How to Tame a Bird

Birds are intelligent animals and make excellent pets. Luckily, taming a bird is not as challenging as it might appear. However, taming a bird does require time and patience. When you tame a bird, you'll not only create a close bond with it but also help it feel more comfortable and secure in its environment.

Give your bird time to adjust to your home. Your bird may need about two weeks to familiarize itself with its new surroundings before you can start taming it. Some species might take longer, while others may need less time. Place the birdcage in a room where people frequently pass by. While a quiet room may seem ideal, putting the cage in a busy room will help the bird get used to human interaction and become more comfortable with activity.

• Do not place the birdcage in the kitchen. The fumes from non-stick cookware can be toxic and dangerous for the bird.
• Once the bird feels safe in its new environment, it will no longer flap its wings when you approach. If it stays still on its perch, it is still uneasy with you or its new home.

Talk to the bird with a soothing voice. An essential part of building trust with the bird is ensuring that it feels comfortable and safe in your presence. You can achieve this by speaking softly and gently to it. What you say doesn't matter—what's important is that your tone reassures the bird and creates a calm environment for it to feel secure.

• Engage with the bird several times a day, especially when you're changing its food and water.

Approach the bird slowly and gently. Birds are naturally shy creatures, so sudden movements can startle them. By using slow and gentle gestures, you'll help the bird feel assured that you pose no threat.

• When approaching the bird, try to be slightly above its eye level. Being too high can scare it, while being too low may make the bird perceive you as weak.
• Speak in a soft and comforting voice as you approach to help the bird feel more at ease with your presence.

Place your hand near the bird's cage. Hand-taming a bird is a popular method, but due to their skittish nature, your hand might initially scare the bird. Birds purchased from pet stores may have negative associations with hands, thinking they are being captured or chased.

• Keep your hand where the bird can easily see it. To reduce its stress, speak to the bird in a soft tone and keep your hand still in a fixed position.
• Try holding your hand near the cage for 10–15 minutes (or as long as you can), 2 to 3 times daily for 4 to 7 days. You can gently touch the cage with your hand.
• Be patient, as getting the bird comfortable with your hand will take time.

Place your hand inside the bird's cage. Once the bird no longer flaps in fear when you extend your hand outside the cage, you can begin to place it inside to help the bird become more familiar with your touch. It is crucial to move your hand in slowly, avoiding any sudden movements. Also, try not to make direct eye contact, as this can be perceived as a threat.

• At this stage, don't attempt to touch the bird yet.
• In fact, you should place your hand inside the cage each day when changing its food and water. By forming this daily habit, the bird will gradually become more comfortable with your hand.
• It may take a few days to weeks for the bird to fully accept your hand inside the cage.
• Continue to speak softly to the bird while your hand is inside the cage to keep it relaxed.

Attract the bird with food. If the bird is still uncomfortable when you place your hand in the cage, you can improve the situation by holding food in your hand. Millet or sunflower seeds are usually the bird's favorite treats, but you can also offer dark green leaves like spinach.

• Regardless of the food type, ensure it's something the bird recognizes and enjoys.
• Hold the food in your hand and keep it still. Depending on how timid the bird is, you might have to try several times before the bird feels comfortable enough to approach and peck the food.
• Offer food in your hand 3-5 times a day, especially when changing the bird's food and water. Gradually, the bird will start looking forward to your feeding times.
• When offering the food, slowly bring your hand closer to the bird. Over time, the bird will become accustomed to your hand entering the cage.

Extend your hand like a branch for the bird to perch. Place your hand inside the bird's cage, extending your index finger and curling the other fingers into your palm to create a perch. Slowly move your hand toward the bird to avoid startling it, then gently place your index finger just below the bird's chest, slightly above its feet.

• If you're afraid the bird might peck, you can cover your hand with a small cloth or wear gloves. However, this won't help the bird get used to your hand, and it might actually make the bird more frightened.

Encourage the bird to perch on your finger. Once your hand is placed below the bird's chest, gently push its body upwards to encourage it to perch on your finger. Don’t be surprised if the bird hops away and flies to another part of the cage. If this happens, don’t chase it around—simply retract your hand and try again later, or just leave your hand still in the cage until the bird calms down and is ready to approach you again.

• If you'd like to encourage the bird further, you can hold food in your other hand. Hold the food out of reach, so the bird has to hop onto your finger to get it. You can try this if the cage door is wide enough to bring both hands inside.
• You can also command the bird verbally (“Hop on” or “Perch”) while lifting its body. Give this command every time you want the bird to hop onto your finger.
• Keep your hand still while the bird perches on your finger.

Reward the bird. Reward the bird with food whenever it perches on your hand, even if just for a brief moment. The bird may hop onto your hand and then hop off, or just place one foot on it. Be sure to reward the bird for any progress, even the smallest.

• Keep training sessions short: 10-15 minutes, two to three times a day.
• Along with food rewards, you can also praise the bird with words when it hops onto your hand.

Create a safe room for the bird. Teaching the bird to perch on your hand outside the cage is an essential step in taming it. Prepare a room where the bird feels secure and protected. Close all windows and curtains, and remove any other pets from the area. Also, clear away any potential hazards like running fans.

• Ideally, choose a room that can be locked from the inside to prevent interruptions during training.
• Make sure the room is well-lit, tidy, and clean.
• The bathroom is often the best choice for bird training sessions.

Rearrange the birdcage if necessary. The cage is the bird’s comfort zone, and taking it out of this safe area might be frightening for it. To avoid causing additional stress, take your time clearing away any obstacles between the bird and the exit.

Take the bird out of the cage. Have the bird perch on your finger inside the cage, and slowly withdraw your hand to bring it out. Don’t be surprised if the bird flies off when you try to take it outside—it may not be ready to leave its safe space yet. If that happens, don’t chase the bird around the cage.

• If the cage is large enough, you can use both hands to surround the bird, using one hand as a shield to keep it from flying off your finger, but be careful not to touch its body.
• Don’t force the bird out of the cage. Patience is key. It might take a few days of training for the bird to feel comfortable leaving its cage.

Give the bird time to adjust to the environment outside the cage. The bird might immediately try to fly or perch outside the cage. Don’t chase after it with your finger. Wait patiently for it to settle, then coax it to return to your finger.

• If the bird hasn’t had its wings clipped, it might fly away when taken out of the cage. Approach it slowly and gently, reassuring it with your voice.
• Reward the bird when it perches calmly on your finger.
• Train the bird daily in short sessions (10 to 15 minutes each).

Allow the bird to perch on your hand in a safe room. Once the bird is comfortable being outside its cage, bring it to a safe room. Sit on the floor or on the bed when you enter the room. If the bird jumps off your finger, gently guide it back onto your hand.

• For a bit of a challenge, you can use both hands as a perch. Place the bird on the index finger of one hand, then gently push underneath its chest with the other finger to guide it onto the perch. Alternate between hands, gradually raising them like a ladder to encourage the bird to climb.
• Reward the bird every time it lands on your hand.
• Train the bird in the safe room for about 15-20 minutes, one to three times a day.

Return the bird to its cage. After each training session outside the cage, slowly return the bird to its home and place it inside. Although the bird will likely try to fly away as soon as it enters the cage, you should place it on the perch. Position your hand so that the perch is right in front of the bird and higher than your hand.

• Once the bird lands on the perch, command 'step down.' Even though the bird is technically stepping up to the perch, you can consider this its way of stepping down from your finger.
• Close the cage door once the bird is settled inside.