Great Progress

Hi all, I just wanted to say that thanks to all the info on this site I have made great progress with Groot in just a 8 days!! I can hardly believe it. I hadn't really intended buying a bird that day in the shop. I wondered why he was so much cheaper than the rest of the Galahs there and they said (shop assistant) that they thought the breeder had ripped them off and he wasn't really hand reared and that he wouldn't let anyone near them and that he may not be able to be handled or ever speak???. I just felt so sorry for him, and wondered what would happen to him if nobody bought him. Would he be left in the shop to live forever?? I knew NOTHING about Galahs/birds but decided to take him home. He now says Peek-a-boo and is eating from my hand and this morning he 'stepped up '!!! I feel like my kid has just taken his first steps or something!! So proud of him! Cant wait to rub/scratch/cuddle him. I was SO tempted this morning when he was so close to me on step up but was afraid I'd freak him out. He's only stepping up onto a stick for me but hoping tomorrow/end of week he will do it onto my hand. I am posting a pic hopefully , if I can get it uploaded.

Sorry for such a long winded post, but so proud of Groot I had to share. Also , just a quick question, he only has one long black feather on one side . does that mean the shop when they clipped him took that one out??? Will it grow back??? I asked for him to be clipped but thought they would be just trimmed back a bit. But, I know nothing about clipping. Thnks again for such great information from all the posts.

No, sorry, cant do it. How do I upload photo onto post??

I recommend getting a photobucket account and linking the IMG URL's to the forums And congratulations on your progress with Groot! It's amazing how sometimes all it takes is a bit of love

Congrats! I'm happy to hear you're already making great progress with Groot, and so happy you gave him a good home.

Here's a link for you: http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

Or as Chantal suggested, you may prefer photobucket.

I am so glad to see that you have given a bird that others have given up on a chance. Keep doing lots and lots of research, and of course the people on this forum will always try to help as well.

Would love to see the pics!!

Thanks guys, I'll try upload later!

Great to hear you're making such quick progress!

The feather thing sounds like it could be a one sided 'show' clip, leaving the outside two or three primaries so that the bird doesn’t look clipped when it's wings are folded. If there's only one primary that's not a good way to clip, as the feathers support each other and one feather on its own is vulnerable. And having seen my own bird having a succession of bruising accidents caused by trying to fly with a one sided clip I'll never support that method of clipping. The alternative is simply that the bird has started his first moult and the single long feather is the first of the replacements. Either way the clipped feathers will moult out over the next year, then you can make a decision about clipping. But no one sided clips please!

Here's my favourite sneaky method of helping a bird to discover that stepping up isn't life threatening:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIaDDSeZKnI"]Parrot Training Workshop Live Demo - Step Up Training with a Macaw - YouTube[/ame]

This is so simple and unflustered and such a positive method - you might like to try it with Groot?

Another suggestion is to get some millet spray and when Groot first steps up just let him sit on your hand and nibble at the millet for as long as he wants. The idea is for him to learn that Great Things happen whenever he's sitting on your hand.

I'm really happy for the progress you've made already with this 'difficult' bird and look forward to hearing updates.