New member with new bird.

[Chantilly]

Hi all,
I am new around here but have kept parrots for many years. When I was very young (8-16 yrs) I had a hand reared sulphur crested cockatoo who was my baby.
I adopted a tame galah today from the RSPCA. They did not offer any advice on how to settle him in. Now my other half has taken him out of the cat box I bought him home in and he was bitten a few times hard enough to draw blood. The bird was so sweet at the shelter so I know it is there. I am afraid hubby has set us back in the settling in stage so I have herded the bird back into the cat carrier but have no idea what to do now as the RSPCA offered no advice on how to let him feel safe enough to become a part of our family. Please help.

 

[Allee]

Welcome to the forums and Congratulations! Thank you for adopting!

They should have given you a lot more information. Do you have a cage prepared for him? He was friendly at the shelter because he was comfortable, parrots have a remarkable ability to adapt but it can take time, everything is new and different, he was only biting to defend himself. The cat carrier will only make matters worse. If you have a cage set up for him, fill his bowls with food and fresh water and get him to go in the cage from the carrier. If possible try to keep things calm and let him have time to process his new humans and environment.

 

[Chantilly]

Thank you for the reply, yes I have him in his cage now. He seems much happier.

 

[Allee]

Oh good! Homecomings can be a little frightening. Try not to expect too much too soon. Toos can be very emotional as I'm sure you know from experience. Enjoy your new family member.

You may want to put the back of his cage against a wall, it will make him feel safer. I would put his cage in an area with little traffic for the first few days but close enough to your family so he doesn't feel alone.

Here's a great link to help you get started.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[Chantilly]

Thank you so much Allee. This is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. It has been so long since I kept a large bird, and tame to boot that I have forgottenough a lot of the starter things. I did lots of research before bringing him home then I felt like hubby broke it lol.

 

[Loko]

I dont have much experience with cockatoos specifically outside of visiting friends toos and such, but I think the same general point of letting the bird adjust on his or her own time goes for nearly all parrots. Everything said so far is great, just make him feel as safe as possible and dont try to overstep any boundaries. When he is ready he will let you know. I wouldnt worry about him biting your husband, Im sure it wasnt personal! Hell be over that in a week as long as everything goes well for him. Just show him love and dont rush and everything should be fine. Also make sure you offer a healthy diet (not sure what youre feeding him or what he was being fed) and a large enough cage and lots of time out to see his new world

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi and welcome from one RB2 mom to another LOL. Allee has given great advice and he is sure to settle in soon. Talk to him plenty in a soft vocal tone, helps to get used to you. Plum loves to be covered at bedtime, he likes his 'me' time with his toys whilst settling down for the night. Thanks again for giving him a home.

 

[Chantilly]

Hi Plumsmum. Sorry if I am ignorant, what is an rb2? I put a sheet over him at dusk, he seemed tired. Don't thank me, I was so happy when I took him home I was tearing up.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome! Rb2= rose breasted cockatoo

 

[Scott]

Adoption is a most noble gesture, and with some work you should have a wonderful new companion! Welcome, and thanks for joining our community.

As helpful as we can be as evidenced by Allee's advice, you may wish to also seek assistance locally. I'm guessing the RSPCA personnel have limited knowledge of Galahs? Are there any local avian clubs to assist your transition?

 

[Chantilly]

Thank you both for the welcome. The RSPCA is a animal rights advocacy group in Australia. They are a huge charity and are the primary body that protects animal rights and safeties. They also run second hand stores to fund their shelters, try to reconnect lost and found pets with their owners and run adoption programs for strays and abandoned pets (yes you can drop off a pet you no longer want �&#56879. Most of the people working there are volunteers so probably have no idea about parrots or any other animal really. They just clean them, feed and water them, and call the vet if the animal looks unwell.
I am not sure about avian clubs, I will do some research today.

 

[Chantilly]

Haha, I just got scammed. It is morning here and the wild birds, including galahs are flying around squalking. I opened the curtains and the front door, not the screen door, so he could see what is happening. After about half an hour he asked me to take him out by doing step up motions. So I did. He let me give him a cuddle and a kiss good morning then flew straight to the front door. When I tried to take him back he told me in no uncertain terms to back off. He is flying around my lounge room and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Scott]

How wonderful!! Perhaps he was stimulated by seeing the galahs and their calls. Do you know anything about his background before being relinquished?

 

[GaleriaGila]

Wonderful story.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Chantilly]

He is now flying from window to window scoping the escape optons.
All I know about his history is that he was picked up on the side of the road by the RSPCA ambulance, kept with them for a few months to see if an owner came to claim him, and then he was put up for adoption.

 

[Scott]

He is now flying from window to window scoping the escape optons.
All I know about his history is that he was picked up on the side of the road by the RSPCA ambulance, kept with them for a few months to see if an owner came to claim him, and then he was put up for adoption.

How common is it for an escaped galah to join a flock? Is it possible he was previously wild, tamed, and escaped before rescue?

 

[Chantilly]

It is illegal to poach from the wild so unlikely that he was wild first. Also, when the ambulance picked him up he was very weak apparently. So I think he likes the idea of being a member of a flock but surviving in the wild is harder than it looks ��

 

[Scott]

Seems his instincts are in high gear as he scouts ways to escape! Going to be difficult to strike the balance between free flight in your home and an accidental release!

 

[Chantilly]

Yeah, I am really going to have to ensure the doors are shut at all times. I am currently researching harness training so I can take him for walks.

 

[Chantilly]

http://www.parrotforums.com/members/chantilly-albums-my-birds-picture17275-20161106-052239.html