Having a pet bird can bring so much joy, companionship and learning into your life.
Whether you’ve just welcomed a new feathered friend into your life or you’re wanting to deepen the connection you already have, discovering their little traits and personalities will make you fall in love with them all over again. Here at Capalaba Produce we love all creatures big and small, and today we’re going to be exploring our top tips for connecting with and getting to know your bird better.
Respect their space.
When you bring your new feathered friend home for the first time it’s important to realise they may need some time to adjust to their new home. By giving them space and allowing it allows them to explore their new home at their own pace. Although you may want to, if you smother them with all the interaction straight away, they may become overwhelmed. Just give them a bit of time to adjust.
Observe & Understand
Every chirp, gesture, or movement carries meaning. Pay attention to your bird’s body language, you’ll learn to understand their mood, likes, dislikes and preferences. Good communication is an important part of every relationship. Including the one with your birds, so pay attention to what they’re trying to say.
Establish a Routine
Birds in the wild thrive on routine, whether it’s a rooster announcing a new morning or a sandpiper flying to Australia every year. Your feathered friends are the same, they love consistency. We recommend sending a daily routine for playtime, interaction, feeding and sleep. This helps build trust between you and your bird and gives them a sense of security and safety in their life.
Encouraging good behavior
Rewarding your bird with treats, praise, or affection when they show good behavior. This could be as simple as them stepping onto our hand or mimicking your sounds, but rewarding your bird is a great way to deepen that bond.
Playtime!
Interactive play is a fantastic way to deepen that bond between you and your bird. Offering toys, puzzles, and activities stimulates their mind and body. Not only does this deepen the bond but it also stops your bird from getting bored and promotes a general wellbeing.
Communicating
Regularly talking to your bird with a calm and gentle tone is a way that they can get to know you better. Over time, your bird may start to mimic you or respond to specific cues. Being consistent is patient with this is important, but over time will build a deep bond between you two.
Contact
Slowly introduce physical contact and affection with your bird. It’s always important to respect your birds’ boundaries and not to force physical contact. But over time your bird will learn to trust you and be more and more comfortable with physical contact. Slowly introduce contact with simple gestures as letting climb on your hand or stroking feathers. Before long they may be climbing on you for a bit of a snuggle!
Learning your bird
Just like humans, every bird is different. They have their own unique quirks, personalities and preferences. Like humans, it’s important to respect those quirks and to mold your interactions based on their personalities and comfort levels. Be sure not to push your expectation onto your birds, they’re unique. That’s why we love them!
Quality Time
Spending quality time with your bird on a regular basis is the best way to get to know them, whether it’s sharing a meal, learning a trick, or just having a play on the couch. Spending time together is hands down the best way for you to get to know your bird.
Patience and Persistence
Getting to know your bird doesn’t happen overnight, its something that will get deeper as they learn to trust you and you learn to read them. Be prepared for ups and downs along the way. Celebrate the wins, and be consistent and you will create a deep, meaningful bond.
Connecting with your bird is something that requires effort, but in our opinion, it is worth the effort you put into it. They are magically, quirky, smart, and curious creatures with personalities as vibrant as some of their colours. By following these tips we’re sure you’ll be able to build a bond with your feathered friend. Embrace the journey of getting to know them, cherish the moments, and enjoy the deep companionship with your feathered friend.
From Nic and the team at Capalaba Produce.
