by MFids on Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:45 pm
Have you given Zazu the chance to come out on his own? Chances are, he's still settling in, and finds his cage to be a safe place - one in which you are invading, by putting your hands inside. He needs time to settle in and learn to trust you.
You can try taking out all his food & treats inside his cage just prior to him going to bed, then feeding him millet or seeds from your hands first thing in the morning. This will help him get used to your hands better. Make them appear less scary, and potentially more trusting. If he doesn't eat within 5-15 minutes, or however long you want to leave your hand there, then remove your hand, and replace his food to try again the next day. If he's comfortable enough with you, then try your hand right at the cage door or just inside, but don't move your hand towards him. Allow him the choice to go to you if he so wishes. If he's not comfortable with that, then try from outside of the cage near a perch of his.
If the door swings out, you can put a perch on that and tempt him to that perch and swing the door out. You can also try putting a perch on the outside of the cage with a treat dish next to it. Either way, praise him with attention and treats when he comes out on his own. This will be better at earning his trust rather than 'forcing' him out in the manner that you are currently doing.
Monica & Fids
"I am willing to make the mistakes if someone else is willing to learn
from them."
