Our new rescue!

[TortoiseLady17]

Meet Zuri. He is a three year old CAG.

Zuri's story
His first owners kept him outside in a cockatiel cage. His second owner rescued him, gave him a bigger cage, and love. She started taking him to the vet and he turned aggressive on her. He would bite her when ever she tried to interact with him, or clean his cage. Because of the strong bites she became fearful of him, and stop letting him out of the cage. To take him to the vet for nail and Wong trimmings she had to load up his whole cage, as she could not get him out. He had not been out of his cage in months. It was very hard for her to give m up but knew she could not work with him any more.

We can touch his feet and cage and he will not strike. If we try to touch him anywhere else he will. I opened the cage this morning and he came out on his own. I tried using a stick to get him back in and he flew. Once on the ground he walked toward me and stepped right up. We know it is a long road ahead, but are prepared. We spend time talking to him, and are just taking it slow.

He dies have slight splay leg, but seems to get around fine. I know if they are young this can be corrected, but is he too old now? Any other advise would be greatly appreciated!

 

[PortaPerch]

Sounds like you are doing it ALL right. He must be thrilled to be out of the cage. We keep ours with clipped wings and never caged. I can't pick Greybeard up except on a PortaPerch, which in this case is used as a stick with a T on the end, which provides a more natural angle and balance.

 

[Purl]

Glad he found another home that will try and work with him. Feel bad for the last owner..that had to be tough. Could it really have been such a simple thing as a vet visit? I have to make an appt for Purl..I'd hate to see this happen.

Best of luck with him..he's a beauty, love how the feather's look..

 

[TortoiseLady17]

I'm not sure if it was the vet visit or not. She said after the first visit he started getting aggressive. She said they had to force him into the carrier ( which is why they went to taking his whole cage). I personally think it was the carrier and getting him to the vet that spooked him, then after that the owner was scared of him

 

[Purl]

What a shame...he's a beautiful boy. I hope it all works out for you!!

 

[Beako_N_Kiwi]

Wow what a beautiful bird! We also got a CAG on Wednesday to foster. She is SO SMALL. We weighed her in at 305 grams. She has the tiniest beak, and such a little body. I didn't know they came that small. The owners didn't have time for her, she is plucked around the neck and her tail is practically gone. She is going to the vet tomorrow! We were told she would probably be a bit aggressive at first, but she steps right up for me, and when she does bite my finger or hand, it doesn't hurt AT ALL. She has a lot of potential! It sounds like yours does too! I just got bit by our Amazon Kiwi, and I understand the hesitation and fear the previous owner got. I wish you the best of luck! He's beautiful!

 

[TortoiseLady17]

Thanks everyone! He is beautiful!
Beako, we have an amazon, and cockatoo, they have both gotten me good. So I completely understand her fear, I am just glad she cared enough for him to be able to give m up so he can come out. I am staying in contact with her and giving her updates on him. I think he has so much potential!

I am a special education teacher and have the summer off, so I have lots of time to work with him.

 

[suncon97]

Sorry I didn't post sooner that he is a real beauty! My grey has gotten me good a few times.

 

[Purl]

I am a special education teacher and have the summer off, so I have lots of time to work with him.

Perfect...I'm sure with love and patience he'll come around. XOXO to you for taking this on.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

We had him out again this evening. He was climbing all over his cage and playing with toys. He had to keep taking breaks to get more food, I don't think he is used to using this much energy.

 

[MikeyTN]

Good Luck! Hope everything goes well, he looks wonderful!!! I've rehabilitated birds for a long time too BUT my U2 is a big issue. He was very good for few months, but he would just bite me real good when he doesn't get his way now days. So I completely understand the fear part, cause for me to never be afraid of any birds, I'm kinda afraid of him. I try not to be but he's so unpredictable. I'm still trying to work with him so we'll see. It took a few of the birds that was like that a longgggg time to be good.

 

[wenz2712]

I hope it all works out ok with him... He is adorable.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

Good Luck! Hope everything goes well, he looks wonderful!!! I've rehabilitated birds for a long time too BUT my U2 is a big issue. He was very good for few months, but he would just bite me real good when he doesn't get his way now days. So I completely understand the fear part, cause for me to never be afraid of any birds, I'm kinda afraid of him. I try not to be but he's so unpredictable. I'm still trying to work with him so we'll see. It took a few of the birds that was like that a longgggg time to be good.

I understand the fear too. Our U2 has started biting me. He will come to me say step up, then bite. He has gotten me good a few times.

Even though I know the pain and injury of their bites, I can't turn away from them, I know there is a reason for their actions. I just have to figure out how to read them and let them know they are safe and loved. Just like with teaching special Ed, there is so much potential there, it is just a matter of figuring out a way to draw it out of them.

 

[KatherineI]

Poor birdy. I'm sure that was difficult for his second owner - the situation sounds very much like what I went through with our CAG years ago and had to rehome for very similar reasons. It was extremely difficult. I hope your work with him improves his behavior and obviously his quality of life is already improving.

Good luck!! He's a very pretty CAG.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

He seems so much happier already. When he is off his cage he will step up on a stick and then move over onto my hand. He lets my husband get very close to him. He is only striking when he is within his cage. He has not started talking in front if us, but we heard him chit chatting when we left the room.

Sorry for the grainy pic, I didn't want the flash to scare him.

 

[Mozzie]

He is beautiful. It sounds like he is doing great with you!

 

[TortoiseLady17]

Zuri is starting to talk. He will not do it in front of us, but we listen to him when we leave the room. He says his name, hi April (our amazon), come here, want to come out, hello, and some things we can't make out yet. We are very glad he seems to be settling in! :-D

 

[MacawGuy]

Good for you for gaving a bird a good home. Can you hold him yet

 

[TortoiseLady17]

He will not step up from his cage, he will take flight if we try. Once he is off the cage he would step up but we never kept him on our arm for long. Last night he was sitting on out papason chair frame and kept reaching his foot toward us. He stepped up on my arm then we sat there passing him back and forth. He really seemed to enjoy all attention! He would sit on my arm then walk down it toward my husband. He would step up to him, sit there for a little we then walk back over to me! Then the kicker. . . . . he was on my arm and bent his head down for me to scratch his head!!!!!!!! :-D

 

[Purl]

OMG...how incredible! Did you want to cry? I'm soo happy that things are going in the right direction. Thank you for giving him a loving home!!

Having gotten a 3 yo Ducorp cockatoo just last month..I'm amazed at how trusting they can be. My biggest fear actually is when I have to take her to the vet for a check up. I may ask the vet if I can stay outside the room so that she doesn't associate me with the visit.