Alright, today was the first time I scolded my IRN. Literally, after months and months of trying to build trust, being extremely patient to all sorts of biting and misbehaviour, and getting him used to his environment, he still has some absolute hatred for me.
Scratch that, it's not me, it's my hand. By scold, it was no physical damage or actually attacking the bird, it was more like him biting my finger to the point that it bleed, for trying to position his bed/swing better since it was hanging literally sideways, so I had a miniature snap and just poked his beak twice when he tried to lash out, nothing hard, literally just like a tap, whilst saying "No!" in an authoritative tone.
I've been trying to train/bond with him for 6 months straight whilst working a 9 to 5. He's got an extremely large cage, and whenever I'm outside of work, I usually leave the cage door open so he can explore the room, since I don't see him as happy by staying in the cage all his life. He understands who I am and has absolutely no fear of my face getting near him to the point I can literally give him a kiss on his beak without much of a reaction, but anything finger/arm related puts him into an instant defensive pose, lowering his head and backing away whilst simultaneously trying to bite me. He has no issue grabbing food from between my fingers, and, though he struggles and will almost never jump on it voluntarily, will latch onto my arm if it means I can take him out of the cage.
But I just don't get it. I understand parrots take a while to bond, since my family had a African Grey that bonded to me when I was still a kid and was an excellent childhood pet throughout. Is it because it wasn't hand raised? I just don't understand what else I can do. I followed the step by step guide on taming/training him on this forum, letting him dictate what happens, walking into my room cautiously/slowly if he shows fear, but no matter what, he's still the same bird I bought when he was 2 months. Apart from the fact that he can jump onto my arm, absolutely nothing has changed.
He will honestly prefer hurting himself by flying away and taking risky routes around the room rather than get into his cage/get onto my arm so I can take him into his cage, WHEN IT'S HIS TIME TO SLEEP. He'll do anything to avoid my hand/arm if it has no food whatsoever. I've been trying to associate my hand with good things, but he just doesn't care.
I love the bird a lot, and I spent most of my childhood with the African Grey where he had no worries simply answering a whistle and jumping onto my shoulder. He had no fear of my hands so he had no issue with letting me pet him or jumping onto my arm to move place to place.
Any assistance would be amazing. I'm thinking about passing on this bird to my dad if he just can't behave. Clicker training doesn't even work on him, he doesn't associate the click with food, he doesn't... Understand anything. It's annoying.
Edit: Trying to make it up to him now by giving him a tiny bit of apple. He calmly stepped up onto the edge of the cage. Tried to ask for a whistle, he responded back instantly. Doesn't seem to hold a grudge. In general, he's happy, constantly whistling/singing throughout the day and then constantly moving during the afternoon.
Scratch that, it's not me, it's my hand. By scold, it was no physical damage or actually attacking the bird, it was more like him biting my finger to the point that it bleed, for trying to position his bed/swing better since it was hanging literally sideways, so I had a miniature snap and just poked his beak twice when he tried to lash out, nothing hard, literally just like a tap, whilst saying "No!" in an authoritative tone.
I've been trying to train/bond with him for 6 months straight whilst working a 9 to 5. He's got an extremely large cage, and whenever I'm outside of work, I usually leave the cage door open so he can explore the room, since I don't see him as happy by staying in the cage all his life. He understands who I am and has absolutely no fear of my face getting near him to the point I can literally give him a kiss on his beak without much of a reaction, but anything finger/arm related puts him into an instant defensive pose, lowering his head and backing away whilst simultaneously trying to bite me. He has no issue grabbing food from between my fingers, and, though he struggles and will almost never jump on it voluntarily, will latch onto my arm if it means I can take him out of the cage.
But I just don't get it. I understand parrots take a while to bond, since my family had a African Grey that bonded to me when I was still a kid and was an excellent childhood pet throughout. Is it because it wasn't hand raised? I just don't understand what else I can do. I followed the step by step guide on taming/training him on this forum, letting him dictate what happens, walking into my room cautiously/slowly if he shows fear, but no matter what, he's still the same bird I bought when he was 2 months. Apart from the fact that he can jump onto my arm, absolutely nothing has changed.
He will honestly prefer hurting himself by flying away and taking risky routes around the room rather than get into his cage/get onto my arm so I can take him into his cage, WHEN IT'S HIS TIME TO SLEEP. He'll do anything to avoid my hand/arm if it has no food whatsoever. I've been trying to associate my hand with good things, but he just doesn't care.
I love the bird a lot, and I spent most of my childhood with the African Grey where he had no worries simply answering a whistle and jumping onto my shoulder. He had no fear of my hands so he had no issue with letting me pet him or jumping onto my arm to move place to place.
Any assistance would be amazing. I'm thinking about passing on this bird to my dad if he just can't behave. Clicker training doesn't even work on him, he doesn't associate the click with food, he doesn't... Understand anything. It's annoying.
Edit: Trying to make it up to him now by giving him a tiny bit of apple. He calmly stepped up onto the edge of the cage. Tried to ask for a whistle, he responded back instantly. Doesn't seem to hold a grudge. In general, he's happy, constantly whistling/singing throughout the day and then constantly moving during the afternoon.