Scared whydas

[BBry]

Hello everyone so we got a pair of pintailed whydas a few months ago (like around September) and they are really nice birds we love the males long tail and the way he sings in the evening. Unfortunately it's been a while now since we've had them and they still freak out every time we get near the cage. is there any way to calm them down? We can't even get close to change their food without them flying all over the cage.

[DanteD716]

These birds are probably wild caught. Housing then in a lathe cage/aviary with birds that are calm and used to people seemed to help my birds calm down, if that is boy possible just try to sit by the cage for a few hours, read a non or something that doesn't require much movement and they should warm up to you being there

[MiaCarter]

DanteD716 is spot on.

If you can position them with other more relaxed birds, that will help. Ideally in the same cage, but in another cage that they can see will work too.

And I'd just sit with them working on your laptop or reading or some other activity where they can just get used to your presence. That's the first step in any taming effort and it works very effectively.

If they have a food that they really love, feed that food before you sit with them. That will help them come to associate your presence with good things instead of frightening things.

I would also try to be really consistent about your routine with them when it comes to water, food and cleaning.
Try to use the same routine. When they can anticipate your actions, they're more comfortable.

This is what makes me so sad about wild caught birds. They always seem so frightened, even in an aviary. I can't enjoy them; they just elicit feelings of pity.

I hope they come around and calm for you!

[BBry]

Hmm that's interesting I never would've known that. Our cleaning routine usually doesn't change we clean their food around the same time. As for the rearranging I'll try that and see if that helps. The only time I can try that sitting with them is on weekends but I'll try that too. Thanks for the advice

[isobea]

I have no experience with whydahs, but I also acquired some wild-caught birds in September. I am lucky to have a big enough aviary so they can get away from me. But I noticed that they were easily spooked by my two little border terriers every time the dogs got close to the aviary. Now, my dogs are used to my birds (they ignore them) and all my older birds are equally used to the dogs (and ignore them in return). After awhile my wild-caught birds calmed down considerably which I attribute mostly to them observing the behavior of the older birds.
I don't know if your cats ever come close to the bird cages, but could it be that your whydahs are afraid of your cats? They definitely would fall into the 'predator' category. Just a thought...

[isobea]

I have no experience with whydahs, but I also acquired some wild-caught birds in September. I am lucky to have a big enough aviary so they can get away from me. But I noticed that they were easily spooked by my two little border terriers every time the dogs got close to the aviary. Now, my dogs are used to my birds (they ignore them) and all my older birds are equally used to the dogs (and ignore them in return). After awhile my wild-caught birds calmed down considerably which I attribute mostly to them observing the behavior of the older birds.
I don't know if your cats ever come close to the bird cages, but could it be that your whydahs are afraid of your cats? They definitely would fall into the 'predator' category. Just a thought...

[isobea]

I have no experience with whydahs, but I also acquired some wild-caught birds in September. I am lucky to have a big enough aviary so they can get away from me. But I noticed that they were easily spooked by my two little border terriers every time the dogs got close to the aviary. Now, my dogs are used to my birds (they ignore them) and all my older birds are equally used to the dogs (and ignore them in return). After awhile my wild-caught birds calmed down considerably which I attribute mostly to them observing the behavior of the older birds.
I don't know if your cats ever come close to the bird cages, but could it be that your whydahs are afraid of your cats? They definitely would fall into the 'predator' category. Just a thought...