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grahamland6753

New member
Mar 8, 2018
9
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Parrots
Charlie- 10 year old Male YHA, Rescued and went to my forever home on 2/9/18
Hello fellow "parronts,"

I am a new owner to a 10 year old YHA. We just wanted to say hello as him and I have joined this group to learn.
There is so much helpful information on here and I am excited to soak it all up and take it all in.

So far this last month has been a journey. From what I have learned about Charlie is that at two years old he was taken to a pet store by a mother who thought her children were going to end up killing Charlie. I learstned that before taken to the pet store an object was thrown so hard at his cage that it ended up collapsing right on top of Charlie. ( must have been a piece of junk cage or something was just thrown that hard :/ ).

A new family bought him from the pet store and when the daughter went to hold him Charlie bit her on her face, regardless, she still wanted to bring home Charlie.

On my meet and greet with Charlie at my home it went great, Charlie was on me in minutes, no signs of aggression, nice and smooth. He smelled horribly musky, and he just looked ragged. The dad who came with the daughter would not go near Charlie, he actually kept his distance and just kept talking down to the bird. " DONT YOU LOOK AT ME, " he would say jokingly, but not, you know what I mean?? Just weird. Charlie watched him like he wanted his head for dinner, no joke, you could see it. The daughter would make him get in his carrier with a sweatshirt behind his head. Her little brother spent time hiding behind furniture of my house, not wanting to be near Charlie. I felt it was all just strange, like, something isn't right. The mom was sick so she couldn't make it to the meet and greet at my house.

They had other people they were interviewing that weekend but ended up calling me that night saying that they were so impressed they couldn't imagine Charlie going to anyone else. I was excited for this new addition, named Charlie.

After one week of having Charlie the mom finally called and long story short I was told so many off setting story's since they have had Charlie the last eight years. Charlie biting, cornering her and attacking her , everyone ended up deathly afraid of Charlie so he ended up in his cage so they were safe and sound from Charlie.

Anyways, Within one week of having Charlie his feathers looked healthier, he started smelling a little better. I got him a new cage because the one he was brought in was pretty much made for a cockatiel, way too small. He got some new toys and seemed so happy. I was bit multiple times which was to be expected, once I turned my head for a minute and he had my bottom lip in his mouth so fast, almost went all the way through, it was bad, but it was my mistake. He hates men, but my husband has been trying to be so patient, Charlie does let him hold him though so that is progress.

It has been a month and I can pet Charlies head, eyes closed and all, he drops his head for me, that was HUGE (my husband can not, but we are still working on his bond with my husband ) when the hubby holds him he flies to me ( poor hubby he gets so discouraged at his progress with him).

Charlie and I have truly made a bond and are doing great so far. Since he got me on my lip he hasn't bit me really, maybe once or twice but not as hard as it was the first couple weeks. He is still sketchy, I don't trust him at times, sometimes he just has this look where he goes into his own little world in his head and a flip switches. But the sweet moments I get I cherish.
He is actually doing this thing now where he puts his mouth gently all over my hand and fingers like he is tasting me or something, it is the most gentle gesture.

Well thanks for reading,
Its a work in progress, but I wouldn't trade this journey for anything, I truly believe I was suppose to have Charlie, and a part of me believes he chose me, like we just ...knew.

I'm sure you will see me asking a lot of questions so thank you for any help in advance. I just have to get the next several Chapters in his life right....he deserves it.
Regardless, he has stolen my heart for as long as we live : )

I actually do have a question/concern.....its regarding the food he has been on the last 8 years :mad: Need advice , thanks a bunch friends: )
 

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Jen5200

Well-known member
Mar 27, 2017
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Baby - Sun Conure;
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Screamer “Scree� - Cockatiel;
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Wow, welcome - you made my heart happy hearing about such a positive turn in Charlie’s life! You’ve made such great progress in a relatively short time, I can tell that he’s in the right place :). Hope you’ll share more about the journey as it progresses.
 

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.
Welcome to you and Charlie, thanks for a wonderful welcome post! Very fortunate to know far more about his background than most new parronts receive! I'd recommend reading throughout the Amazon forum for plenty of outstanding information.

You mention concern about his food for the last 8 years. What was/is he eating?
 

GhostN1K

New member
Feb 9, 2018
87
7
Dundalk, Md.
Parrots
GCC -(LO-LO)
English Budgie -Blue
Welcome! This is a great forum for help. Just in the little time I've been here I have learned lots.
 

wrench13

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Nov 22, 2015
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Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
Welcome and be welcomed. Make sure that both of u read, aloud, to Charlie, the stickies at the top of the Amazon subforum , on body language for Amazons. and all the others there too. A huge body of work, but sooooooo essential being owned by an Amazon.

Also imprtant that all family members react the same waywhen the inevitable hard bite, or loud scream or any of the other nutty stuff amazons are so capable of doing. So discuss this early on Good luck with Charlie.
 

Terry57

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Hawkhead(Darwin),YCA(Dexter),VE (Ekko),OWA(Slater),BHP(Talli),DYH(Calypso),RLA(Kimera),Alex(Xander)CBC(Phoe),IRN (Kodee,Luna,Stevie),WCP (Pisces),CAG(Justice)GCC (Jax), GSC2(Charley)
Hello & welcome to you and Charlie! I am so glad he has joined your family, and that the bad days are behind him. He is gorgeous!
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
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Cleveland area
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Thank you for rescuing good ol' Charlie. You make a beautiful couple!

My thoughts on food. Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products. :)

Welcome, and good luck!
 

Carl_Power

New member
Oct 3, 2017
542
21
England
Parrots
Quaker Parrot
Welcome you guys. Im glad he has found a good home with you. It only takes love attention and kidness for Parrots. You guys have fun together ok. As time passes Charlie will grow all the more trusting x
 
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Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Welcome to you and Charlie! He is a very good looking bird and sounds like he's settling into your home fairly well.

Please be aware, this is the time of year adult amazons experience hormonal changes related to the breeding season and it can make males more aggressive than they normally are. As amazons do not become sexually mature until 4-6 years old, many owners perceive this change as the bird "turning" on them and mismanagement of the situation exacerbates it and creates longer-term aggression/behavioral issues. I see several signs of misinterpretation/mismanagement of hormonal behaviors in your description of events in prior homes and hormones are quite likely the reason for the unprovoked bite to your lip. It is advisable to simply give them a nice wide berth at this time of year and after a few weeks, the hormones pass. Basically, if you don't make a big deal of it, neither will he after it's over:) Also since you brought it up, amazons do produce a musty odor other birds do not. I would imagine with a bird who has not been bathed regularly or fed an appropriate diet, this odor may be more concentrated and smell unpleasant. I think you will be pleasantly surprised after Charlie has had a few baths and is eating healthier foods, how good the odor they make actually smells. Most amazon owners very much enjoy the musty odor especially since the scent is strongest when their bird is content and happy.
 
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