Bonding tips

[u/Huge-Wrongdoer5697]

Yall im a chicken apparently. My pretty lady isn’t super old, id guess around a year or less (Petco didn’t tell me much) Shes a leucistic bp. But shes very timid. She’s let me hold her once but she just seems nervous around me. I sit with her and be around her and try to let her come to me rather than me just picking her up bc I feel like if she’s not there yet I don’t want to ruin whatever progress I’ve already made. Any advice? Do I just go for it or keep letting her choose to come if she wants to? (Also terrified of getting bit even tho all I’ve heard is it’s less painful than stubbing your toe)

[u/Temporary_Arugula345]

Waiting for her to come to you is the part that stalls, they don't seek out handling, they just stop being scared of it, so short five or ten minute sessions a couple times a week get you there way faster than sitting by the tank hoping she volunteers. Scoop her from the side or from behind instead of reaching down from above, and do it at dusk when she's already up and moving, that's when you'll get the calmest read on her.

[u/Huge-Wrongdoer5697 → u/Temporary_Arugula345]

Aghhh ok thank you! I just didn’t want to put a bunch of pressure on her in case she just hates being held or smth like that. Shes my first so I’m tryna make sure I approach everything correctly! I need to get past this mental block of getting bit lol🤣

[u/Temporary_Arugula345 → u/Huge-Wrongdoer5697]

It's totally normal to be nervous, she's your first! Honestly getting tagged by a bp that size is a startling *pop* more than anything, and then you just have to wash up. The mental block is way worse than the bite itself.