So as many of you know, Cal was born in an aviary and had no actual tactile contact.
Step up has to be used with a stick or biting prevails!
We play a game when she's in her cage like hide and seek. I tell her to go hide and she hops to the opposite side of her cage and I say "Where's Calypso?!" and she hops over to the perch by my face. She usually squeaks and "hides" to let me know when she wants to play this game.
Last night she was out and I managed to get face to face with her many a time without her going away which was just magical. All of a sudden she flew up to the dado rail with a squeak so I said "where's Calypso?!" and she flew back down to her cage! (And her father thought it was a pointless game in her cage - pah!!) We played this for half an hour which isn't unusual even in her cage lol!
Then I had my hand in her cage while she sat and watched me (I was rearranging and cleaning bits up) when she clambered to the entrance of her cage. Then she scooted over to my hand and I just thought: This will hurt. LOL! She then started opening and closer her beak so gently over my hand and rubbing it, using her tounge too lol.
She looked at me, blinked (that still honours me) and went in to bed. I stood there with tears of joy coming down my cheeks.
It's just a small step but to me, it's massive because she's very tame in a non tactile way (that'll make sense to all of you I know!) but not to touch. I feel like "it's begun".
This is the first pet I've ever have where things have not been almost instant and I'm so SO glad I read up on parrot mentality before I got her. It's clear that things really have to happen on her terms. I just feel so privileged that she feels she can trust me more and more.
I'm so sorry for rambling but I know you're the only people who will understand my excitement!
Step up has to be used with a stick or biting prevails!
We play a game when she's in her cage like hide and seek. I tell her to go hide and she hops to the opposite side of her cage and I say "Where's Calypso?!" and she hops over to the perch by my face. She usually squeaks and "hides" to let me know when she wants to play this game.
Last night she was out and I managed to get face to face with her many a time without her going away which was just magical. All of a sudden she flew up to the dado rail with a squeak so I said "where's Calypso?!" and she flew back down to her cage! (And her father thought it was a pointless game in her cage - pah!!) We played this for half an hour which isn't unusual even in her cage lol!
Then I had my hand in her cage while she sat and watched me (I was rearranging and cleaning bits up) when she clambered to the entrance of her cage. Then she scooted over to my hand and I just thought: This will hurt. LOL! She then started opening and closer her beak so gently over my hand and rubbing it, using her tounge too lol.
She looked at me, blinked (that still honours me) and went in to bed. I stood there with tears of joy coming down my cheeks.
It's just a small step but to me, it's massive because she's very tame in a non tactile way (that'll make sense to all of you I know!) but not to touch. I feel like "it's begun".
This is the first pet I've ever have where things have not been almost instant and I'm so SO glad I read up on parrot mentality before I got her. It's clear that things really have to happen on her terms. I just feel so privileged that she feels she can trust me more and more.
I'm so sorry for rambling but I know you're the only people who will understand my excitement!
I've had a similiar experience with Fred. It just warms the heart!
