Post by winter on Mar 17, 2020 17:10:52 GMT -5
Hi everyone!
I went to the pet store yesterday with the intention of getting a betta fish, and came home with a quaker parrot, which is honestly very on brand for me. I'm very drawn to birds, and I've had budgies, a cockatiel, some ducklings, a finch, and a macaw. When I saw her in the pet store, I instantly felt a connection. She had a sign outside her cage saying that she is relatively old for a pet store (hatched in july 2019), and she's quite shy and needs a "patient family". There was also a sign talking about how an adoption should be permanent, and she had been returned by her previous family. The people at the pet store said that she had been there for a while, and said something about how they were having a little trouble selling her because she's not the most outgoing. That basically sold me right there, because I think every animal deserves a loving home.
She wasn't really eating too much once we got home but I let her get acclimated to her cage. I worked on talking to her and singing to her, and eventually calling her by her name when I finally decided on one. I ended up naming her Winter, because she's a very light blue/silver/white color. Today, I took her out to try to hand feed her. She was initially very skeptical of my hands near her and was a bit nippy, but eventually realized that I was giving her food lol. Eventually, she got to the point where she was sitting in the crook of my arm and letting me stroke her, and I was so happy with her progress already!!
If anyone has tips on building trust (or any tips, really), they'd be greatly appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
I went to the pet store yesterday with the intention of getting a betta fish, and came home with a quaker parrot, which is honestly very on brand for me. I'm very drawn to birds, and I've had budgies, a cockatiel, some ducklings, a finch, and a macaw. When I saw her in the pet store, I instantly felt a connection. She had a sign outside her cage saying that she is relatively old for a pet store (hatched in july 2019), and she's quite shy and needs a "patient family". There was also a sign talking about how an adoption should be permanent, and she had been returned by her previous family. The people at the pet store said that she had been there for a while, and said something about how they were having a little trouble selling her because she's not the most outgoing. That basically sold me right there, because I think every animal deserves a loving home.
She wasn't really eating too much once we got home but I let her get acclimated to her cage. I worked on talking to her and singing to her, and eventually calling her by her name when I finally decided on one. I ended up naming her Winter, because she's a very light blue/silver/white color. Today, I took her out to try to hand feed her. She was initially very skeptical of my hands near her and was a bit nippy, but eventually realized that I was giving her food lol. Eventually, she got to the point where she was sitting in the crook of my arm and letting me stroke her, and I was so happy with her progress already!!
If anyone has tips on building trust (or any tips, really), they'd be greatly appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
It sounds like you're off to a good start. In the beginning, it's best not to expect too much hands-on interaction since a new parrot needs time to adjust to a new home and new flock (that means you 
). Just sitting nearby and talking softly to the parrot is a good way for her to get used to you, your body language and the sound of your voice. Since Winter already accepts food from your hand, you can offer her a little treat now and then while you're taling with her. I always recommend attaching a hanging perch on the outside of the cage, just below the cage door. Open the door when you'd like to invite your parrot to come out and let her decide when she's ready. The hanging perch will give her a place to stand so she can look around at her new surroundings. It's normal for a new parrot not to eat or drink much during the first day or two in the new home, and a new parrot is usually rather quiet at first, but most will make up for that before long.