone know how long it takes for them to get used to us? When she might start coming to our finger when offered. We have been giving her a little time out of the cage but she seems to only sit in one place and not want to move. Some other things, she doesn't seem to be drinking water, we have given her a side trough that continously fills and have given her a second water trough next to her seed. I'm afraid she might get dehydrated. She is eating her seed readily though. More so when she is anxious. I understand she's young, a baby, and has just underwent a radical change. But I just don't have experience with these types of birds and dont' know what to anticipate in terms of her development and adjustment. Any tips or information would be highly appreciated. Thanks for your help!



kevinp	Mar 25 2008, 08:56 AM Post #2
Administrator Posts: 6,046 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: October 7, 2006 How many Parrotlets do you have I have one Parrotlet What types Celestials What colours One green Other Birds ? Budgeries four off I live in a mess of my own making !!! My name is I'll give you a clue	Quote: Some other things, she doesn't seem to be drinking water, we have given her a side trough that continously fills and have given her a second water trough next to her seed. I'm afraid she might get dehydrated. She is eating her seed readily though. More so when she is anxious. I shouldn't think theres anything to worry about her drinking, mine don't tend to drink very much either, and when they do its only one sip. Thinking about it I have never seen my pair of lutinos drink and i have had them a year now :) Quote: She is quite timid and readily runs away from us. It has been about four days now and she continues to do this. She isn't showing any signs of adjusting or getting used to us. When we do get her to perch on one of our fingers she will reach down and bite. We have tried shaking the hand and firmly stating no, and sometimes have tried to just gently grab her beak and say no; however, she persists. We have tried to minimize our reaction to her biting. Her training will take some time here is a link to a page of training for Parrotlets, there are some great ideas here and help with stepping up and playing with your Parrotlet http://lmkandtux.homestead.com/Rbook4Utraining.html Quote: I understand she's young, a baby, and has just underwent a radical change. But I just don't have experience with these types of birds and dont' know what to anticipate in terms of her development and adjustment. Any tips or information would be highly appreciated. You are very correct with your first statement, she has probably come from a brood of Parrotlets and she has grown up with her siblings all around her and now she is by herself and is probably quite scared and lonely. follow some of the advice in the link I have posted about the stepping up, fear of hands and biting then try the playing ball.



Gardengail	Mar 25 2008, 11:36 AM Post #3
Staff Member Posts: 12,740 Group: Staff Member #25 Joined: January 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Other Birds ? Severe Macaw and 2 Timneth Greys I live in Upstate New York, USA My name is Gail	Newly weaned Parrotlets do tend to be nippy. They do eventually calm down. :) And I agree with Kev on the water issue...The only time I've seen Cricket near his water is when he's sitting in it..lol! Keep us posted on your progress!



bonnie	Mar 25 2008, 02:36 PM Post #4
Co Admin Posts: 14,041 Group: Co Admin Member #73 Joined: March 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 0 Other Birds ? YNA GCC. Cockatiel I live in Pennsylvania My name is Bonnie	Yes I remember when I first got Adam and Eve I was worried because I never seen them drink either



theexbrit	Mar 25 2008, 04:43 PM Post #5
Co Admin Posts: 3,543 Group: Co Admin Member #74 Joined: March 20, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Pacifics What colours Green, pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures - Crimson Bellied & Green Cheeked I live in So. California My name is Andy	It's true, p'lets are not known as "water babies" :lol: You need to have time & patience to work with the little guys, but it's so rewarding when they learn to trust you & become your buddy :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:



Jan	Mar 25 2008, 04:48 PM Post #6
Vip Member Posts: 1,860 Group: Full Members Member #1,157 Joined: November 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Celestial What colours Blue & Green+Green Dominant Pied, Other Birds ? Zippi & Drummer Cockatiels I live in Wales uk My name is Jan	blue2 Good luck Im sure he will settle soon... Love and patience I think with all animals and birds.. Jan past1



nkabram	Mar 25 2008, 10:57 PM Post #7
Newbie Posts: 5 Group: Full Members Member #2,384 Joined: March 23, 2008	Wow, Thank you all for the replies. They are reassurring. I feel we are making some progress, she has definitely settled into her cage and we have been leaving the cage open for her to go freely between there and another uncaged perch across our entertainment room where we spend most of our time. She has come out on her own a few times, and acts very funny, she will ruffle her feathers and chirp various times and then come out and fly to the other perch. She is still quite shy and nippy with us though. Darn it hurts sometimes when she bites. Anyways, we are working on the up command right now and a firm no for biting. How long before she actually does not run away from us? Does it usually take like a week? a month? Any ideas?



Gardengail	Mar 26 2008, 01:01 AM Post #8
Staff Member Posts: 12,740 Group: Staff Member #25 Joined: January 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Other Birds ? Severe Macaw and 2 Timneth Greys I live in Upstate New York, USA My name is Gail	Here's just a little story of me and Cricket... I went to the store and there were 5 of them in the brooder...I looked in and he saw me. Ran up to the glass and right there and then I said I want that one! Well I visited him every other day on my lunch hour and the breeder was happy to let me hold him and get aquainted. Well I would sit and hold him and OMG! Talk about a SHARK!!! Holy cow! I would walk out of that place bleeding ... eek. He was bound and determined to make me bleed...lol... He is no longer that nippy little just weaning Parrotlet...he still "bumps" me with his beak but never bites... So there is hope for yours too!!!! :)



theexbrit	Mar 26 2008, 06:01 AM Post #9
Co Admin Posts: 3,543 Group: Co Admin Member #74 Joined: March 20, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Pacifics What colours Green, pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures - Crimson Bellied & Green Cheeked I live in So. California My name is Andy	nkabram Mar 25 2008, 03:57 PM Wow, Thank you all for the replies. They are reassurring. I feel we are making some progress, she has definitely settled into her cage and we have been leaving the cage open for her to go freely between there and another uncaged perch across our entertainment room where we spend most of our time. She has come out on her own a few times, and acts very funny, she will ruffle her feathers and chirp various times and then come out and fly to the other perch. She is still quite shy and nippy with us though. Darn it hurts sometimes when she bites. Anyways, we are working on the up command right now and a firm no for biting. How long before she actually does not run away from us? Does it usually take like a week? a month? Any ideas? It's hard to say as each bird is different & it also depends on your reaction :o If she thinks she is getting away with it it will take longer. One way to help stop them is the "earthquake" method. When she bites, shake the hand she is sitting on a little. Not much but just enough to throw her off balance (not across the room :lol: ) & tell her "NO". If she bites again put her straight back into her cage for about 5 minutes. When she doesn't bite you reward her with a little treat. It takes time for these guys to learn to trust you, also they use their beaks as hands so don't mistake her using her beak to climb up on you as a bite. It should only take a little while before she stops biting most of the time, but there's always the chance you'll get a little nip. My little Boo Boo is really bonded to me but once in a while she'll "try it on" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Maybe a few days to a week or so you'll really notice a difference.



bonnie	Mar 26 2008, 12:30 PM Post #10
Co Admin Posts: 14,041 Group: Co Admin Member #73 Joined: March 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 0 Other Birds ? YNA GCC. Cockatiel I live in Pennsylvania My name is Bonnie	I agree that once she figures out your the leader and you mean her no harm she will come around. I have a pair of Parrotlets so they are quite bonded to each other. However the female gave me a first kiss the other day, the male is a little more feisty but he no longer bites me like he did . He has figured out that I'm not such a bad person after all. He would prefer to be with Eve but has accepted me now.



nkabram	Mar 27 2008, 01:39 AM Post #11
Newbie Posts: 5 Group: Full Members Member #2,384 Joined: March 23, 2008	You all have been very helpful with your posts. Just an update, she is starting to come around quite a bit. I have approached her slowly and offered my hand to her. She has come to me on a few occasions. :) She is making progress. Thanks for the posts. - Nick



bonnie	Mar 27 2008, 10:17 AM Post #12
Co Admin Posts: 14,041 Group: Co Admin Member #73 Joined: March 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 0 Other Birds ? YNA GCC. Cockatiel I live in Pennsylvania My name is Bonnie	Yeah she's coming around :D :D



theexbrit	Mar 27 2008, 03:57 PM Post #13
Co Admin Posts: 3,543 Group: Co Admin Member #74 Joined: March 20, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Pacifics What colours Green, pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures - Crimson Bellied & Green Cheeked I live in So. California My name is Andy	Keep up the good work :D Patience is the key :wub:



Gardengail	Mar 27 2008, 05:41 PM Post #14
Staff Member Posts: 12,740 Group: Staff Member #25 Joined: January 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Other Birds ? Severe Macaw and 2 Timneth Greys I live in Upstate New York, USA My name is Gail	That's great!!! Baby steps!!! ;)



scooby	Mar 27 2008, 09:43 PM Post #15
Vip Member Posts: 1,392 Group: Full Members Member #1,461 Joined: December 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 5 What types celestial What colours 1 green male , 1 green female , 1 light blue female , 2 dark blue 1 male 1 female Other Birds ? 1 meyers parrot, 1 green cheeked conure,1 blue fischer love bird, I live in York My name is Jacqueline ( jackie for short)	Patience is the key , every parrotlet is diffferent, i have 3 parrotlets the male scooby is very firery very difficult to control , but the 2 females sky and smurf are lovely, sky and scooby have bonded with each other and are semi tame, but smurf is my baby I got her at 8 weeks old , when i first got i used to pick her up every day and cuddled her till she got used to me and then i started to train her to step up onto my finger ,she still bites a little bit but she has bonded with me now and is so loving, so i suggest just patience and lots of cuddles. past1 blue2 blue2



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