Chapter 1 - TAMING

Psittacine Birds are different from all other birds, in that they have strong hooked beaks, and all have two toes behind and two in front. During their evolution, these birds all preferred climbing to hopping from branch to branch. A species such as the Hanging Parro-quets, have a locking joint in their legs which enables them to hang from a branch and sleep upside down, their favorite position at night.

Before training a bird to talk, it is first necessary to tame it by winning its confidence, and getting your presence and that of others acceptable to the bird. The larger Psittacine Birds, Hill Mynahs, and the Crow Family, become very tame and attached to their owners, especially when obtained at a young age, 2 to 6 months. When an older bird is purchased, more patience and understanding are required of the owner, particularly if the bird is very wild or has been mistreated or neglected. Full-grown Parrots, Macaws and Cockatoos can bite hard and should be approached slowly, and not making any quick, sudden motions or loud noises.

Offering a tidbit from the hand (not candy or cake), or scratching their head for them gently, are winning suggestions. Various nuts, grated hard-boiled egg yolk, celery stalk, a small piece of fresh corn on cob, etc., make tempting offerings for the large Psittacines. Treats with very strong appeal to Hill Mynahs, Magpies, Crows and English Starlings, which they will take from your fingers, are red colored fruits such as cherries, a piece of tomato, various berries, and they love a drink of milk from the bottle cap. Grapes are irresistible and some go for mealworms. Fruit cake is the only kind that should be offered, dipped in milk for an occasional treat.

Hunger, one of the strongest instincts, should not be over­looked as a good method to use in taming any animal. I soon tamed a flock of ten mixed Finches and Grass Parrakeets flying about in a room, by withholding all seed for a couple of hours. I would then sit down with a large seed pan on my lap and remain still. Before long the boldest would fly down to the edge of the bed and sidle over to the dish. Then, with a flurry of wings, the rest of the flock would follow suit. Soon there would be a bevy of jittery birds on my lap busy filling their crops. With nervous glances at their surroundings, they would all fly off if I made the slightest move. I wouldn't advise this unless you have an hour and patience in which to relax with your birds.

Another way of taming a wild bird, is to place the cage right beside you while reading, writing or sewing. A nervous bird will eventually take your presence for granted. Birds kept alone, tame more readily than when in company of other birds. Some of the larger birds enjoy a little roughing up from their owner as they like attention. This doesn't mean teasing, which would make a bird vicious. They do enjoy having their head scratched and back stroked. With the larger Psittacines, a towel or glove should be used at first in handling them till they get used to their master. They will eventually expect this attention from persons they know who are near them.

EXAMINE   YOUR   BIRD

I always believe in a thorough examination of all birds, going over them by hand once a month. Wings, tail and body should be looked over, as there is always the possibility of finding some minor or major condition in your pet which could be corrected. This may be an ingrown feather, toenails or beek needing trimming, a swollen or dark abdomen indi­cating egg-binding or liver trouble. The vent should also be examined.

The legs, if rough and too scaly and encrusted with droppings, need washing in warm water, then anointing with either mineral oil, castor oil or vaseline, to soften the scales and kill any scale lice if they are present.

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