Training Your Mynah to Perch on Your Fingers

Training Your Mynah to Perch on your Fingers
by Kathy Butterfield

Not all mynahs are alike. Each one has its own personality and preference. Once settled in its cage, it needs time to get use to its new surroundings and to feel safe before you try to handle it. You first have to earn its trust. Some mynahs will only tolerate being handled to a degree. Some may not like it at all.

After your new pet has had time to be comfortable in its new surroundings there are steps to take to get your bird use to being handled. First, stand in front of the cage without opening the door and talk softly to your bird. Walk away from the cage for a few minutes. When you return, have a treat with you such as a piece of grape to offer your bird. Offer the treat though the cage bars with your fingers. Once your bird takes treats throught the cage bars, then you can offer a treat from you hand inside the cage door. Once your bird feels comfortable taking treats from your fingers inside the cage, try placing your finger in front of your bird and press gently against him, just above his legs. Your bird may hop onto your finger. If you are successful with this, just hold still and talk to your bird. Allow the bird to hop back onto its perch and slowly remove your hand from the cage and close the door. Then leave the bird alone for a while. Go back in a few minutes and talk to your bird, open the cage door and in the same manner as before, get your bird to perch onto your finger. After your bird is comfortable hopping on and off of your finger, you will soon be able to move your bird on your hand outside the cage. A mynah usually loves being out of its cage and can give its owner a merry chase when time to return. If your bird will not perch on your finger when you want to return it to the cage, you may have to scoop up the bird in your hands or throw a towel over him to catch him. The best way is to get your bird to perch on your hand and allow it to hop back onto a perch in the cage. If the bird does not want to go back in, try putting a treat in the cage for encouragement.

It is unsafe for a pet mynah to be allowed to fly free outside its cage without first having its wings trimmed. A mynah without trimmed wings can have a fatal accident by crashing into a wall. Even with trimmed wings they can fly but not as high. Mynahs love to hop and explore when outside the cage so when this is allowed, supervision is necessary.

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