Jealous of my husband!

[Birdman666]

That actually does help tremendously...

1. This bird suffered from many years, half a decade or more, of sensory deprivation, possibly three times that amount.

2. He likely has had zero training and socialization before you, just the opposite, neglect bordering on psychological torture. So, mentally this bird is VERY strong.

3. Ferral hits the nail on the head. I would actually start over with basic taming and training stuff. Step up practics, and all the normal taming exercises, and the two perch touching exercises, and see how she does with that. 6-8 weeks of that twice per day, and you may have a brand new bird on your hand... Seriously!

 

[Kiwibird]

Have you thought about getting a new "friend" that loves you beyond compare, shows them what they are missing, encouraging, and increasing interest acceptance?

Unless some creature refuses to be pried off my person to the extent it would be theft not to pay for it, it isn't coming home with me! I got Kiwi expecting him to "love me beyond compare". I had to fight him tooth and nail to even get him to trust me. Maybe when my ancient gecko Leo finally goes, I'll look into another lizard (big MAYBE).

As for faux animals, we have TRIED that with Hans the "B&G macaw". Kiwi will join in preening him, but don't let YOUR hand stray!

 

[Taw5106]

Hey given the info I've seen you have won tremendous brownie points with Kiwi, Mr. PIA, LOL. All said in fun. I would be jealous too.

 

[Kiwibird]

That actually does help tremendously...

1. This bird suffered from many years, half a decade or more, of sensory deprivation, possibly three times that amount.

2. He likely has had zero training and socialization before you, just the opposite, neglect bordering on psychological torture. So, mentally this bird is VERY strong.

3. Ferral hits the nail on the head. I would actually start over with basic taming and training stuff. Step up practics, and all the normal taming exercises, and the two perch touching exercises, and see how she does with that. 6-8 weeks of that twice per day, and you may have a brand new bird on your hand... Seriously!

I think the "joke" of my "jealousy" has kind of gotten lost in translation here over the course of this thread. To clarify: WE have had Kiwi for almost 6 years. He was a deeply troubled bird when we got him, but we've come a LONG way since his "feral" days. He IS step up trained, he IS stick trained, he's even potty trained, "no chew" trained, "return" trained and "volume" trained (he's actually very well trained at this point). He's also pretty friendly, and likes hanging out with us (and is even slowly starting to behave nicer towards strangers). I also don't think at this point, he would rip off my fingers or even break skin, but he would give me a good pinch if I picked him up around the body like my husband can. It's been a few years since he's actually drawn blood and I don't even remember the last time he gave a good nip.

The ONLY "complaining" I have over how he acts NOW is that he doesn't want to be petted or touched on his body, and honestly, I joke about it more than I care about it. I do kind of wonder why he's such a stinker about it as he obviously trusts and likes us and he does get pin feathers I'm *sure* we could help him with:20:

 

[henpecked]

Maybe i'm just the lucky one. But i don't think so. I think any one of you could have the same type of relationship that jake , my wife and i have. Like birdman and his pecker . You get what you put into the relationship. It's amazing what is possible.

 

[Kiwibird]

Maybe i'm just the lucky one. But i don't think so. I think any one of you could have the same type of relationship that jake , my wife and i have. Like birdman and his pecker . You get what you put into the relationship. It's amazing what is possible.

My *personal* take on it is this-

There are a few parrot lovers out there who have a inherent quality about them birds are simply drawn to. There are even fewer who have a gift with the birds who have been traumatized and have trust issues. There are also birds who are still receptive to love and kindness no matter what has happened in their past, and others who will make it next to impossible to earn their trust.

I think anyone and any bird can, with enough time and effort, have a wonderful relationship. It just comes easier for some than others. I may have grown up with parrots and very much love them, but I certainly don't have a genuine gift with them. I worked very hard to gain Kiwi's trust. My husband on the other hand had never even held a parrot before Kiwi, he didn't even want pets and the bird just instantly took to him:20: But you are 100% correct that you get what you put in. Kiwi took a while to come around, but we did not give up, and he has turned out to be a wonderful bird. Playful, intelligent, inquisitive, friendly... He is not the same bird we brought home and I'm quite proud of that fact!

 

[Birdman666]

Here's my friendly Nape Photo...

Both of these zons are shoulder birds. It's just that my shoulders were occupied by three little conures at that time, who weren't inclined to share.



In one of the earlier photos I posted of Bob, someone asked if he was very young, cuz they couldn't see the nape. You can see it clearly in this picture. And again, I don't know what it is, but I seem to get larger than usual for the species birds. I don't remember him being that much bigger than Sally, but I guess he was. CONSIDERABLY bigger. Sally's around 450.

 

[Kiwibird]

Wow! That is a large nape! He's about the size of my mom DYH in comparison to her green cheek (aren't red lord and green cheeks similar in size?)

And just to clear some things up We've come a LONG way from this kind of thing being a weekly occurrence with Kiwi. I actually think this was the last major bite I got from him, and this happened several years ago now. He actually hasn't bitten in a LONG time. Pinched? Yes, when he's hormonal he'll give a "warning pinch" (doesn't break skin), but delivered a savage bite- I think we're past that point now:

To this (yes, I can sneak a kiss too, but just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD. He just doesn't like being touched, though he is perfectly friendly):

 

[Taw5106]

Oh Wow!!! Husband tried to rub Buddy's head when he got home today. Husband turned away and Buddy grabbed his finger, broke the skin and pealed the skin back. Not like your nose but husband's finger is smarting. I asked husband what did he do to Buddy, he was offended because I sided with Buddy. Husband said he's mean, I said Buddy has watched too much Shark Week, lol.

 

[Kiwibird]

Oh Wow!!! Husband tried to rub Buddy's head when he got home today. Husband turned away and Buddy grabbed his finger, broke the skin and pealed the skin back. Not like your nose but husband's finger is smarting. I asked husband what did he do to Buddy, he was offended because I sided with Buddy. Husband said he's mean, I said Buddy has watched too much Shark Week, lol.

Well, at least Buddy tried to warn him and didn't get him *too* bad, though even a pinch hurts from these guys! Kiwi used to be real vicious, and he would remove chunks of flesh (mainly from your arm or hand) Count your blessings that Buddy is a "polite" biter...


SOOOOOO.... After taking some pictures of me and Kiwi, of course Joe couldn't NOT "outdo" me with the Kiwi love. Here you go Birdman, Wendy and Henpecked. Kiwi TOLORATED being tipped upside down and receiving a belly kiss (Joe decided to try after watching your video henpecked). There was an *extra* special treat involved though- a cinnamon toast crush square: Ya, I sneak a rare back kiss, and Joe can do whatever he wants to him (though he still doesn't like that kind of affection):

 

[RavensGryf]

I hear you April!
Don can just pull Raven right out of his cage and cup him in both hands and smash him to his chest while smothering him with his hands and face (lovingly of course lol). I think Raven would bite and scream bloody murder if I did that. Raven might scream once or twice, but then settles down real quick with Don. Pionus typically don't like that sort of handling, and yet he is so tolerant of whatever Don wants to do with him! I don't think Raven actually enjoys it, but he puts up with it without so much as a peep. With me he'll scream at the slightest thing. I admit I can usually hold him close by my body and skritch his neck for a few seconds, but I usually hear some grumbling or even screaming if he really isn't in the mood. I also asked Don today "hey, has Raven ever bitten you?" He said nope, never! He's drawn blood with ME! He's such a temperamental little thing!

I'll never understand why they like some people more than others, or are at least more tolerant with some people. I'm the one who cares for him and feeds, cleans, etc!

 

[Taw5106]

I showed husband the picture of your nose. His expression was priceless, his chin dropped and his eyes widened, he has a beak phobia. He then said, "And seeing that you still let him by your face?" I couldn't stop laughing, not because of what Kiwi did but his reaction. I scrolled down and showed him Joe's belly kiss pic and when I told him what he was doing he gets panicky, squirms in his chair and said we were all crazy. I started laughing hard.

I'm glad Buddy likes me and bonded with me because I take care of the animals. But where the dogs will demand attention from him, lay with him on the couch, forget Buddy. Buddy tolerates Husband outside of the cage but not too well. He has no issue taking food from anyone. I wish I understood why they are one person creatures.

 

[Kiwibird]

Oh no! Now your hubby is going to freak every time Buddy is out lol I can just imagine the music from "Jaws" playing as Buddy stalks your hubby on the couch....dun-dun.....dun-dun.... lololol But sweet, innocent Buddy wouldn't ever inflict such damage, even to his non-preffered human:21:

That kind of bite is why I recommend people keep bigger birds off their shoulders until the bird is trustworthy to be up there. Hands heal, eyes may not and parrot beaks can do serious damage....Sadly, that was not my only facial bite Kiwi also bit my lip once, and must've hit a nerve because it was numb in the area for a good 6 months before feeling came back). That was when we got back from vacation and he was PISSED (i.e. my fault for having my face that close). One of my earliest memories (I was about 3) was of Alfie the G2 hanging off my face as I ran screaming to my dad who literally had to pry him off. Alfie actually bit my mom's finger one night so bad caused permanent nerve damage and she had to have stitches. That bird has a razor-sharp beak and a clamp like a gila monster:52: NO amazon bites like a cockatoo can!

But it sounds like jaws, er, I mean Buddy really likes you, so you will probably rarely, if ever have him break skin. Even happy, friendly birds pinch and nip on occasion, but they know their own power and don't do damage to someone they like! I think Kiwi took advantage of my patience with him in the beginning because he gave me vicious bites at random for the first few years we had him. That or he was testing me to see how far he could push.... The bite on the nose was the last bad bite I got from Kiwi (knock on wood), and that was several years ago now. He *knew* he did wrong too after that too. He'll give me the occasional pinch now, but I think he felt genuine guilt for ripping into my nose when all I did was wake him up with kisses and treats and telling him he was a pretty bird:20:

 

[Taw5106]

LOL yes he freaks. We've noticed something new with Buddy. I bought him a kabob and it's been hanging in his cage since we got it, wouldn't touch it. Husband started playing with it and Buddy charged the kabob. Husband can stand on that side of the cage and Buddy will grab, shake, strip and take chunks out of the kabob. Well this morning I got up, just me and the pets. I had given Buddy breakfast and sat down. He starts going to town on the kabob (we call it his birdy heavy bag now), no one by the cage. He was also growling. Did this for about 10 mins and moved to do some shredding on his edible perch. When husband got up Buddy greats him with hellos and songs then moves to the kabob and starts ripping into it and growling. Is that playful behavior or he now associates the kabob with husband?