taming

[tonyo]

Hi everyone,
I just recently acquired a young rainbow lory. He is not handreared. He still has a dark beak and I not sure what the exact age is. Are they easy to tame?

[vankarhi]

I think they are easy to tame.........I think any bird is easy to tame especially if it is young. I know very little about lorikeets though, but have a friend who has raised one herself and it is a lovely, cute, cheeky little pet. It talks too.

Just try to handle it in small amounts but regularly. I also let mine sit on my shoulder when they are a little more comfortable with me. I know a lot of people say that is a big no no, but I have never had a problem so far. Mind you I would not do it if it was big bird until I had a more trust in it and it in me.

Always be patient, gentle and talk quietly to the bird. The more you handle it (in small doses) the more it will quickly realise you are a good thing to be with.

With some of my birds I have worn gloves until I had confidence they would not bite ( sulfers and galahs).

Good luck and keep us posted.

[silvercloud]

Tracey pretty much covered it. Just be patient, even when your baby has a nippy day and s/he probably will as lorikeets can be nippy at times. Most of the time they're wonderful and the perseverence is well worth it. Good luck and keep us updated with his/her progress.

[vankarhi]

when I tamed 2 sulfers and a galah .............. many years ago, and I suspect they were wild caught but bought from pet shops, which apparently was not uncommon in those days (over 20 years ago). I had them tame within a couple of weeks. I wore welding gloves (but you probably would not need welding gloves.....maybe gardening gloves), and took them out of the cage and put them on a tstand. I clipped their wings and obviously had to keep putting them back on the tstand regularly for a while until they got used to it. I would also put them on my arm and walk around the house and talk softly to them while making them step up from one arm to the next..........quietly saying "step up". I would show them the rooms and just talk to them. Then put them back on the tstand with some seed or whatever on it. Then put them back into their cages. Then later I would repeat the above. I did this many times a day and when they could be trusted I slowly introduced them to the yard, walking around quietly talking to them etc. Remember to clip wings when taking them outside..........even with clipped wings some birds can still fly, especially if not clipped short enough. I did lose many 'tiels with clipped wings and one of my 'toos (I had him for some time and he was a good pet before he got a fright and flew off.....he was due for another clip ). I hope this helps. always end each training session on a high note and if you feel yourself getting frustrated...............stop then. Always remember to tell the bird it is a good boy/girl/bird too with even the slightest improvement, they do understand praise.

Once again good luck.

also, seeing as your bird is small, I would probably not wear gloves if you think you can handle a bite. Clench your fist before offering your arm/hand for a step up. A clenced fist offers tight skin which is harder for the bird to latch on to. If the bird does bite, try not to cause a scene and try hard not to react. This way the bird does not learn that "hey if I bite, the human does funny things................I might bite them again, because this looks funny and amuses me"................if you understand what I mean.

[tonyo]

Thank You very much guys! Your advice came in very handy. He/She has started feeding of my hand and Ive started to touch and pet it. I have tamed a corella before. I was just wondering if rainbow are any different because they are very flighty birds compared to bigger parrots. Ill let you know with my progress. Thanks again!

[silvercloud]

That's wonderful to hear.

[vankarhi]

I am glad to hear you are having success..........keep up the good work