Rescued CAG

[AmazonMango]

For those of you who have adopted/rescued older CAG, what were your steps in beginning training and forming trust?

I just recently rescued a male CAG from a neglecting/unhealthy home. He is tame, but very apprehensive with hands. He will take food from my hand and will take toys from my hands, but absolutely will panic if my empty hand comes anywhere near him. I have been moving extremely slow (aside from having to clip his wings for his safety).

He just starting plucking a small area on his wings when I picked him up from his previous home so his feathers are not in the greatest condition, but they will improve with time. He may have a bald spot here and there, but it isn't noticeable unless you are really looking for it. He has been preening and taking baths since we brought him home and he does talk to us and make noises. He eats and drinks regularly as well.

Any training advice or trusting exercises would be helpful. Right now I am just getting him used to the new environment. Poor guy has so much potential that was ignored for so long.

 

[Birdman666]

With CAG'S the key is to take your time, and go at the bird's pace.

They do better if you "introduce them" to things. Strange objects that suddenly appear without warning may cause anxiety. Showing them it's just a thing, and it's not going to hurt you. In fact, you might even want to play with it... goes a long way.

They like their "study time." CAGs study everything until they know the routine backwards and forwards. They like to know what will happen before it does. The more predictable it is, the more they seem to relax, and get into the flow of things. (Just don't make the structure so rigid that the slightest deviation from it freaks them out... (i.e. the TIME FOR JUDGE WHOPNER scene from Rain Man...)

They tend to not be touchie feelie birds, and they tend to get held on their own terms.

CAGS tend to set the boundaries with you, and then gradually expand them, not the other way around.

 

[Bandespresso]

What Mark said. Everything has to be their idea so take it nice and slow! You can occasionally trick them into thinking something is their idea when it is really your idea but even that is a rarity . I got EXTREMELY lucky with my 18-year-old rescue CAG because she loves climbing into boxes but was terrified of hands. I would have her climb into a box, move her away from her cage onto the floor, then step up onto my hand and take her back to the "safe zone" and we graaadddually increased the distance and started putting her different places like the couch and counter then we did laddering until, one day, she was a step up master . It's all about teaching a CAG that stepping up and hands will almost always lead to something fun and rewarding or, in Espresso's case, safe. Lots of treats and lots of patience! When he feels more comfortable with you, I strongly suggest stick training. A stubborn CAG will not budge so it's always good to have a back up plan if they need to move on your terms.

 

[Birdman666]

A stubborn CAG...

I thought the terms STUBBORN and CAG were synonymous...

 

[Bandespresso]

A stubborn CAG...

I thought the terms STUBBORN and CAG were synonymous...

:jumping40 whoops I didn't mean to be redundant LOL

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

TAG's can be like that too! Smokey,my TAG,even after 27 years,still refused to get on my hand,unless it was her only option! And even then,she was reluctant..then she would step up,and tell me what a "good girl" she was..what a brat!


Jim

 

[Birdman666]

My CAG's quirk... and I understand why...

He figured out that I am right handed early on. Here's the funny part, he will ONLY step up on the right hand. Offer your left hand, he will push it away.

He won't step up until it's the right hand, and to this day, he always "checks" the perch, i.e. puts his beak on it and tests to make sure it is stable before stepping up. [He isn't trying to bite you. He needs to test the perch first.]

They all have their little quirks... and it's part of what makes them fascinating... and at times, aggravating.

The "WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED" thing is very real...

And when they get into the WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED stance and GO POOFY on you, that is the same as the "amazon line of death" dance.

The only difference is that amazons are usually worked into a state at that point, and just don't realize what they are doing... WHERE A CAG INTENDS TO INFLICT MAYHEM AT THAT POINT... GO AHEAD, BRING IT ON, TRY ME!!!