Taming an old bird.

[snowflake311]

So I am looking for my next bird. I have been thinking green cheek or Cockatiel.

Here is the sad thing. My husbands aunt is fighting pancreatic cancer. She has 2 african grays that live outside in a big cage but are NEVER EVER handled or taken out. They are scary and not very nice. But I am sure could be worked with.

She also has a 10 year old Green cheek named Zoe. The same name as my daughter that is 7 years old. Anyways The green cheek has been living her life in a cage with little to no people interacting. She is the only green cheek. She had other birds in a cage next to her. but not with her. Yes its a kind of sad life. I am pretty sure she got it from a breeder when it was a baby. It might have been tame at one point. She had other birds but they found them homes already. I am considering taking the green cheek. I am not sure. It's not a rescue bird because she keeps her birds healthy. She is not a real crazy bird lady that babies her birds. Not really sure why she had so many birds.

Anyways if I was to take on this older bird. How easy is it to take a 10 year old green cheek. Would I have to clip her wings to tame her? But since she has NEVER been in flight I am sure her wings are not that strong.

 

[SailBoat]

In the 'old' days, nearly all parrots were wild-catch. With few exceptions there was little way in knowing whether the parrot was 4 or 40 years old. So, surprise, surprise nearly all became members of families. Point being, because as a group 'Parrots' are members of social groups and as a result all tend to bond with a new group when they become separated from their original group.

The difference is simply the time line. Drop the expectation of a few days, weeks or months and you will be surprised at what can be done.

The basics all apply. The time line only stretches out a bit farther.

Remember: Its never the fault of the parrot! Its always the fault of the Human! Always start from this position and you will quickly find what you are doing wrong and will be able to correct!

Now for a very short answer to your question: Yes, you can tame an older parrot. My wife is always working on me. According to her, I'm not a lost cause - it just takes a lot longer for me to get it!

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Hi Snowflake311 and I hope you enjoy the forum. Sailboat has given you good advice. I also adopted a 10 year old White Fronted Amazon wild from an Aviary earlier this year and he has made remarkable progress...he doesnt like to be cuddled or petted but he is big into playing games and learning tricks..
Based on my experience with Mr Biggles (WFA) I would say dont worry too much about the touching or cuddling to begin with but spend time bonding by finding something your Green cheek (when you get him) likes to do and turn it into a game or incorporate it into a trick and reward him with a treat that he treasures for doing that...repeat that action several times getting your parrot to do his part in the trick too....you may have to observe your parrot for a week or more before you try any trick to see what he does best but it could be something as simple as getting him to remove a paper napkin off his bowl and then giving him a treat in his bowl to begin with if he wont take the treat from your hand...use treats that he values highly but doesnt get in his everyday feed...talk to him a lot during this time of observation and sing to him or read him a story or tell him about your day or just chat to him and from there you will begin to bond and the sky is the limit. Best of Luck with Zoe I hope you do manage to offer her a home and I think you are wonderful to think of doing so...whats happening to the two African Greys...hope they get a good home too. So sorry to hear that your Aunt has pancreatic cancer.
I forgot to add that I wouldnt clip his wings...I didnt clip Mr Biggles wings...i felt he should have the freedom to come to me or get away from me as he chose...patience is what wins their trust and I am cinvinced that wing clipping is not s short cut to taming or winning trust.

 

[snowflake311]

Good point about how birds were wild caught back in the day. Thanks guys.

 

[snowflake311]

I am not sure I will get the bird but was just wondering. I told me mother inlaw to throw it out there that I would be happy to care for the little Green cheek. She said she would let her sister know. So we will see. I even said that if she dose beat the cancer I would give the bird back to her. So we will see.

In the mean time I might have found a baby green cheek....... I got the bird bug again. It's been years since I kept birds but I am back since my daughter is older it is easier to take on another pet. I am also down to 1.5 dogs. One dog is small and old thats the .5 :09: .

 

[rosembers]

That's so wonderful that you're offering to take on the Green Cheek. There was some very valuable information posted already, and I agree definitely not to clip her wings. That can cause balance issues, risk of falling and neck breaking, and so much more. IMHO it should be a LAST RESORT only for birds with severe behavioral issues that have been attempted to be helped with bird professionals (after all, these are wild species that are still new to the domestication of human life). It would be similar to a human getting terrible heavy shoes strapped onto their feet that wouldn't allow them normal day-to-day movement and balance. It effects their movement, comfort, and safety.

I believe every bird deserves a chance, even if it's not friendly or tame. They deserve to be taken care of and loved and given fresh food and water every day and flight time outside of their cage (safely!) because these are living beings that did not ask to be taken into humans' hands, and being that they are quite wild/exotic animals they may or may not bond to humans, at no fault of their own.

I HIGHLY respect, more than I can say in words, people like you who rescue and help birds in need. I've seen so much sadness, abuse and neglect in my involvement with rescues. It infuriates me and I just feel soo sad for all the birds that fall into need. I've seen rescue situations that I won't even post about on this forum because they are just too awful. I've seen parrots discarded like trash, literally. I'm working on saving a parrot who's almost completely bald from malnutrition and resulting behavior problems. You are wonderful for offering to take him/her in.

 

[snowflake311]

Well she is not ready to give up the bird. Not sure what will happen to it. I kind of just want to steal it. We will see. I have since gotten my 4 month old black capped conure.

If I get the word that she is ready to find the bird a new home I will still take it. We are all praying she will fight this cancer but ....... it is not looking good. All I can do is wait.