Rita made huge progress

If there are a bunch of typos forgive me I am typing this from my phone.

Rita made some drastic progress the other day. As some of you know Rita our Military rescue is terrified of women due to being neglected, and abused and has actually tried to attack my wi8, and will try to bite a woman if they touch her and she is unable to get away from them. She is very scared when women come close, and will try yo hide and get away from them. She will even climb down to the middle of my back and hang from my shirt so they can't see her.

We have "bed time" with our birds which is where we let them play on our bed one at a time. Rita is like a little kid, and will run around under the blankets cooing, rolling over, and making all kinds of sounds then peak her head out and run back underneath. Well Monday I went to give her bed time, and instead of going to play she waddled over to my wife climbed up her leg, up her arm, and on to her shoulder. She then started to dance, and bob. She even didn't want to get off, and tried climbing down her back to hide from me when I went to get her off.

With how Rita has been since we met her we figured maybe in a couple years she would be good enough with women that my wife could at least take her from her cage to a playstand, and back to her cage. We never expected her to want to go to a woman. We are not pushing her to go to my wife now or trying to get my wife to handle her more now. We're still taking it a day at a time, and letting Rita decide when she is ready to be handled by my wife.

What great news! It sounds like your wife's loving patience is paying big dividends.

Yeah it's more shocking that she did this after us only rescuing her in February. We're not pushing it though like i said even after this and letting her do it in her own time. She also seemed to be happy that we brought home a kitten, and loves looking at her and watching her. She starts dancing when she sees her.

They really do bounce back with love and care...

This bird is learning to love and trust people again. You've done a great job with her, and it sounds like she's turning into a real find...

Aww! Both stories are adorable. Was your wife nervous during the interaction?

She loves car rides, and I take her to the gas station with me a lot. If we drive past the gas station I go to or we get on the interstate she starts dancing, bobbing, and spinning in circles on my shoulder because she knows we're going on a longer car ride then just down the street for a soda. She loves her car rides.

Good for Rita! I think many birds who have "gender bias" have simply never had a member of the "offensive" gender interact positively with them. I bet your wife has made steps to show Rita she's not going to hurt her and wants to be her friend. Birds respond to a positive attitude!

I've never had a mac or an amazon that didn't like going for rides in the car.

Birdman666 said:

I've never had a mac or an amazon that didn't like going for rides in the car.

Click to expand...

Phoenix does in a way. He gets car sick really bad. Last time he threw up all over me and the car normally he has just done it on the car.

My CAG gets carsick occasionally.

He sometimes likes car rides, but he gets very nervous getting in, and getting out of the car. He's the only one of my five that really is not at all interested in going out and about.

My main 3 (my big macs & my RLA) would go everywhere with me if they could...

That is fantastic news and a great surprise for you and especially your wife. My Husband thinks that birds can't tell the difference between people, we know they can and he admits they can now. I'm glad to see that Rita is seeing a new side of women.

Birdman, when getting in and out of the car does your GAC cry, "OUCH, that hurts!" That doesn't get any less funny, lol. Love it!

No... But he does that when you annoy him. And he isn't kidding!

He is prone to panicking and flying off... that's why I don't take him unless it is absolutely necessary.

He is car seat trained, and he is fine behaving himself inside the car. No travel cage or restraint required - BUT getting him in is a pain. (He freaks when you go to close the door.) And getting him out if it's someplace he doesn't recognize (new places), or doesn't want to be (the vet/groomers.)