afraid to leave cage

Owlet

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So, a few weeks ago we had a congo African grey surrendered to my store named Lolo. Long story short the owners had her and 2 other birds for 8+ years and got a new puppy and puppy and birds didn't get along so they locked the birds in their cages for months before deciding to surrender them. 2 of the birds were still fairly friendly if not a little skittish and would step up and have both found homes. Lolo on the other hand is scared to leave her cage but isn't aggressive with most people, she just is VERY skittish and won't step up inside her cage. When we do have her out every little thing scares her and she flies off and even though she isn't clipped she doesn't fly very well and crashes. Today I spent 2 hours after I got off work just sitting with her cage door wide open and talking to her and giving her treats. She would hang upside down on the roof of the cage. She'd eat her treats upside down and she would dance and play with her toys upside down because she felt if she was on a perch I would force her to step up. Eventually she calmed down enough with me and climbed outside of the cage and stepped up from there. She calmly hung out and she was very relaxed on my arm or shoulder. She would give kisses and was overall very sweet. If anyone else tried to take her she would panic and flail though. I eventually put her back so she could get some water and food and I went to try to take her out again about an hour later and had a repeat of hanging on the top and etc.

Now my question is, how do I help her not be so afraid of coming out? My guess would be do what I have already done but I don't have the time to sit at her cage for 2 hours because either I gotta work or go home to my own animals most days. Is there any easier way of doing this? or am I already doing everything I can?
 
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Owlet

Owlet

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some pictures of Lolo

tumblr_pq89bu7iuX1w1hxfy_1280.jpg
tumblr_pq8akkVjE01w1hxfy_1280.jpg
tumblr_pq8akgCgDC1w1hxfy_1280.jpg
 

bug_n_flock

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Obviously, if most days you have to either work or go home so you can't spend the time with him, the best solution is to take him home with you so you can spend the time with him... ;)
Edit: her. Sorry. It is after midnight and I am on my phone
 

Scott

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That is a difficult dilemma. Lolo is clearly traumatized and she won't soon forget the underlying causes. Greys can be stubborn and slow to change. Tempting to expedite her exit from cage, but possible a lot of effort and love will be undone by single event. Perhaps a very close playpen and special treats?
 

ChristaNL

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OMG can't you guys foster her out till she calms down a bit?

(I know she is supposed to sell, but that wont happen untill the exact right owner comes along.)

Poor birdy (who mutilated that upper beak btw? It is waay too short and blunt for an african grey. It looks like somebody tried to give her a 'lovebird look' for extra cuteness. The inner edges probably are all hers with grabbing and beaking bars repeatedly.)

I think you are doing it - giving her the time and space to do it all by herself.
A pitty you have so many other birds to take care of already ;) I think you would continue to do great together, but you can't keep 'm all ...

How important is it she 'performs' to people on the spot?
(Not meant as critisizing!! Really curious. Lots of people here will go for a bird without any demonstration of tameness- we trust that the seller knows the bird and trust -> from the bird! will come in time anyway.)
Maybe just take pictures or a short film as 'proof of tameness when not hurried along' ?
 
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Owlet

Owlet

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It's not terribly important that she "performs" a lot of our customers understand that our rescues/surrenders likely have trauma and won't always be the most willing to step up and etc. We are very honest about our birds and their situations, anyone coming in looking for an "impulse" buy is quickly turned off by our flood of information. We aren't in a rush to sell any of our birds, we really do care for them and want them to go to the right homes.

I really wish I could take her home with me for some extra 1x1 but I don't think that would do much good in the long run as bringing her home would stress her, then once she's more willing to leave the cage I would have to bring her back which would stress her. And then finding a new home would be stressful.
 

Allee

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I hope this lovely girl finds a wonderful home. My African Grey shares a history similar to Lolo’s, he was confined to his cage almost constantly for almost a decade before he came to us. After knowing him for almost two years, looking back, we remember how stressed he really was, the contrast between then and now is very dramatic. With Jack, even early on, if he perceived the room to be safe he was delighted to come out of his cage, sometimes it was just a matter of closing the doors to the room his cage was in or covering the windows. I was always near him but gave him enough space to decide for himself wether to come out of his cage. It’s probably a huge step for Lolo to come out of her cage for you, a complete stranger may be unthinkable for her. I’m not sure how you vet the new owners but if someone shows real interest maybe they could visit regularly until Lolo trusts them enough to come out for them.
 

texsize

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I only have experience with my CAG Bella and her story is close to Lolo's.
Original owner got a dog that stressed Bella out to the point of plucking. Kept dog and gave up bird.

From the first Bella would step up but later became very stubborn and did not want to step up to come out of her cage.

CAG's are stubborn. I think you just have to put in a lot of time if you want to get her more accustomed to stepping up. I know that's not what you want to hear.
Even if you do put in the time and get her use to stepping up in the cage it might not help with the person that ends up taking her home. It might be just you she will step up for.

If she really has taken to you there is nothing wrong with adding a CAG to your flock.
They are amazing birds and I don't regret buying Bella for even 1 second.
She is the fastest learner for picking up new words, phrases, and sound effects.
We have had her for going on 3 years and every week she comes out with something new.
 
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Owlet

Owlet

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Unfortunately my parents don't want me getting anymore birds until I move out or arrange renting out the basement after my brother leaves, which I understand and if Lolo is somehow still there by then I would definitely consider getting her as I think we really clicked. And I know her stepping up to me doesn't mean she will step up with other people but I like to think of myself as the "stepping stone". She's comfortable with me so I can try to get her comfortable going to other people and being out of the cage and be there as a crutch for her to come back too if it's too scary.

I don't mind being patient and working with her slowly, I am just not familiar with CAG and their behaviors so maybe there was something I was missing that would help her more.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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Looking at the picture of Lolo on your hand,it looks to me she is kinda comfortable with you. ( Greys,to me,have exceptional facial expressions) and it looks like she is at least content being with you. I'd try and talk to your parents about adopting her,even if its just for a short period..who knows? Maybe Lolo would bond with Mom and Dad lol and they would want to keep her! :D


Jim
 

ChristaNL

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All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
I think you got it ;)


I would never saddle a grey with the "stubborn" brand.
To me they are very sensitive birds that like to play it safe (Japie being the opposite, because every rule needs to be broken- he just blindly rushes into things).
Once you have their trust there is nothing you cannot do with them.
(I haven't tried scuba-diving etc. )
 

texsize

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Just out of curiosity, how much is the store asking for her?
 
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Owlet

Owlet

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She's a consignment so she's higher than a rescue price would be which is what we would do with purely surrendered birds, but I don't think I'm entirely comfortable saying since I'm not the one that decides prices and runs things and etc yknow. I hope that's okay ^^;;
 

texsize

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It would be a rather long drive for me.
Maybe not impossible though. I don’t have any idea how Bella world treat another CAG.
It’s possible that a CAG that doesn’t pluck might be a good example for her.
Maybe company would calm her down.
Then again maybe not.
 

bug_n_flock

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B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
[Sits in the audience hoping and praying Lolo goes home with one of these two]


She really sounds like she would do better in a home than in the shop.
 
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Owlet

Owlet

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I had her out for awhile today and she did really good. She stepped up for more people, even some she wouldn't step up for yesterday. Also got her out of the cage in 30 minutes. All around seemed less scared. Very proud of her. I got a short video of her too but I'm having trouble posting it so we will see
 
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Owlet

Owlet

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[ame="https://youtu.be/WCTjQhKAcVs"]April 20, 2019 - YouTube[/ame]
finally got the video to upload! very short but yeah
 

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