LadyWoofstuff
New member
- Feb 14, 2013
- 4
- 0
Hi everyone!
I've been lurking around this forum for quite a while now, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge and experience here, so thought it only polite to introduce myself!
I've always wanted to share my life with birds, ever since I was a little girl, but have never been in a situation where I felt it would have been be fair to have them.
Then finally, 2 years ago, I was ready to bring my very own fid(s) into my home! Since then, I have been researching, researching, and then a little bit more researching!
Despite falling in love with a couple of hand-reared GCC's 6 months ago (if you only knew the restraint it took not to bring them home from the pet shop there and then...), I decided that the best birds for me to get first were 2 baby cockatiels. I hate the term "beginner bird" but they did seem to be a little less "complicated" than other parrots!
Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans...
I have recently become the ridiculously proud guardian of a 2 year old Maximilian Pionus. He's yet to be named as it needs to be perfect - just like he is
He has quite a sad story...
He was bought for a young teenager as a baby who soon grew bored with him. For pretty much his entire life, he's been shut in a back room with no interaction or stimulation except for when he was fed or his cage cleaned out. I was told that if he screamed, he was yelled at to "shut up", which he did as soon as he realised nobody was coming.
He'd had the same 3 toys since day one - a bell, a ball and a leather rope.
When I went to see him, he was already put by the front door for me to take him - no questions asked.
Obviously, I couldn't leave him there, so paid them the money they wanted and took him home.
I figured that if he had any behavioural problems that were out of my depths, I would find a parrot sanctuary or new home for him that could give him everything he deserved. Beforehand, I'd also found a local specialised parrot behaviourist that was highly regarded and willing to make home visits as well as telephone and email consultations.
My gosh, was this a terrified parrot! When I first brought him home he screamed and screamed. Note for anyone thinking of buying a Pionus because they're supposedly perfect "apartment" parrots - they can be loud. VERY loud. 'Quiet' is always a relative term!
I soon realised his scream was fear-based - and he was scared of everything. I couldn't be in the room with him for longer than a few seconds, the TV, the sound of running water... everything terrified him. He was only quiet when he was left alone. Not just quiet, completely silent. No chattering, nothing. He'd sit in the same spot, on the same perch all day.
Now, nearly 3 weeks later, the screaming has completely stopped (just a few screeches if he's seen something new or there's too much going on), will take food from my hand, runs to where I am hoping for his favourite treat, has THE cutest little chatter that he does all the time, plays with his (new) toys, is okay with the TV on quietly, has little tantrums, and I'm pretty sure he's trying to say a few human words. He will now also enjoy a variety of fresh foods - my proud moment this morning was seeing him eat half a fresh blueberry!
There is still a long way to go with him, he's still very nervous, and it's an emotional journey for both of us. I was treated to a threat display last night, then not long after a bit of regurgitation - confused much??
Huge apologies for the massive length of this post - once I start talking about him, I find it hard to stop!
If you've made it this far, many thanks for "listening" and hello again!
Emma
I've been lurking around this forum for quite a while now, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge and experience here, so thought it only polite to introduce myself!
I've always wanted to share my life with birds, ever since I was a little girl, but have never been in a situation where I felt it would have been be fair to have them.
Then finally, 2 years ago, I was ready to bring my very own fid(s) into my home! Since then, I have been researching, researching, and then a little bit more researching!
Despite falling in love with a couple of hand-reared GCC's 6 months ago (if you only knew the restraint it took not to bring them home from the pet shop there and then...), I decided that the best birds for me to get first were 2 baby cockatiels. I hate the term "beginner bird" but they did seem to be a little less "complicated" than other parrots!
Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans...
I have recently become the ridiculously proud guardian of a 2 year old Maximilian Pionus. He's yet to be named as it needs to be perfect - just like he is
He has quite a sad story...
He was bought for a young teenager as a baby who soon grew bored with him. For pretty much his entire life, he's been shut in a back room with no interaction or stimulation except for when he was fed or his cage cleaned out. I was told that if he screamed, he was yelled at to "shut up", which he did as soon as he realised nobody was coming.
He'd had the same 3 toys since day one - a bell, a ball and a leather rope.
When I went to see him, he was already put by the front door for me to take him - no questions asked.
Obviously, I couldn't leave him there, so paid them the money they wanted and took him home.
I figured that if he had any behavioural problems that were out of my depths, I would find a parrot sanctuary or new home for him that could give him everything he deserved. Beforehand, I'd also found a local specialised parrot behaviourist that was highly regarded and willing to make home visits as well as telephone and email consultations.
My gosh, was this a terrified parrot! When I first brought him home he screamed and screamed. Note for anyone thinking of buying a Pionus because they're supposedly perfect "apartment" parrots - they can be loud. VERY loud. 'Quiet' is always a relative term!
I soon realised his scream was fear-based - and he was scared of everything. I couldn't be in the room with him for longer than a few seconds, the TV, the sound of running water... everything terrified him. He was only quiet when he was left alone. Not just quiet, completely silent. No chattering, nothing. He'd sit in the same spot, on the same perch all day.
Now, nearly 3 weeks later, the screaming has completely stopped (just a few screeches if he's seen something new or there's too much going on), will take food from my hand, runs to where I am hoping for his favourite treat, has THE cutest little chatter that he does all the time, plays with his (new) toys, is okay with the TV on quietly, has little tantrums, and I'm pretty sure he's trying to say a few human words. He will now also enjoy a variety of fresh foods - my proud moment this morning was seeing him eat half a fresh blueberry!
There is still a long way to go with him, he's still very nervous, and it's an emotional journey for both of us. I was treated to a threat display last night, then not long after a bit of regurgitation - confused much??
Huge apologies for the massive length of this post - once I start talking about him, I find it hard to stop!
If you've made it this far, many thanks for "listening" and hello again!
Emma
