trimblegirls
Member
- Dec 30, 2016
- 183
- 1
- Parrots
-
African Grey: Jasper
Blue and Gold Macaw: Lulu
Eclectus: Pickles
SOOO SORRY for the length.
Hi, I'm a fairly new parrot parent. I've wanted a parrot for a long time but never really had the time for it. Now that my children are almost out of the house, I find that I have more me time. I was nervous about starting with a larger bird so I adopted a GCC a couple of months ago from a rescue. All of our pets come from rescues. I don't see the point in buying a "brand new" when there are so many others that need a good home. I'm in love with our GCC. He warmed up fairly quickly and has begun to train us in parrot. I felt confident enough to be able to look and listen for cues in a bigger bird so I adopted a CAG.
The only background that I was given was that he was purchased as a baby from a couple in their 70's. They named it Jasper. Jasper is 9 years old. No DNA test as to male or female. Red feathers have grey edges so I think female?? Now that they are in their 80's, they can no longer care for him. They had a huge house and were moving into a studio apartment and didn't have room for him. When the rescue picked him up, he was in a huge room all alone in his cage. He was very excited to see the male owner when they came into the room, Jasper regurgitated. The rescue doesn't know how often Jasper was let out of his cage. She said it was difficult to get information out of the owner because he was so upset about releasing Jasper. Jasper doesn't seem to know what seeds are or doesn't like them. He also doesn't really eat fruits or vegetables. I've been able to get him to eat some apple, tangerine, walnuts...kind of. He'll take a bite, throw it down, take a bite, eat it. I've been offering a mixture of corn, carrots, peas, either apple or orange.
The current problem: I would love to let him out of his cage the entire time when I'm home but need to be able to put him back in his cage. The rescue only had him a few days. She thought it would be less traumatic if he got placed quickly rather than let him settle in and moved again. Since we had a previous relationship, she let me take him. She was able to get him back in his cage. We also know he doesn't like to be covered at night. He's in my living room where we are most of the time. He doesn't want to step up. Shivers when we get close. I left the cage door open for him yesterday. By the end of afternoon, he was out of his and playing with a toy that I had bought for him. I tried to put him back because I was leaving. He didn't want to step up and my dog barked which scared him and sent him flying into the next room and hit the window. I grabbed a towel and gently grabbed him so he could bite the towel. I held him in front of his perch and he sat on it.
I hate to see him in his cage all day. My GCC hates going back in his cage before he's ready. If he tells me no, I usually offer him a treat to go in and he's happy. This won't work for Jasper because I haven't found anything he's crazy for. I'm going to get a clicker and a t perch and start there. I'm hoping it won't take too long because I think he'd be happier if he was out of the cage. I just need him to be safely out.
What books should I start with for him? Is there a way for me to encourage him to "pick me"? Is the living room too high traffic for him? I could put his cage in the next room which is adjacent and open to the living room. We don't use that room much just to go in and out of the house mainly. He could be able to see and hear us.
Thank you for your time