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Post by easttex on Jan 17, 2015 18:09:07 GMT -5
First, I should say that I still believe that letting your parrot decide when it is time to come out of the cage is the right thing to do most of the time, but I've had a surprisingly positive experience forcing Peppy out. If you remember his story, he's the twenty-something year old cage bound fellow who's owner died some six months ago. He recently took a big step in coming out and walking around the room a bit. He hasn't repeated that, as I had hoped, and he is not one to be lured with bait. Now we have a vet appointment this Wednesday, so I had to get more aggressive, reluctantly. I've been taking him out every day, and he's been so good about it! I put one hand in front for him to step on, and reach around behind with the other to gently encourage him forward, and he does it, with very little drama. Barely even token attempts to bite, though I well know he can easily draw blood. I walk around the house with him and then let him sit on a perch for a while before letting him go back to his cage. When I adopted him I figured I would probably have to accept that he would not be handle-able and would just give him the best caged life I could, but now I think we can make some progress. I'm so proud of the little guy!  |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 19, 2015 0:04:07 GMT -5
Good job, Easttex, maybe Peppy just needs a long, long time to get used to it. Considering he's pretty 'old' I think you've done very well!
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Post by siobhan on Jan 19, 2015 15:20:43 GMT -5
Awwww. He's willing to try if you are. That's sweet. Poor little guy probably doesn't know what to do with all this freedom.
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Post by easttex on Jan 19, 2015 19:18:19 GMT -5
Today he stepped right up, without any prodding from behind. He walked up to the crook of my elbow and snuggled for a while. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 19, 2015 23:21:41 GMT -5
That's really impressive |
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Post by easttex on Jan 20, 2015 7:09:20 GMT -5
I'm afraid I will mess it all up when I abuse his budding trust by taking him to the torture chamber (vet), but I hope he will get over it quickly.
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Post by siobhan on Jan 20, 2015 12:59:31 GMT -5
Oh, he'll be mad for a day or two, but probably some millet or mashed potatoes will fetch him. Quakers love to eat.
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Post by easttex on Jan 20, 2015 15:00:44 GMT -5
We just had the loveliest little scritch session! I brought him out, he climbed up to my elbow, and then buried his head between my arm and body. My fingers have just itched to help him out with the feather sheaths on his head and neck, so I took a chance and started rubbing his neck. He loved it. He let me go on for a good five minutes.
I'd like to think that I'm a really gifted bird whisperer , but I believe it is something else. It's seems likely to me that at some point in his past he had more loving care than he got more recently. Maybe his person who died was ill for a long time. He certainly acted the part of a neglected, cage-bound bird, and he probably was, just not his whole life. Anyway, we've had a real breakthrough here! |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 20, 2015 15:25:24 GMT -5
Ummmm, Easttex, without sounding insulting, I think Peppy is a human whisperer. You have just become a slave As far as the vet is concerned, make sure you dont handle him at the vet. Shah behaves better towards me if I let the vet get him out of his cage and handle him - I become the "rescuer". However, at the last couple of visits, I did handle him and he didnt speak to me on the drive home - it was bliss as he usually screams and cusses at me!!!!!! |
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Post by easttex on Jan 20, 2015 16:00:43 GMT -5
You have just become a slave Oh, he had me at SQWACKKK. |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 20, 2015 17:28:00 GMT -5
As you said, he possibly has had 'scritches' before. Bonnie loves it when I rub her head, cheeks and neck....she purrs, goes into a trance and yawns non-stop. Then, when she's had enough - CHOMP! Well done, easttex, Peppy's got you figured!  |
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Post by beauty14582 on Jan 21, 2015 5:20:06 GMT -5
He done very impressive job. I like your pet very much. I hope will have mine also
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Post by easttex on Jan 21, 2015 15:32:22 GMT -5
Peppy and I thank you, beauty! When are you getting your quaker?
Jan, I took your advice and let the vet do all the dirty work, then rescued him at the end. He was very quiet on the ride home, but then he usually is. He did try to converse with a barking dog there. |
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Post by siobhan on Jan 21, 2015 15:49:08 GMT -5
Yeah, he's got your number all right. Wait till he starts choosing which clothes you can wear. I have a new bruise because I wore a shirt I thought Clyde wouldn't hate and it has a red lining in the hood. Red is not allowed.
It could be that Peppy has been waiting in vain for somebody to snuggle and scritch for a very long time and he might well be as happy as you are that the two of you found each other.
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Post by easttex on Jan 21, 2015 16:38:34 GMT -5
I think you may well be right on that, Siobhan. Even after the horror of the vet visit, he stepped right up this afternoon and snuggled in for a scritch. He only started biting, and not too hard at that, when I moved to put him back. This is close to a 180 in a very short time span. Maybe he just wasn't with anyone long enough to show his true colors. I don't know how long he was cared for by the man who didn't handle him. Fortunately, I rarely go out, so if he wants me wearing perfectly hideous outfits, it won't matter much. |
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