Will constant contact with any bird lead to tameness?

[Pigeony]

A good portion of the outcome is dependant on individual personality. Some birds are just not into human interaction and you can't convince them otherwise. I've been involved in parrot and raptor rehab, in addition to keeping chickens; that seems to hold true for any bird. You might have one bird that has little to no previous interaction with people be easily "tamed" to accept human contact/presence while another could be carefully hand-raised yet never fully accept human contact. Not all methods will work well for every personality of bird, and you have to gauge the bird's response and adapt your own actions accordingly. If you take an anxious, flighty bird and repeatedly force it to accept human contact without it being on the bird's terms, it would probably backfire on you and make the bird even more averse to humans. Birds are smart and stubborn.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Birds are prey animals, that's the bottom line. They are not dogs or cats which have been domesticated from time immemorial. The only reason a bird gets picked up or touched, in a bird's mind, is to be eaten. It's not normal, natural or comfortable to a bird. Having said that, yes, there are birds that do learn to enjoy sitting on people's laps, shoulders, heads or whatever - but it's the bird that decides this, because the human makes it safe and pleasant for the bird to want to do this. I don't believe you can force a bird to enjoy this, you can only increase its fear and resistance by trying to force it. Just my opinion based on the birds I've interacted with.

 

[scottischicken]

Birds are prey animals, that's the bottom line. They are not dogs or cats which have been domesticated from time immemorial. The only reason a bird gets picked up or touched, in a bird's mind, is to be eaten. It's not normal, natural or comfortable to a bird. Having said that, yes, there are birds that do learn to enjoy sitting on people's laps, shoulders, heads or whatever - but it's the bird that decides this, because the human makes it safe and pleasant for the bird to want to do this. I don't believe you can force a bird to enjoy this, you can only increase its fear and resistance by trying to force it. Just my opinion based on the birds I've interacted with.

So basically any continuous interaction with a bird won’t work?

These videos says it’s okay:

 

[Pigeony]

So basically any continuous interaction with a bird won’t work?

These videos says it’s okay:

It's gonna be hit or miss because birds are individuals. Most of the responders here have not been saying that continuous interaction can't produce a tamer bird, but that you shouldn't count on it. It will work with some birds and not with others. If the bird is stubbornly opposed to being handled and fights/flees every time, there's no guarantee that will change. I've had hand-raised chicks that I handled every day grow up into both hens that liked to sit in laps as well as hens that wouldn't let me within 5 feet of them, it's up to the bird.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You have to "read" and respect the bird. If constant handling stresses the bird and freaks it out, then don't do it. If you can pick up a reluctant bird and they then seem to relax and enjoy it, then fine.

 

[Squawkers]

What birds are you trying to tame? Are they chickens? Are they completely wild or just a little untrusting?

 

[Mrs. K]

If you sit in the chicken yard and do nothing, no talking, no movement. I took a book, and read. At the end of 20 minutes, I threw down some scratch and left.

Day 2 - Go back and sit, quietly. After 5 minutes, when they are ignoring you, throw out some scratch, AWAY from you. Sit until it is gone and leave.

Continue this, each day dropping the scratch a little closer to you. Always wait a bit before you put it down, eventually, they will come to expect that when you sit in the chair, a treat is coming. They will approach you.

Eventually, they would jump in my lap in anticipation of the treat. These were full grown birds that had not been handled.

Thing is, I found I really didn't like them on me. I just really like to watch them. I almost never handle my birds. And perhaps the real question is, were they tame or just a bell response to food?

Mrs K

 

[countryladyNH]

We have a pet domestic goose named Gabby. We saw her hatch (incubator) and she bonded with us immediately. She is a Pilgrim breed. She goes on 'walkies' on a harness and leash which we trained her with when she was about 5 weeks old. She is now 17 months. She loves people and everyone takes her photos, pets her, and feeds her her treats that we bring with us---(peas, cucumber pieces, red grapes, and watermelon are faves!) She is so sweet and very gentle. Although she lives in a coop with 3 duck gal pals, we are 'mom and dad' for life and she loves her walkies, following us around, cuddling in the car on my lap, etc. For the first 7 weeks of her life she lived in a bin in our bedroom. She loves us! Everyone loves Gabby wherever we bring her.

 

[Squawkers]

We have a pet domestic goose named Gabby. We saw her hatch (incubator) and she bonded with us immediately. She is a Pilgrim breed. She goes on 'walkies' on a harness and leash which we trained her with when she was about 5 weeks old. She is now 17 months. She loves people and everyone takes her photos, pets her, and feeds her her treats that we bring with us---(peas, cucumber pieces, red grapes, and watermelon are faves!) She is so sweet and very gentle. Although she lives in a coop with 3 duck gal pals, we are 'mom and dad' for life and she loves her walkies, following us around, cuddling in the car on my lap, etc. For the first 7 weeks of her life she lived in a bin in our bedroom. She loves us! Everyone loves Gabby wherever we bring her.View attachment 3993082

View attachment 3993083

View attachment 3993084

View attachment 3993085

That is so cute!!!!

 

[Lthompson123]

This question is for any bird (chickens, ducks, pigeons, parakeets, etc)

Will constant contact and interaction with any untame bird eventually lead to the bird not being afraid of people?

Or do birds need to be handraised by people from a young age?

Also will picking up a chicken from the ground constantly everyday help make it more tame and less afraid of people? The same goes for parakeets. Will taking a parakeet out from the cage constantly everyday make it less afraid of people?

Or do you have to give treats and positive reinforcement/rewards to make the bird less afraid of you?

Basically I’m asking is any interaction with a bird on a daily basis good enough to make it less afraid of you? I am asking this because parrot trainers on YouTube state that you should not force a bird to be tame. And that you need to go at the bird’s pace.

What’s your opinion?

Hi
I have a chicken who I have given herbs to twice a day for a number of months. She has grown very comfortable with being held. A gentle approach and patience.