A huge step!

So, as some of you know, I've been a foster parent for a blue fronted amazon who used to live with a woman who did her best but had too many problems of her own to be able to do the proper research or give Ebbe the time he needs.
It's been a little over a month since he got here and I really want to tell you about everything that's happend the last couple of weeks.

I have found out that in his first home (before this woman bought him) he was living with a family and spending most of his time in a cage placed in the hallway and they were having problem with him biting and attacking the husband.
This woman is not very trustworthy but the story seems credible. (I have seen some jealousy tendencies)
She was very suprised to hear that he'd never bitten me to the point of bleeding (so am I) and to hear about his ability to learn new things.

She came to visit us for the for the first time since he got here and he was NOT happy about that. I've never seen him this way before - with the eyes pinning and the tail completely flared (it was at that point I truly could understand the things I'd read about their body language)
He did not leave his cage except for once, when he tried to hide behind it and it was really, really sad to see.

After a visit to the vet for a check-up I found out that he was fat. I've ordered new pellets (the harrison ones) and we are working on moving that birdy booty to get fit. We've also been working on hands, stepping up and down, learning him that I won't poke him or tease him which I know has happend to him before.

Yesterday I got his cage from his last home. It's huge and takes up half of my tiny apartment. I filled it with new and old toys because I had to leave him on his own when I went to school and he was alone for five long hours, filled with anxiety from my part. He was cranky when I got home but we soon made up and later that day, it happend. I got to touch him! I really couldn't believe it and have no idea if he will allow it again but it happend and I'm so proud of the both of us.

Sorry for the long post but people who are not owned by an amazon don't really seem to understand how huge this is.
Here's a video of when I got to touch him! I regulary use my webcam to see what he is doing when he's sitting on my head and what mood he is in.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9nc7xmntw56hrx/video-1509381250 (2).mp4?dl=0

Just like elephants, amazons don't forget. Both the good and the bad.

texsize

Yeah.

The reaction to the former owner tells you EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW...

Put it this way. My foster Nape was with me for almost TWO YEARS after his former owner's living circumstances changed, and he couldn't take the bird with him. THE GUY CAME BACK AFTER TWO YEARS WHEN HIS SITUATION IMPROVED, AND THE BIRD FLEW TO HIM AND DOTED OVER HIM... (Needless to say - IT WAS STILL HIS BIRD. I just watched him for a couple of years for him...)

"Your bird" does not seem to like you very much lady. I think we have identified the bird's problem - and it appears to be human.

Which, by the way, is usually the case...

ALL PAIR BOND BIRDS GET JEALOUS... that's normal.

So wonderful that he let you touch him! You’ve made such a difference in caring for him - can’t wait to see what “Birdie aerobics” do for him

His reaction to his owner makes me sad

Sad that the lady is still his owner technically. I am glad he is seeing what love and good care is from you. I hope it works out he will be able to come live with you forever. You 2 seem to have quite the connection. Parrots can learn to adapt to busy schedules and learn to keep themselves entertained while we are at work or school. What they don't do so well with is an owner who doesn't care about them, harasses or abuses them.

That's wonderful

Florem that is great! a) he let you touch him and b) his eyes are closed.
Most parrots like it when you scratch them against the feather growth, so opposite of the direction you are doing in the video. He will likely be your best friend ever, if you do it like that. If he trusts you enough to close his eyes while you are scratching him thats also a big deal. Try rubbing his nares ( the nostril part of the beak) too, Salty loves that. Good for you again!

Awww I'm happy for you, it is a huge step. Keep up the good work and happy Halloween x

That’s awesome!! Congratulations.

Her visit & his response is telling.
Very happy he is in your care and I also hope you get to keep him.

I think I'm confused.....I know you've been caring for the bird full time, so you get to keep the bird?... or it's still just a foster thing while your friends mom is in prison or...something else?

Or is it you don't even know?

Phew, this week has been crazy! Sorry for late reply and thank you all so much for sharing my happiness!

Clark_conure - Well, at first I was only supposed to have him until she got out of jail and I was hoping that she would let me rehome him somewhere.
She got out two weeks ago and came to visit. I was hoping to get her to sign some papers for me to let me keep him but she still seems unsure. I'm not giving up though!

This morning was the craziest in like...forever.
I was in desperate need for someone to watch Ebbe at their place for a couple of hours because of workers that was going to repair and paint the roof in my one room apartment, and didn't want Ebbe to be close to the fumes from the paint.
I asked most of my friends but nobody could take him and I had to be in school for an exam. So I called her, the owner and she desperately wanted to help. I had a really bad feeling about it and I wouldn't have asked her if I had any other option, but there was none.

I tried getting Ebbe into his transportation cage, the same one that I used for bringing him with me to school the other day (which he seemed to enjoy) but he was not up for it.
I got another cage and tried that one instead, but he knew something was up and not even cashews could pursue him, and that's a first!
The owner showed up and he went completely crazy! He was upset the last time he met her but this time was worse. He flew and landed on her head, attacking her and biting her scalp. I was really chocked and not sure how to handle the situation or to calm him down. I mostly tried to get her to sit down at one place and speaking to him in a calm voice.
She was of course sad and she suggested that she could towel him and put him in the cage but I said no. I couldn't let him go through that after I saw how scared and upset he was. There was no way I was letting her near him.

I said that I was sorry and that I could pay for her taxi home but it's best if she leaves at once, and not touching me in front of him. Then I tried to calm him down. What's the best way to do this?
He was still a bit upset afterwards and even now, hours later.
By what felt like divine intervention, the paint job was cancelled and is going to take place some other day. I'm just glad to be home from school and want to spoil and dote on Ebbe after this awful morning.

Luckily, he wasn't in a bad mood this evening, it was actually the opposite. A lot of dancing and playing and goofing around which made me a lot calmer

Awww your really going through it aren't you but you have made all the right calls so good job. To calm him just put him in his comfort zone and just be you around him, he will settle I'm sure. maybe a few treats to take his mind off things wouldn't hurt too much. I hope you get to keep him, your doing great x

Well Florem..I THINK Ebbe has found "his" person..at it just happens to be YOU :05: Sounds to me,Ebbe isn't too fond of his original parront,to be honest.
Why should he be??? He gets all sorts of attention from you,out-of-house time with you,you talk/play/interact with him,he is getting a great diet..what more could he ask for??

You are doing an awesome job with Ebbe,and it is showing just by the accomplishments/strides Ebbe has achieved so far.
I'm not trying to put any more PRESSURE/STRESS on you,you have enough already,BUT...imagine what the poor Ebbe will think,if he goes back home?
"why am I back here??" "what did I do THIS time??" " I thought she loved me,we were having such a good time,and I loved my new home"

Obviously,you love this creature,it shows just in the way you talk about him,and how proud you are of him.
I pray you can find the time,and your friend will be willing for you to become Ebbe's new mom..maybe after her seeing how Ebbe interacts with you,she will understand it would be the best thing for Ebbe..and all concerned.

I wish you luck my friend!


Jim

AmyMyBlueFront said:

Well Florem..I THINK Ebbe has found "his" person..at it just happens to be YOU :05: Sounds to me,Ebbe isn't too fond of his original parront,to be honest.
Why should he be??? He gets all sorts of attention from you,out-of-house time with you,you talk/play/interact with him,he is getting a great diet..what more could he ask for??

You are doing an awesome job with Ebbe,and it is showing just by the accomplishments/strides Ebbe has achieved so far.
I'm not trying to put any more PRESSURE/STRESS on you,you have enough already,BUT...imagine what the poor Ebbe will think,if he goes back home?
"why am I back here??" "what did I do THIS time??" " I thought she loved me,we were having such a good time,and I loved my new home"

Obviously,you love this creature,it shows just in the way you talk about him,and how proud you are of him.
I pray you can find the time,and your friend will be willing for you to become Ebbe's new mom..maybe after her seeing how Ebbe interacts with you,she will understand it would be the best thing for Ebbe..and all concerned.

I wish you luck my friend!


Jim

Click to expand...

Your reply actually brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you so, so much!

Florem said:

AmyMyBlueFront said:

Well Florem..I THINK Ebbe has found "his" person..at it just happens to be YOU :05: Sounds to me,Ebbe isn't too fond of his original parront,to be honest.
Why should he be??? He gets all sorts of attention from you,out-of-house time with you,you talk/play/interact with him,he is getting a great diet..what more could he ask for??

You are doing an awesome job with Ebbe,and it is showing just by the accomplishments/strides Ebbe has achieved so far.
I'm not trying to put any more PRESSURE/STRESS on you,you have enough already,BUT...imagine what the poor Ebbe will think,if he goes back home?
"why am I back here??" "what did I do THIS time??" " I thought she loved me,we were having such a good time,and I loved my new home"

Obviously,you love this creature,it shows just in the way you talk about him,and how proud you are of him.
I pray you can find the time,and your friend will be willing for you to become Ebbe's new mom..maybe after her seeing how Ebbe interacts with you,she will understand it would be the best thing for Ebbe..and all concerned.

I wish you luck my friend!


Jim

Click to expand...

Your reply actually brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you so, so much!

Click to expand...

I couldn’t agree more. His violent reaction to her speaks volumes. There is no way he can go back with her. You need to gather your thoughts and calmly and methodically lay it all out for her. Jot down notes from this post and explain that this is in the best interest of Ebbe. Tell her if she truly loves him, she will do what’s best for him. She can’t possibly be ignorant to his blanant rejection of her, and if she is you have to enlighten her.
It would be utterly ridiculous and a travesty for him to return to her.

I think every person on here probably agrees with the sentiments of Amybluefront......

How awful! Clearly, your new friend wasn't properly cared for at the very least. My sister rescued a Cockatoo for me and shortly after put her into a small, borrowed cage and drove the 100 miles to my home. Sugar screeched the entire way, traumatized by the new experience. I really want Sugar to love my sister, but she always gets into the attack mode, staring at her and watching her every move while she's here every 3 months or so. I'm wondering if Sugar will ever forgive her as it doesn't look like she's going to forget after a year and a half...

Whether your Too has a 'defined' dislike or a non-developed relationship with your sister really does not matter. It was a momentary meeting with far more negatives that positives attached to it.

The long term interaction is more based on your active work a socializing your Parrot with ever chance meeting. Socializing occurs with family members, friends, repairmen, etc... In their natural setting, Parrots will and need to meet others of the same species, and other species. This is commonly done by watching you interact with others and then you presenting your Parrot.

Parrots are really good at reading our emotions and will watch us to judge what is safe and what is not. Your level of comfort is just as important as the Parrots.

With the extended time between visits, each visit should be handled as a first time ever event. A start from Zero.

Over time, the Parrot will become more comfortable with your sister, even when your sister maybe seen as the individual that separated your Parrot from its original home. As, time passes and that separation does not repeat, a new founded relationship can develop.