My Indian Ringneck screams when I get close. How can I bond with him?

She is likely screaming out of boredom. Birds are very social and require attention and engagement. Provide plenty of toys and puzzles. A lay area on top of her cage is also recommended where she can spend time out of her cage. When she screams, do not "reward" her by giving food. Ignore her until she is quiet then offer treats, individual attention and other rewards. Praise her and attention when she is quiet. Be patient and be consistent.

I’m sorry this is happening. I know it can be pretty frustrating for you. The best this to do is work with him very slowly and have lots of patience. It will take time for him to begin to trust you. The best way to gain his trust is by working with him slowly and using small pieces of his favorite treat as a reward for interacting with you. First start by giving him a treat when you approach him/open the cage door, then, once he is comfortable with this, try to pet him with one finger, then continue increasing your interactions with him along these lines. It will take him time but with persistence he will get more used to you. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

You will need to gradually acclimate him to you. This will take time and patience but is not impossible. Begin by sitting next to the cage for ever increasing periods of time. At the end, provide a small treat or reward. Once he accepts you nearby, place your hand IN the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Simply leave it there. Do not move or try to touch him. Again, leave a treat or reward when you are done. Move your hand closer each time. Eventually, he will acclimate and begin to show curiosity. At this point you can try getting him to perch on a finger. Don't force it and don't grab at him. Move slowly and speak softly. Always provide a reward or treat as he progresses.

Time and patience are key to helping your parakeets get used to you, and each individual bird may bond differently to you due to their individual personalities. If your birds have a favorite treat, you can also use that by giving it to them every time you visit their cage or interact. I'm also including an in-depth article on teaching your bird to step up which can help with the bonding process as well: https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-bird-training-how-to-train-your-bird-to-step-up/

Birds, just like other pets, may develop preferences towards humans. Acclimate him gradually by sitting next to his cage for ever increasing periods of time. He may flutter about and move to the far side of the cage initially but will eventually calm down. Once he does, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Make no attempt to touch or hold him. He'll flutter about and complain again initially. Speak softly and move slowly. Use praise and small treats after each episode. You may get to the point where Ringo will perch on a finger or sing to you, but if not, do not despair. Be patient and continue working with him. Canaries aren't "cuddly" like cockatoos or other larger birds. (I have 2 African Greys that are almost 30. I have raised both. One loves me, the other has murder in her eyes whenever I approach to clean the cage or feed her. It is what it is).

I think what you are doing at this time is great. The more you work with him like this the more he will begin to trust you. If he is hurting you when biting you then I would stop the behavior. However, if it is just a small nip to see how you react then I think it’s ok to let the behavior continue. Whenever you a handling him use his favorite treats/snacks so he will learn that by interacting with you he gets a positive reward. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

If your girlfriend knows what their favorite treats are, stock up on it! You'll want to begin slowly, and if at anytime the birds become stressed, take a break and let everyone relax. You can start by just offering them the treat by tossing it to them or their cage, until they are comfortable with you around. From there, you can work on offering a treat by hand, or letting them sit on your hand (most birds will bite if they come up on your shoulder and aren't used to you, so keeping them on your hand can help everyone feel comfortable!). As they get used to you, continuing to offer treats and just interacting with them can help you to bond. If they become stressed, bite, hiss, etc, placing them back in their cage and giving them a break, and then returning back to the previous step they were comfortable with is best.