What have I done...

[HalfInsane]

I'm a mess right now.

Pixel totally startled me, by grabbing on to my finger (she hanging off my belt loop on my jeans and I didn't notice her). And entirely without meaning to, I flicked my arm and she hit to floor. She's not hurt or anything... But I feel awful.

The worst part is, every time I've tried to approach her since, she starts shaking in fear . I obviously traumatized her. I tried to approach her to pick her up, and she absolutely clamped on to my hand. She's never bitten before

I don't even know what to do. I felt bad enough already throwing her to the floor (even if it was an accident)... and now she's scared of me. I know it's only been a couple hours but I just don't know what to do. I've destroyed her trust in me. I feel like crying

 

[ParkersMom]

give her a little time and lots of treats and soft praise she will come around...

 

[Ravennessa]

Accidents happens... let her get up higher so she feels safe and approach with treats from lower end and her BEST FAVORITE Treats... Before I got used to Jacob I did scare him a couple of times where he was not happy with me (I found him and is not a bird person, have had to learn the crash course way). So I had to bribe my way back in with him..

 

[HalfInsane]

Sigh. I've calmed down a bit. She keeps acting like she wants out of her cage and calling to me, but as soon as I go near she goes in to full blown aggressive posturing. Pupils flashing, head down, tail flared, snapping her beak. So needless to say I'm leaving her alone; she wants nothing to do with me

It's just really killing me because she's normally literally attached to me, and totally trusts me. And three hours ago everything was totally normal. I know I'm still in a bit of shock myself, so, since I'm noticeably stressed I think I'll just not attempt to interact with her for the rest of the day. Maybe tomorrow she'll have forgotten the whole thing?

Sorry for rambling. My head is still reeling...

 

[Ravennessa]

I know how you feel, I work a lot with fearful dogs, and just the wrong tone of voice can undo a lot of training.. OR get you attacked.. It's frustrating.. But it will come back, parrots are intelligent, she will forgive you..

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I had something happen like this with my Hawkhead. She was so scared of me it was awful. I would walk by her cage ,say hi ,see if their was an interest.Eventually there was . I put no pressure on her . She couldn't help but be curious [as she watched me with my other birds] . Go slow she will come around [I know its hard].

 

[HalfInsane]

I had something happen like this with my Hawkhead. She was so scared of me it was awful. I would walk by her cage ,say hi ,see if their was an interest.Eventually there was . I put no pressure on her . She couldn't help but be curious [as she watched me with my other birds] . Go slow she will come around [I know its hard].

Thanks for the kind words Yeah, I'll have to give her time. I know she'll move past it, and I don't blame her for her reaction. I've dealt with biting in birds before. I'm hoping, of course, she'll regain her trust in me soon; it's just hard because she does have a very strong bond with me.

I'll just have to take things from step one, as if she weren't tamed, and work with her at her pace until she's back to her old self. She's talking back and forth with me right now, so that's a positive

 

[SoCalWendy]

Ugh, how frustrating.... Give her some time. Rio did that to me, I was in the kitchen, didn't realize she flew off her perch to the ground and walked over to me. She attempted to climb up my leg. Well I didn't now it was her, I thought it was a big ol bug or something and shook off my leg and she went flying across the kitchen floor. She was a stunned as I was, I felt so bad to have done that to her. She did let me pick her up but she wasn't too trusting for a day or so. We were just bonding too. Thought I totally messed up. She is okay, and gratefully so is your bird. She'll come around, give her time.

 

[HalfInsane]

Still very discouraged today. I came home from work, and just like her normal self Pixel got all excited and started chatting up a storm, and ran to the spot on her perch where she waits to be let out.

So I thought, okay, she's acting normal, maybe I can just have her step up like normal.

Boy was I wrong... My bleeding index finger can testify to that. I don't know if she could sense how apprehensive I was, if she's still scared... or what. But man I tell you, that was a good bite she gave me. And after I'd removed her from my hand she proceeding to scream and lunge at the bars

 

[SoCalWendy]

Awwww.... I'm sorry. Maybe instead of trying to touch her, just offer her some treats when you get home for awhile and see how she does with that.

 

[HalfInsane]

Okay... so progress has been made.

I went out for dinner with some friends. Got home, and could tell Pixel REALLY wanted out (call me cruel but that's partly why I went out...). I sat down and calmed myself down, got emotionally prepared if you will lol. So, with a calm mindset I went over to her cage, and as confidentially as I could, held my hand out for her and said step up... And she hopped right on my hand!

I set her right on top of her cage and told her how good she was. She's still kind of keeping to herself and acting apprehensive. But at least I can maintain the ability to get her in and out of her cage, which I think is key. She also accepts food from me. Beyond those two things I'm just going to let her approach me on her own terms. But I feel I can work through this now.

I know I'm not in the clear here and I'll really need to focus on keeping all my interactions with her 100% positive. But I think this has really made me realize how much birds do pick up on our emotions; I'm sure now she bit me before because I was nervous.

Thanks again all for your kind words. I may still need to vent once in a while, but my attitude is now much more positive.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Okay... so progress has been made.

I went out for dinner with some friends. Got home, and could tell Pixel REALLY wanted out (call me cruel but that's partly why I went out...). I sat down and calmed myself down, got emotionally prepared if you will lol. So, with a calm mindset I went over to her cage, and as confidentially as I could, held my hand out for her and said step up... And she hopped right on my hand!

I set her right on top of her cage and told her how good she was. She's still kind of keeping to herself and acting apprehensive. But at least I can maintain the ability to get her in and out of her cage, which I think is key. She also accepts food from me. Beyond those two things I'm just going to let her approach me on her own terms. But I feel I can work through this now.

I know I'm not in the clear here and I'll really need to focus on keeping all my interactions with her 100% positive. But I think this has really made me realize how much birds do pick up on our emotions; I'm sure now she bit me before because I was nervous.

Thanks again all for your kind words. I may still need to vent once in a while, but my attitude is now much more positive.

Ohhhh I'm so happy for you!!! I think your right about her approaching you on her terms right now is key. Way to go! Now you can breath a little easier, and not worry too much. :09:

 

[Gizmomania]

Good for you! They really can sense our apprehension. You did the right thing by approaching her with confidence and without fear.

 

[ShellyBorg]

Great job!

 

[MikeyTN]

That's great to hear!!!! I've done something similar accidentally and it took a bit before my bird forgive me. Things will go back to normal in time, don't you worry!!!!

 

[Ravennessa]

YAY!! I am so glad to read the good news!!
Great work!!

 

[Pajarita]

They do have long memories but they are also very forgiving of our mistakes (if they were not, they would all hate us for the rest of theirs and/or our lives) so hang in there, everything will work out.

 

[HalfInsane]

So Pixel is still very apprehensive about my hands. About 1/3 of the time she'll nervously step up, 2/3 of he time she was lunging to bite/biting. I guess when she first stepped up was an odd one out

She's clearly not comfortable about stepping up on my hands or having them near her. As difficult as it is, I know I need to completely start fresh with her when it comes to being hand tame. Forcing her to step up is not going to regain her trust, and my hands would look like I stuck them in a paper shredder. So that's out.

Today was day one of "taming" Pixel. She will accept treats from my hands/quickly hop on my hands to grab a treat then scuttle off. That's her current comfort limit. No biting incidents . Fortunately, she will very compliantly step up and off of any other part of my person; feet, knees, shoulders, top of my head... just not my hand. Admittedly carrying a parrot around on your knee is a little odd, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Heck. If I rest my knee against the coffee table and say step up she'll run over and hop on my knee haha. It's not me she's scare of, just my hands... Like they're some kind of vile entity separate from myself.


I know what to do to regain her trust. But I gotta say... it is disheartening. To all those of you who have adopted birds with fear issues, I commend you. I guess I'm just posting this to vent... I tried venting to my friend, but being a non bird person she just looked at me like I'm nuts. Again, thanks all for your replies