Taming a Galah (rose breasted cockatoo)

Question
hi :)
we just got a 2-3 mo galah who we believe to be wild caught :/ but we are trying to tame him down enough so he can be handled and eventually after being tested for diseases, be introduced to our quaker and cockatiels.
any suggestions on how to tame him would be much appreciated.

-stefanie and flock

Answer
Hi there,

So the Galah is a baby yet? Therefore this little one was taken from a nest, seeing as how he's only 2 or 3 months old, or is it possible he's quite a bit older?

If he is that young, then it will make things a LOT easier because the little guy won't be quite so set in his ways as say a 2 or 3 year old bird.

My first suggestion, just starting off would be to earn his trust. Just sit nearby his cage and talk to him and a calm soothing voice, offer him his favourite foods, fruits, veggies or even nuts! After this, try putting your hand on the cage and see if he comes over after sometime. You want him to understand that you are a part of his flock, and that hands will not harm him. After doing this for sometime, try stick training him, this is fairly simple. Make sure you are using something he is used to, so even if you take out one of the perches in his cage and use that so he's comfortable and unafraid of it! You need to move slowly, and keep your hand at the very end of the stick and with the other end, try to get him to step-up. Step-up training is very important. Since you do have other fids, you should know how to step-up train, its simple enough, repetition and practice. With the stick training, you will gradually move your hand up the stick and continue to ask him to step-up, now this is over a period of days and weeks, not in one session, that's asking a little much. But, after some time he should trust you enough that your hand will end up at his end of the stick and he's basically standing on your hand. After that you can try taking him out and to another part of the house away from his cage in order to further step-up train him using the stick and a hand!

Now, this is going to take time, and tons of patience; it may take weeks or even months before he trusts you enough to step-up on your hand! You have to take it slow and move at his pace. And be sure you always end on a good note. So, if he refuses to step-up with your hand further up the stick, then back your hand off a bit and then try again. If he starts getting frustrated, make him step-up one final time and end the session by praising him immensely and giving him a treat.

Treats work wonders in getting an animal to trust you! You give him something he loves, he'll start thinking 'hmm, this creature isn't half bad' and will start warming up to you!

I've never tamed something as large as a Galah before but I did tame a wild lovebird who was quite the nasty biter and he turned into the sweetest bird I've ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. So with time and patience you can tame almost any fid.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. I would love to hear updates as you go along.

Good luck! =)
Sarah