Out of cage time yet?

Shine

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I've had Niko for a little over a month now. He is still very wary of me. He likes my attention, as soon as I come in the room, he comes over to get as close as he can to me. However, most of the time his eyes are pinning, tail flaring and is visibly shaking. Just in the past few days hes not pinning and tail flaring as much.( About 25% of the time. )

I opened his cage door about 2 weeks ago and he came right out, sat on the perch on his door and bit my finger when I tried to give him a treat. (it gave me a little preview of what his bites are going to be like. i'm not looking forward to them but understand its going to happen! ) Then flew off the cage and began climbing up Addys cage. He wouldnt step up on the stick or my hand. He finallly flew back into his cage. I havent let him out of the cage since, thinking he needed to get more used to me and his new home.

I spend a lot of time talking to him and giving him treats. He lets me put new toys in his cage without trying to bite and will take treats through the cage without trying to bite.

However, in recent days when i take Fidget out of his cage to the other room, Niko, starts yelling. Its like he wants to come too. It doesnt take long for Niko and Fidget to start yelling back and forth, and oftentimes, even in unison! (can you say LOUD!)

He seems to be afraid of sticks and doesnt seem to understand what 'step up' means.

My question is, should I be letting him out of his cage yet, and if so, how? Or should I wait until hes no longer appearing to be afraid of me at all? I feel like I should know this, but I really cant figure out how to handle it.

I appreciate info and suggestions.
 

SailBoat

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Open the cage door and let him fly back to it.
This will allow him to become comfortable quicker.

It sounds counterproductive, but it works.
 

bill_e

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The only problem with letting him out when you don't have control to get him back in is that you'll have to wait until he's ready. Maybe let him out before you feed him and then when you think it's time, put his food in his cage, or a treat, to entice him in.

There's nothing more frustrating, for both of you, than to struggle to get a bird into the cage.

I await the experienced Sailboat to comment yay or nay on this suggestion.
 

wrench13

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Good suggestion Bill. Entice him back with either food or a treat, but Niko has to know that there is something awaiting him inhis cage. You def do not want to have to chase or even towel Niko to get him back in, thats atrust buster. Maybe Niko gets out of cage time before breakfast or what ever, that way he has reason to return to it.
 
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Shine

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Thank you.
Yes, hes a food hound for the things he likes. I'll give that a try. One of my concerns is that he might try and climb up someone elses cage and I dont want any toe amputations! But since I'm home all the time right now I should be able to find a time to get the other fids out of the room then let him out to explore a bit.
 

SailBoat

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Yaaa, a hungry Amazon is clearly more interested in visiting the interior of the cage quickly than an Amazon with a full tummy. It is humorous just how food lead their lives can be...

The reason for getting them out and away from their cage, especially this time of year is the high likelihood of Cage Dominance, enhanced by Hormonal influenzas.

Tough question, but how much do you know of his prior life. Like, was their other Parrots, etc...
 
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Shine

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So far, pistachios are his kryptonite. He finally came out and sat on the door of his cage for few minutes but didnt stay long. I did give him a pistachio while he was out and he still tried to bite me but he didnt try as hard as he did last time. He didnt get me, but did get the nut! He went back in on his own.

As far as his history, I know NOTHING! The people I got him from didnt speak english and I dont speak spanish so communication was a challenge. All I know is that he was a in a very small cage and was stuck in a corner where he was rarely interacted with. But he was only with those people for 2 mos and couldnt tell me anything about his previous home.

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1oldparroter

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I am 71, married and fairly private. I have PM privileges but prefer the phone. Printed messages, are so limited. jh
Excellent suggestion's, all. How about other stand's to sit on; do you have them in their area's? jh PS: Have you let the new bird follow you all to the other room? Is there a cage for the other room? jh
 
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Shine

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Excellent suggestion's, all. How about other stand's to sit on; do you have them in their area's? jh PS: Have you let the new bird follow you all to the other room? Is there a cage for the other room? jh

Thank you

Yes, there are 3 other stands in the apt, but getting him there is the problem. Theres also another cage in the living room he could go to, but the same issue. He is afraid of sticks and will bite me if any part of me gets close enough to him. He seems to be very cautious about even moving around the outside of his cage.
 

SailBoat

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Your doing great!!! And, so is your Amazon!!!
As soon as I read your recount of his history, your prior comments came to mind.

A couple of fine points: The cage door perch is great, most people miss the advantage of that perch! Assure that it is at the same level as the rope perch inside the cage. This will allow your Amazon to simply step from one to another. At some point in the near future, you will come to the cage and he will be standing on the door perch waiting to come out...

At present, you have the top third fairly heavy in stuff. As more stuff comes into place consider a couple of high 'sleeping' perches with inside /outside hanging toys in which your Amazon can disappear behind, creates a safe sleeping place. Consider shifting the rope perch to a bit below the half way point and yes adjust the door perch at that time. But, not needed until you are ready to set the sleeping perches in place.

Have fun with this... Your Amazon is only going to keep opening up!

FYI: How is your Spanish? You're likely to have a teacher. :D
 
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Shine

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I'll be rearranging his cage when I can. Whats there was only put there as a starting place. I havent been able to make any changes yet but I will. He sits on the door perch a lot, but I havent opened the door but I will.

Nope, I dont know any spanish. They told me he said a few things but I havent heard him say anything yet, but maybe I just dont understand! :D
 

Birdman666

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If it were me, I'd be inclined to wing clip him for the moment, just until I got him re-trained. That way he goes back whether he likes it or not.

It's exponentially easier to train a bird that is clipped than one that is flighted.

I would assume this bird hasn't been handled in years, and is cage bound. Which means he will tend to be more aggressive in and around the cage. Work with him in another room away from the cage, and the defenses go down. No territory to protect. And he probably does not know basic step up or no bite.

I don't know if you're familiar with my amazon body language post, but it's important with these guys. If the tail is fanning and the eyes are going and he's upright, that's happy to see you... If he's hunched over and doing that stuff?! Notsomuch.

I would just do the basics. Step up. Step down. No bite. Then work your way up to touch training.

When his wings grow back you can work on recalling. By then you should be more bonded.

I've worked with zons that were so far gone I had to towel them to get them out of the cage. So this one is not that. Just start with the basics and move up as the bird bonds with you. Go at the bird's pace. Reward the good behaviors. Bird gets ignored when he misbehaves. The usual stuff.
 
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Shine

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Thank you Birdman.

I've considered clipping him but wasnt sure about it. I may go ahead and do that. I just hate to towel him to get it done.

I dont know his history so no idea if hes been handled or not. I know he wasnt in the 2 mos prior to my getting him. I have read the body language post several times so am familiar but theres a ton of good info there. Thank you for that.

Its obvious that this process is going to be slow going with him, but in his time he will come around.
 

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