ScottB
New member
Hi all,
Recently posted about my new guy "Fergus"; he has been really withdrawn and frightened of everyone since I picked him up (3 weeks ago), and was also given a really harsh single wing clip to top things off (not me!). Thought I'd start a new thread as things have changed.... a lot!
Got some really good advice and encouragement from my previous thread, but if I'm honest was at my wits end just a couple of days ago; Fergus was even worse and began launching himself off his feeding stand. Had to resort to leaving him on the ground (didn't want to reinforce his behaviour by constantly picking him up) as he clearly doesn't like it down there; in fact he would walk some distance to my offered hand and happily step up????
Didn't know what to do so thought I'd experiment with his seed a bit, which he seems to love more than anything. Took all his foraging bits out for now, and put his seed "allowance" in a dish and swilled it around at the cage door to get his attention and coax him voluntarily to my hand. This worked SO quickly!! within a day he was totally changed! he doesn't puff up when I approach the cage, he doesn't quiver in fear when I handle him, AND most importantly he's stopped launching himself off he feeding perch!
Fergus is a TOTALLY changed parrot, he still lunges at me on occasion (still no intent) but now he actually moves around the cage watching me, comes to the open cage door, and although he has always stepped up well he now almost jumps up! All I am doing is allowing him a couple of seeds whilst in transit, its weird but I was initially so relieved at the change.....BUT.....now he is squawking at me all the time! It's not the seed, we are talking really small amounts and his diet is good (mostly veg); looked it up but couldn't get a consensus. Do you think he is reverting back to calling for food as he would have to his aviary parents only weeks ago? Have I opened up a new can of worms by doing this?
Really don't know what to do; I love the new assertiveness and confidence in Fergus, but my ears are bleeding! ha,ha I have not been acknowledging this behaviour, I don't even look his way when he squawks, but I want the gains I have made in bonding to continue.....Advice????
Thank you,
Scott.
Recently posted about my new guy "Fergus"; he has been really withdrawn and frightened of everyone since I picked him up (3 weeks ago), and was also given a really harsh single wing clip to top things off (not me!). Thought I'd start a new thread as things have changed.... a lot!
Got some really good advice and encouragement from my previous thread, but if I'm honest was at my wits end just a couple of days ago; Fergus was even worse and began launching himself off his feeding stand. Had to resort to leaving him on the ground (didn't want to reinforce his behaviour by constantly picking him up) as he clearly doesn't like it down there; in fact he would walk some distance to my offered hand and happily step up????
Didn't know what to do so thought I'd experiment with his seed a bit, which he seems to love more than anything. Took all his foraging bits out for now, and put his seed "allowance" in a dish and swilled it around at the cage door to get his attention and coax him voluntarily to my hand. This worked SO quickly!! within a day he was totally changed! he doesn't puff up when I approach the cage, he doesn't quiver in fear when I handle him, AND most importantly he's stopped launching himself off he feeding perch!
Fergus is a TOTALLY changed parrot, he still lunges at me on occasion (still no intent) but now he actually moves around the cage watching me, comes to the open cage door, and although he has always stepped up well he now almost jumps up! All I am doing is allowing him a couple of seeds whilst in transit, its weird but I was initially so relieved at the change.....BUT.....now he is squawking at me all the time! It's not the seed, we are talking really small amounts and his diet is good (mostly veg); looked it up but couldn't get a consensus. Do you think he is reverting back to calling for food as he would have to his aviary parents only weeks ago? Have I opened up a new can of worms by doing this?
Really don't know what to do; I love the new assertiveness and confidence in Fergus, but my ears are bleeding! ha,ha I have not been acknowledging this behaviour, I don't even look his way when he squawks, but I want the gains I have made in bonding to continue.....Advice????
Thank you,
Scott.