A modicum of success!

A little while ago as a complete bird rookie I asked about feeding this little demon that has moved into my house.

After some great replies I set to and concocted my first chop. With pellets on standby I tentatively placed a dish of my hard work in the cage. If looks could kill I'd be in a pallid heap on the floor. I felt rejected, rebuffed and reviled as he showered me with the contents.

I looked him straight in the eye, straightened my shoulders and refused to be down trodden, and each day I have persevered adding tasty bits that I hope he might like. I even added a little of his previous seed diet - by a little I mean half a tea spoon full, just one time.

Yesterday I placed his breakfast before him expecting another spray of disgust but having walked out of the room to leave him to it I realised he was very quiet. I crept back in feeling like a voyeur and before my eyes was a green cheek eating pulses, oats, split peas, peppers, apple, broccoli and carrot. I don't know who was more surprised. Him when he suddenly noticed me watching or me seeing a clean floor.

One point to me I think, for now at least!

Yeah! You have given me hope!

You're a visual is so excellent! These little guys can really let you know when they're a little bit upset with something, if I give something to JoJo that he doesn't like, I swear he looks at me and Spits it at me! And then walk over to me and bite me just in case I missed the point and didn't understand him!

MY HERO!
I'm a fan...
And a long-time n'er'do'well, parrot-wise.
I love vicarious success/victory with threads like this.
Love it!

Good for you! And your birdy. Now you can use the seeds as treats and do some training.

Congratulations! It's the best feeling isn't it!?

So now I have another question. Yesterday morning he ate all the fresh that I gave him for the first time. In terms of quantity that's about 2 teaspoons. How does that sound for quantity? He's about 3.5 months should he have more?

Having said that I offered the same quantity at teatime - different additions - but I think he only had a little. He snacks on pellets of course and I did use about 4 sunflower seeds while trying to convince him that his travel cage was a good idea. Perhaps he was full!

As far as training goes I'm not yet sure who is training who. He steps up and down and flies to me - in his own time! A few times he has lessened his bite pressure when I complain but my priority at present is to get him to the avian vet for a general check up as I don't think he has seen anyone since arriving still being hand fed with his previous owner. His beak and claws look too long to me but the previous owner didn't have perches that would help and wasn't aware of nail clipping etc. His travel cage lives right next to his cage so he can see in it and he has stepped inside for a seed and I took him for a walk in it round the garden, but he was a bit worried, so I didn't keep him there long. More 'travel time' today, but only if I can persuade him to walk in himself. He is happy for me to handle him but I don't want to traumatise him by forcing him in. Once he accepts it as a home then I think he would be happy for me to place him in.

Well well well. I just got Syd out and at this moment he is sitting in his travel cage (which is a cat carrier so very different from his day cage) happily investigating and eating some seed treats. I have taken him out round the garden brought him back and left the door open. I am hoping the job is done and I will make the vet's appointment. Yippee!

Well done Syd, I think you are a star in the making!