Question about taming a handicapped parakeet?

Question

I have been the proud owner of a one-legged parakeet for a year now. She was injured in an accident at the pet store, and they had to amputate her leg in order for her to survive. She is a very pretty girl, and very vocal, and she gets around her cage fairly well with just the one leg.

I need advice on training her. I have been trying everything I can think of this past year, and she simply will not tame. She won't respond to Step Up training. And because I can't get her to tame, she doesn't get out of the cage much, which makes me feel bad. I give her as much attention as she'll let me. I sit by her cage and talk to her, and let her listen to music when I am in the room.

Does anyone have any good ideas on working with her? I would love to see her out and about her cage more! Thank you for any help.

Answer 1

I wonder if her reluctance to hand train comes from the fact that with only 1 leg she doesn't feel comfortable on surfaces (like hands) that aren't steady. In her cage she has learned that perches and cage bars do not move, which must be a HUGE issue when you only have 1 leg to balance on.

Without a solid surface under her she may just freak out that she doesn't have secure footing.

I'm really not sure how to go about training her, other than the normal ways, but maybe she is just not meant to be hand trained. I keep thinking of standing on a skateboard with only 1 leg and trying to keep my balance, which is what she must feel being on a hand that moves around.

You could try clipping her wing (if not clipped already) and just letting her out to explore in a safe area by herself. She may enjoy just sitting near you and being with you, just not the trying to balance on a moving object part of being with you.

I wish I could be of more help, and hopefully someone who has been in this situation comes along and gives you some tips, but I did want to say well done for taking a less than perfect bird into your family ad giving her a chance.