|
|
Post by duckysmom on Jun 29, 2016 9:44:03 GMT -5
Last night I came home from work and he wanted nothing to do with me. Wouldn't come out of his cage. Threw his veggies around. I think he's upset that it was the second day I was not around (at work). When he came home from the breeders over the weekend I purposely didn't fawn over him, but since his cage is in the dining room where he can see into the living room and kitchen, he could see me all day. Auntie goes to his cage to talk to him during the day but doesn't take him out. This morning, he was begging to come out and wouldn't eat his veggies because he just wanted cuddles and to stay on me. He put up a loud fuss when I had to put him in his cage to go to work. Good thing everyone gets up early in this house! I hadn't heard him yell like that before. So am I doing this right? I want him to adjust to the schedule but I hate seeing and hearing him so unhappy. I told him Mommy has to go to work so I can buy you your toys and favorite foods. I'll be back. He wasn't soothed.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Jun 29, 2016 13:38:46 GMT -5
Ah, yes... the angry Quaker. Something everyone here is all too familiar with  There's no avoiding it  Sounds like you are doing fine. Eventually he'll get used to the patterns of you going to work and will no longer be upset about it when you leave. It's good to modulate the amount of attention you give them so they don't get too used to being fawned over. One thing I do is always give Cupcake treats when she's going in the cage as we are leaving. So she rarely complains about it, and generally just happily accepts the treats. She doesn't get them until she's *willingly* entered the cage. |
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Jun 29, 2016 14:21:50 GMT -5
Very much agree with Aaron. They will adjust to your schedule and yes they get angry when you don't pay enough attention. Try really hard to remember YOU are the boss. (a slave maybe... but still the boss). My problem (which sounds like yours) is I have a soft heart and when I see them fussing or getting angry... I react and feel bad. It really is an adjustment time right now. Do what you have to do. You need to work... so go to work. Plan a special time of the day that he will be given attention and try to stick to it.
One thing Quakers love is a schedule.... keep it all the same as much as you can.
Things are very normal with Ducky... he will be okay.
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Jun 29, 2016 15:13:17 GMT -5
Uh oh, sounds like someone needs to back to her manual, Julianna. Joking about slavery aside, your dog is pretty well programmed to see you as the boss. Even your cat will grudgingly respect the fact that only you know how to operate the can opener. I don't think your parrot is ever going to feel like he is your subordinate. With some exceptions, flocks don't really work that way. I try to treat it as a partnership, at least as far as my birds can tell. Yes, you have to be the "decider", but if you can present things they don't really want to do as an option that they actively choose, as Aaron does with getting Cupcake in her cage, they'll be happier for it. |
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Jun 29, 2016 17:06:32 GMT -5
This is completely normal behaviour for quakers. One thing I do with Bonnie is I let her out at roughly the same time each day (give or take an hour), even on weekends when we're home. She doesn't get let out at all in the mornings because it's still dark when we leave for work (it's winter here in Australia).
Right now I'm on school holidays, but I still don't let her out until mid-afternoon, which will be less confusing for her when I go back to work. I know it sounds a bit harsh, but sometimes 'tough love' makes it easier on everyone...
|
|
|
|
Post by duckysmom on Jun 29, 2016 18:15:21 GMT -5
I came home tonight, Ducky was soooo excited to see me! He screeched for me to let him out. Thanks to the posts on this forum, I knew to wait until the screaming stopped. Once he quieted down, he started giving the most pitiful "whimpers" I've ever heard. I opened the cage and played some quaker game of bird on the cage, bird on mom, bird on the cage, bird on mom. Back and forth he went while I stood there, next to the cage. He bored of it. Then we both went upstairs to put the laundry away. He is currently is happily munching veggies and fruit while I am getting ready for dinner. I heard he yelled most of the day. Not sure if that's an exaggeration or not. But he's happy now.
|
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Jun 29, 2016 18:41:26 GMT -5
They are funny little creatures! Bonnie sometimes completely ignores either my husband or I one day, then she's all over us the next. Well done for not responding to the screaming - that can be really difficult sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if he did yell all day. They have lots of stamina. |
|
|
|
Post by duckysmom on Jun 30, 2016 9:23:27 GMT -5
Leaving this morning was easier. I gave him just a few minutes of cuddles, then put him in his cage with his fresh veggies. He ate, but watched me closely as I got Auntie's breakfast and my travel coffee and lunch ready. When I took his veggie bowl out, I dropped a nutriberry into his pellet and seed dish. He scrambled over to check it out. With a "off to work, I love you and I'll be back" I blew kisses, patted the dog's head and headed out. Not a peep. He really loves nutriberries. He had a lot of time with me (and that other bird he was beating up in my dresser mirror) last night. It was rather comical.
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Jun 30, 2016 9:33:38 GMT -5
He sounds like a real sweetie. |
|
|
|
Post by siobhan on Jul 1, 2016 16:12:43 GMT -5
He'll adjust. He just wants to make sure you understand that you are being naughty by leaving. LOL He'll soon figure out what's going on and things will settle into a groove.
|
|
There's no avoiding it 
