My rescued bird won't play with toys or let me pet. What to do?

Question

I rescued my bird Blue about five months ago, I don’t know anything about his past owners, but he doesn’t act playful. He doesn’t let us pet him, and we’ve never seen him play with his toys. Is there maybe something going on? Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

It's possible Blue wasn't socialized very well or didn't have access to toys, so these are new and scary to him. However, with any behavioral issue, ruling out any potential health issues with your local avian vet first is good to make sure there isn't something underlying behind it. If he checks out healthy, it may be that he just needs more time to get used to being a "normal" bird. If he has a favorite snack he likes, offering it every time you come by, or hiding it in his toys to encourage exploration and play may help. This can take time even with tame birds, so being extra patient with Blue is best. Many birds also like different types of toys, so trying out a variety of things such as mirrors, ladders, swings, toys that can be chewed, ones with bells, feathers, etc may encourage him to find one he likes to play with.

My rescued bird won't play with toys or let me pet. What to do?

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