In the first few weeks with Franklin, I tried to offer him treats through the bars and he refused to take them directly from me. I began to clip or wedge the treats between the bars and go across the room to wait and see if he would go for it. At first he would not even eat in front of me and would even drop food if I glanced his way. Each day I would move my chair closer and just sit and read out loud or talk to him and eventually he would eat in front of me. I learned that he panics when I try to put my hands in the cage, so I let him have his cage as his domain, his safe zone. To let him know he is safe when he is in the cage, I would walk up and put my hands on both sides and speak to him in a soothing tone. At first he would make his angry sounds, lunge towards me, hide at the bottom etc. but once he realized I couldn't get in his cage he calmed down a bit. Franklins cage is just that... Franklins. I only go in to clean, change out his food bowls, or hang a new toy. He needs to associate his cage as a fun, safe place where he gets his meals and actually enjoys being in there.
Now, back to the food part. Once I realized there is no way I will get him to take treats from me while he was in his cage I began a new process. Outside of his cage he has three perches and he loves being out. I began to place treats at the opposite side of the cage from him and take a few steps back. At first he would not go for it if I was looking, but each day I took one step closer and closer and stood my ground while he ate his treat. All the while giving him praise and talking to him. After doing this everyday for a few weeks he got to the point where he would race to get to his treat no matter what I was doing. That's when I knew it was time for the next step..... Taking it from my hand. The first day I did this he realized he was going to have to go near my hand and actually interact with me, he was so mad. He screamed and lunged, but I stayed vigilant and even though my arm was killing me I held my post. After he realized a tantrum was getting him no where he finally took the slice of corn from my hand. I wanted to cry with happiness because it was such a huge step for him. I kept this up, moving closer and closer each day.... While at the same time making the corn smaller and smaller. Once he was used to this method I took individual corn kernels and placed them in my palm. I laid my hand next to him and he threw his tantrum and gave me a nip, but he eventually took the bait gently from me. He is at the point now where he will take just about anything from my hands, and in a gentle way. Still doesn't want much petting, but everyday his trust grows.
As far as his daily food routine, he always has fresh, clean water. I also have a pellet bowl which I leave all day. I'm lucky if he even eats one or two but I want him to have the pellets as a source of vitamins and minerals. For breakfast (which is eaten in the cage) I give him peas (everyday he gets about 10) and rotate between his favorite fruits and veggies, giving him more veg than fruit. For example this morning he gad his daily dose of peas, a slice of red capsicum, one grape, one small slice of pear, and three small carrot slices. I learned he only likes the freshest of the fresh. He usually eats if up right away and I take out his fresh food bowl after an hour, regardless of what he's eaten. This helps him realize when breakfast is and that he doesn't get to graze all day. I then let him out for some outside time and then About 11am he gets his foraging cup placed in his cage. It has seeds but just enough to cover the bottom and a something fresh that he didn't already have at breakfast. I leave the cage open and he goes in on his own. I let him hang out and only put him back in the cage for his naptime or if I'm headed out. Dinner time is the same as breakfast but a different variety of fruit or veg so he doesn't get tired of eating the same thing all the time.
I keep him on the same schedule and he lets me know if breakfast or dinner is late. I give him a few small snacks throughout. the day during training or so he can forage. He only gets his seeds from 11am until naptime, take it or leave it. Foraging is vital for their health as that would be what they would do in the wild. Try to give your baby more veggies and fruits and less seeds. Seeds are like candy to them and need to be given in moderation. Some avian vets even recommend no seeds, but these birds eat them in the wild, so I feel as long as Franklins diet isn't mostly seeds I think it's just fine. Remember keeping him on a predictable schedule will help him trust you faster and make him more comfortable. Also once you get to know how much your bird needs to eat each day, it will be easier to make sure he gets full. Franklin is growing as he is a teenager and let's me know when he is still hungry and I adjust accordingly by giving him more veggies.
Hope this helps! I know this was long, I just want to be thorough.
By the way, what color is yours and what's its name?
Love that he liked the shower! Franklin will sometimes fly into the bathroom and hop in the shower and chirp at me.... Even if he's already had his morning shower, he loves it that much.
