"Buddy" Nanday

[christine]

Hello, Not sure what category Nandays go under? In a previous thread I wrote about Buddy a male Nanday that I bought on a trial basis for my female. Mike said they probably wouldn't bond because they both have been alone for 9 and 12 years.

At first he bit me. Doesn't like fingers. But today I propped his door open and he was going in and out for a few hours. I just walked up to his cage and put my arm out and he got on and traveled up to my shoulder. Not real comfortable with this as I do not know the bird. He has been hanging out for 45 mins and doing a bobbing head thing - anyone know what that means? I gave him some treats.

What I would like to know is where do I go from here? I'm afraid to offer him my finger he bites really hard.

I offered him a tub of water. He almost got in and then changed his mind. I have had him for four days now.

Any suggestions?

Regards Montana

[avinet]

Hi Christine,

Sounds like Buddy is settling in just fine. If he sat on your shoulder for 45 minutes without you losing a chunk of ear then you are doing well

The head bobbing thing is possibly courtship display You might have a fan here

My only suggestion is to take it slowly, treats are good when he cooperates, and maybe don't push to boundaries too far while he is on your shoulder - maybe after 10 or 15 minutes, and a few treats, try to get him to jump back on his cage. My guess is if he is associating getting treats from fingers then eventually he will decide fingers are OK and not a threat.

The website that Emma linked to in another thread today is the website for Susan Friedman - she is one of the best for parrot behavioural issues. Might be worth a look through the site for anything she might have written about fingers and biting.
www.behaviorworks.org/htm/articles_behavior_change.html

Also Barbara Heidenreich's stuff will also have suggestions.

cheers,

Mike