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Dec 10, 2015 13:26:15 GMT -5
Post by aligarf on Dec 10, 2015 13:26:15 GMT -5
Ok, I admit it. I probably got impatient.
Peri has been in our home for a week. He sits on his perch. He won't take treats, not from us, and not from the treat bowl that I wash and fill everyday.
I have not put my hands in his cage, because I know he will run from them. But I do change his food and his toys everyday, and we leave the cage top open for a few minutes everyday to see if he wants to come out.
Yesterday he came out of the cage, then flew to the floor. I picked him up gently (he does not know how to step up) and put him back in the cage.
Today he came out, and flew to the floor... and I picked him up, and sat with him on the couch. He bit me. HARD. I understand, he is probably frightened. I kept him out of sight of his cage for maybe 10 minutes, he climbed up onto my shoulder, into my hair, and then tried to escape again. Eventually I just wrapped him in a towel and took him back to his cage.
I am sad and frustrated! I have read conflicting advice on the "honeymoon" period of having him at home. I have spent a week talking and singing and trying to offer treats, but then I read that I should put him in a towel, take him to another room, and "work" with him, either holding him in the towel, or reading to him... Is this bad advice? Do I just have to be patient and keep building his trust?
Sorry, I know these things take time... Did I make a huge mistake by not getting a hand raised quaker?
PS. Peri is 5 months old, was parent raised, and sold by a breeder to a locally owned pet shop. I bought him last week.
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Dec 10, 2015 16:21:11 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Dec 10, 2015 16:21:11 GMT -5
I'm sure this is quite frustrating... I don't have any experience with parent raised birds, unfortunately... but I'm sure your challenges are stemming from the fact that he was not hand raised. That doesn't mean he won't become a great companion in the long run, but it does mean your situation will require much more patience up front. A week is really not very long in this kind of situation. I suspect it could take many weeks, or even months. I'm not sure on the toweling-- Hopefully one of the others here can give you some good suggestions on how to proceed. Good luck!
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Post by siobhan on Dec 10, 2015 18:11:29 GMT -5
He doesn't have the least idea what's happened to him, where everybody and everything went that he knew, or why you think he ought to be your buddy, since you're the one who took him away from all that's familiar. He's a scared baby. A week is no time at all, really. It can take a bird much longer than that to settle in and feel at home. He has to learn that all the new sights and sounds don't mean danger. He has to get used to your voices, your smells, the schedule, everything. Be patient. Don't push him to interact. Opening the cage so he can come out if he wants to is a great idea. Don't TAKE him out. If he lands on the floor, offer your hand and ask (don't tell) if he wants to step up. Probably he will, and you can then hold your hand near the cage so he can step off if he wants to, or sit on your hand if he wants to, and try just getting to know each other. You can sit near his cage (not too near, maybe arm's length) and just talk to him, or sing to him. Everything has to be at his pace and comfort level. My budgie was parent-raised and it was ages of me just trying to convince him I wouldn't eat him. Then one day, poof. He hopped onto my hand and was tame. I don't think a Quaker will be that sudden, but it will happen.
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Dec 10, 2015 18:31:39 GMT -5
aaron likes this
Post by easttex on Dec 10, 2015 18:31:39 GMT -5
This is one of those questions that I'm not sure there is one right answer for. Most of us, including me, don't have parent raised birds, but I'll give you my opinion. It may be the case that you will eventually have to be a little more aggressive in your training attempts with Peri. If you leave him alone indefinitely, he may never want to be handled. But as Aaron and Siobhan said, a week is not a very long time for settling in. I would give him more time to observe the routine and to get to know you. I wouldn't even guess how long that should be, but when you think both of you are ready, I would start training the step up. Training with positive reinforcement is a very good way to build a bond. I say this because of my experience with Peppy. I don't think he was parent raised, but he was cage bound and had not had any interaction for a long time. I let him do as he wanted for many months, but finally had to take him to the vet and had to prepare him for handling before I took him. Once we began, he made very quick progress, but I have my doubts that he would have ever willingly sought to be handled. So, I think there are exceptions to the advice to let them set the pace. You will have to decide if you have one of them. I've been posting this link a lot lately, but you might find it useful. It's long, but it includes tips for how to start training after you've had a bad experience. www.stfrancisanimalandbird.com/index.php/pet-resources/library/9-avian-care/84-my-parrot-bites-what-can-i-do |
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Dec 10, 2015 22:33:03 GMT -5
Post by aligarf on Dec 10, 2015 22:33:03 GMT -5
Thank you all for your input. Easttex, I think you really understood my concern. I don't want my bird to become cage bound while I give him space and wait for him to get comfortable in the house. Peri decided to come out of the cage again tonight, and I gathered him in a towel and took him to a quiet space for a while. Ok, we sat on the floor in the shower stall... lol! It was the only small safe place I could think of. I sang and read to him, and we even napped (or rather both closed our eyes) for a while. Then I put him back in his cage. Thank you for the article. I will try to get him accustomed to me and to a perch to begin teaching him to step up. Do you have any tried and true treats that quakers can't resist? He seems only mildly interested in the pumpkin seeds I've been using.
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Post by rickygonzalez on Dec 11, 2015 1:17:08 GMT -5
I have a parent raised quaker, I can tell you it wasn't easy. What I did was, I clipped his wings first. After that, I would take him in the bathroom, which is small and I would put him on my finger and just talk to him. I also gave way too many sunflower seeds... Lol, after about a week I put him on my shoulder... (We had built some trust by then.) That was 10 months ago, I can now do just about anything I want to with him without getting bit. Idk if this would work every time, but, I also did it with an I'll tempered cockatiel and a store bought 5 month old budgie... It worked well in all three cases. Observe the bird they give you clues when they're going to bite. Try to not let a bite happen if you can help it. I know it's easier said then done but just know, a fluffy bird never bites. A bird with feathers held slick to the body is one to be aware of. There is hope, be patient and try to not react if you are bitten. Remember, the bird is a prey animal. Translation he thinks you want to eat him. If you can become a place where good things happen for your bird and you can both earn each others trust you will be amazed how awesome these guys are as companions. Just be consistent spend time with him out of his cage every day in a few months he will want to be playing with you all the time like mine is now. Good luck, and keep asking questions....
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Dec 11, 2015 6:04:21 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Dec 11, 2015 6:04:21 GMT -5
Do you have any tried and true treats that quakers can't resist? He seems only mildly interested in the pumpkin seeds I've been using. Most parrots love sunflower seeds. You do have to watch how many you give, as the black oil type is very fatty. If you can find shelled unsalted grey sunflower seeds, or want to shell some yourself, that might work. They are much lower in fat. I don't know where you are, but I think the unshelled variety is available from drsfostersmith.com, if you can't find them locally. I would break them into pieces so you can give lots of rewards. Start by putting a few in his dish, then start only offering them through the cage bars, then only when he comes out of his cage. After that, use them only during a training session, so they remain a special treat. |
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Post by aligarf on Dec 20, 2015 8:00:54 GMT -5
You will NOT BELIEVE our progress!!
It's been about 2 and 1/2 weeks since we brought Peri home. This week we have made sure to leave the cage top open for an hour or so in the evenings. He almost always comes out. Thursday he was willing to step up onto a perch we were holding. (Which is when I got my awesome profile picture!)
Yesterday he came out of the cage for a longer amount of time. I'm trying to keep each interaction positive, so I put him back before too long. He was willing to step up onto our hands for the first time, and to stand there nicely. In the afternoon, we tried playing the "towel game" and he seemed to like being covered and held. He even napped with me!!
By yesterday evening, Peri let me pet his head!! No nipping, no biting! It was awesome! Over the moon with excitement!
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Dec 20, 2015 13:25:48 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by biteybird on Dec 20, 2015 13:25:48 GMT -5
Hey, well done. That's great news!  |
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Dec 20, 2015 15:51:16 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Dec 20, 2015 15:51:16 GMT -5
That is really great progress. Well done |
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Dec 21, 2015 20:47:04 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Dec 21, 2015 20:47:04 GMT -5
That is fantastic news! You must be very pleased. It sounds like you've done a very good job. Nice work!
I'm eager to hear how things continue to go! Keep us posted, and let us know if you have any questions!
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Dec 22, 2015 14:10:32 GMT -5
Post by julianna on Dec 22, 2015 14:10:32 GMT -5
Taaaa Daaaah.... your patience has paid off. Good for you and keep up the good work.
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Dec 22, 2015 22:54:44 GMT -5
Post by aligarf on Dec 22, 2015 22:54:44 GMT -5
Thank you!!
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Dec 23, 2015 4:58:20 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2015 4:58:20 GMT -5
That is great progress! |
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