Buzz, The Buzzer

Taw5106

New member
Mar 27, 2014
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Texas
Parrots
Buddy - Red Crowned Amazon (27 yo)
Venus - Solomon Island Eclectus (4 yo)
Buzz CAG (2 yo)
Sam - Cockatiel 1997 - 2004
Tweety - Budgie 1984 - 1987
Sweety - Budgie 1985 - 1986
We are two days having Buzz and I think he is going to be my toughest nut to crack. No I do not have expectations that Buzz will be an immediate friend, I say I'll see a tiny loosening up in 2 weeks but still not friends. Buzz accepts food with no growls, he accepts a hand with no growls, he will let me stroke his chest with no growls, if I'm not standing over him. I have him sitting next to me at my desk (I work at home) so he can see me and interact with me.

I think he was on a seed diet before getting him, he runs to seed and nuts but not to the fresh food I put in his bowl. Now if I offer it on a spoon, he'll nibble. He loves pecans and almonds so far.

My point, for any new parront, be patient. Relationships from birds have to be earned and built. The time frame is not absolute. I'll document as we go, but today, I only have given Buzz fresh food, no seeds or nuts because I want him to eat fresh foods with Buddy and Venus. I also made him interact with my hand, he has watched me work, heard me talk on the phone, building a norm. Of course Buddy and Venus are jealous so yes I have made extra time for them, lol.


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Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Glad you chose the name Buzz! You are on the right track with your perceptions and actions. Getting Buzz on a better diet sooner than later is a great strategy. Greys are indeed challenging but with the potential for a very high reward!
 

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
Oh how exciting another Buzz, I'm glad you named him that. We can't take the credit for our Buzz, his original owners husband named him. I can't wait to hear what excitement the little guy causes! Ours is way to smart.
 

Allee

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Oct 27, 2013
16,852
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Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Haha, I'm glad you chose Buzz, the name and the bird! Sounds like you are off to a great start with your newest flock member. Buzz may take a little longer to adjust but the bond will be well worth the effort.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
It will be interesting to see how Buzz's personality unfolds with you! It took Raven about 2.5 years to decide I'm okay and he wants to befriend me :rolleyes:.I still can't get away with as much as his dad can (and he's not even his bird).
 
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Taw5106

Taw5106

New member
Mar 27, 2014
2,480
25
Texas
Parrots
Buddy - Red Crowned Amazon (27 yo)
Venus - Solomon Island Eclectus (4 yo)
Buzz CAG (2 yo)
Sam - Cockatiel 1997 - 2004
Tweety - Budgie 1984 - 1987
Sweety - Budgie 1985 - 1986
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Quick, funny update. Husband came home today, came to my office because he had a team member in Australia he was working to help. His coworker in Australia was Andrew, and Buzz was relentless on "buzzing", lol. So he met Buzz over the phone. I ended up moving Buzz to another room so Husband could work. I moved him to our bedroom, to which Canelo decided to show Buzz his amazing rope toy, Buzz started growling, Canelo started swinging his rope to show what it could do. Buzz didn't care, lol!!! I love that Canelo is trying.


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Taw5106

Taw5106

New member
Mar 27, 2014
2,480
25
Texas
Parrots
Buddy - Red Crowned Amazon (27 yo)
Venus - Solomon Island Eclectus (4 yo)
Buzz CAG (2 yo)
Sam - Cockatiel 1997 - 2004
Tweety - Budgie 1984 - 1987
Sweety - Budgie 1985 - 1986
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Well day four and besides being irritated with work (lots of issues going on) I'm irritated with Buzz's cage. It's not here, still in transit and I want it here now. Part of this is that Buzz will not come out of the tiny travel cage I have him in. I open the door each day, all day but if I leave the house, and at bed time I close it. He won't step up, he won't even come out of the cage to play in the little play area I set up. I showed him a bell and he played with it a little but I had to engage him. Soooooo, I took his food bowl out of the cage and set it close enough but far enough away that he has to come out to get any food, ha! Watch him out smart me. I want him to come out even if it's not to associate with me, but to get out and stretch!

Now he is still growling a lot but I can touch him, touch his beak, put my finger in his beak and he hasn't bitten. So far so good. He will take food from me by hand and spoon, growling the entire time, chewing and growling, sounding like a true buzzer. He isn't growling at new routine things like when I uncover him and say good morning, open the cage and give him a morning almond which he takes and eats. He's stopped growling when I take his bowls out and put fresh bowls in. He's eating fresh food, I've incorporated brown rice in every meal because his keel bone really sticks out. And that's another reason I want him to come out, to weigh him and track his weight.

I've had to ban Canelo from my office because when Buzz starts growling Canelo grabs his rope, runs to the travel cage and is trying to show his rope to Buzz. The cage is on my desk and Canelo is too short but loves putting on a show. Canelo, he doesn't get it and doesn't want to play with you.

So question, should I force him out of his cage if he won't come out on his own?


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plumsmum2005

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Nov 18, 2015
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England, UK
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Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
I don't think I would force Buzz but if you know what floats his boat in terms of treats you could get him to come to the doorway to get it. If he takes the bait then a little further etc. Gently does it, you are doing great with him IMO.
 

LeaKP

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Aug 11, 2014
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Congo African Grey
IMO I think it's still early days for Buzz. I had a rescued grey last year that I fostered and it was a long few months before the real bird emerged. Give Buzz some time, routine, good food, lots of good food, treats, talk, predictability. I bet Buzz will one day decide he trusts you.
 
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Taw5106

Taw5106

New member
Mar 27, 2014
2,480
25
Texas
Parrots
Buddy - Red Crowned Amazon (27 yo)
Venus - Solomon Island Eclectus (4 yo)
Buzz CAG (2 yo)
Sam - Cockatiel 1997 - 2004
Tweety - Budgie 1984 - 1987
Sweety - Budgie 1985 - 1986
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IMO I think it's still early days for Buzz. I had a rescued grey last year that I fostered and it was a long few months before the real bird emerged. Give Buzz some time, routine, good food, lots of good food, treats, talk, predictability. I bet Buzz will one day decide he trusts you.


I believe you said it took 2.5 years for your CAG to decide you were OK right? I keep telling myself that. I just hate the cage. He has room to move around but I want him in his big cage!


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LeaKP

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Aug 11, 2014
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Congo African Grey
No it took about 6 months for him to start emerging. He was abandoned in a field in a cage! Can you believe that??? It was so sad. By 9 months he had Grey attitude and was ready for his forever home.

I am in touch with his owner now (we are great friends) and she says he's opening up in an amazing way. It's now about a year and some months since his rescue.

I've heard of it taking a very long time for Greys to rehabilitate - but they are so smart. Once they make the turn, they make the turn.

Just FYI, it may take Buzz some time to warm up to his new cage. CAGs can be very touchy with change - even change that's good for them. I'd recommend, when the cage comes, not to force it on him quickly. Let him get used to seeing it, fill it with toys, food, fun things, and I imagine he will decide himself one day he wants to move there. It may be sooner, it may be later. Nigel, our baby Grey is 4 months old, has a new cage. Mind you, he's just old enough to be in a cage, and he's just figuring out that he may like it.

They are stubborn and do things on their own terms. Maybe that's why I love CAGs so much - I think I understand that stubbornness!
 

plumsmum2005

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Nov 18, 2015
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England, UK
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Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Could sitting either a stuffed greyish parrot on a perch inside or homemade version (sock) help? He sees a bird sitting in the new cage or DYT it would confuse him more?
 
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Taw5106

Taw5106

New member
Mar 27, 2014
2,480
25
Texas
Parrots
Buddy - Red Crowned Amazon (27 yo)
Venus - Solomon Island Eclectus (4 yo)
Buzz CAG (2 yo)
Sam - Cockatiel 1997 - 2004
Tweety - Budgie 1984 - 1987
Sweety - Budgie 1985 - 1986
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Left Him in a field in a cage? People can be so cruel. I'm glad he has a home and is warming up. I think I was attracted to Buzz because of his stubbornness. Buddy my GCA was easy and by day 3 he was on my shoulder and we were BFFs. Venus my Ekkie, the first day she came out of her cage, but when the sun went down, I reached in her cage with a perch asking her to step up and she chomped the perch taking a chunk out of it. We learned that the Diva has her bed time. Now since, she's loosened up but has her moments like earlier, I tried to video her sitting on her fake eggs and she ran out of her box, grabbed my phone and tossed it. Little punk. Now that should have been filmed, lol.


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Taw5106

Taw5106

New member
Mar 27, 2014
2,480
25
Texas
Parrots
Buddy - Red Crowned Amazon (27 yo)
Venus - Solomon Island Eclectus (4 yo)
Buzz CAG (2 yo)
Sam - Cockatiel 1997 - 2004
Tweety - Budgie 1984 - 1987
Sweety - Budgie 1985 - 1986
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Could sitting either a stuffed greyish parrot on a perch inside or homemade version (sock) help? He sees a bird sitting in the new cage or DYT it would confuse him more?


That's a good idea and I think I will try it. He hears Buddy calling from the other room and I can see him perk up a bit. He's made a couple of sounds other than growling so I'm hoping he will respond to Buddy.


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DRB

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2016
1,024
75
Ohio
Parrots
Perjo - Female CAG hatch Nov 2015
I bought a stuffed CAG, used it for a month as a model for Perjo to see me interact with. She was fine with it, and let it (me) rub her neck with its beak. I think she figured out real quick it is an inanimate object. She doesn't pay it much attention anymore.

I will reintroduce it to her in our next training exercise, maybe with picking out colors when we do our color flash cards.
 

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