What if he won’t step up?

[Millenia]

I have my first Amazon! It’s a parrot I’ve always wanted and Charlie found me at the parrot rescue. I haven’t had him 48 hours yet, but I can tell that he has been chased with sticks and towels so I know I have to build trust. My issue is how to get him back in the cage if he won’t step up?

I know very little about his backstory, but I was there to look at several other Amazons that day, older friendly ones, and he wasn’t even on my radar. Until I walked in his general direction one last time before leaving and he told me goodbye plain as day. Rescuer had told me those 2 yellow heads over there probably wouldn’t work for me because they couldn’t be handled. Then I noticed his body language was more inviting than antagonistic. Rescuer told me to open the cage and Charlie came over and ate a sun flower seed in front of me. He told me to offer him a peanut so I did and he took it from my hand. He had been there for months and not taken a treat from anyone. At this point, I was pretty sure this was my bird.

He has also refused to eat anything healthy, despite being offered it every day for months. I don’t know much about his backstory but he is 14 and the woman who turned him in said she had him for about 3 years. He and her older Amazon didn’t get along and were both becoming aggressive more and more so she gave up on Charlie. On his first morning with me, he was so friendly he scared me a little. I kept expecting him to be bluffing. My African Grey that I had 20 + years would sucker people in and then bite quickly (not me, but everyone else.) Charlie was giving me all the friendly body language I used to get from my Grey. I guess I have to learn to trust him, too. He even offered me his head to scratch! So, back to my question, how do you get a parrot back in his cage if you can’t get them to step up, or even on you at all? And since he has been ‘guided’ with sticks, he’s not about to step up on a perch for me. Oh, and I convinced him to eat pellets and cauliflower from my hand last night!

Suggestions?

 

[MommyBird]

Suggestions?

I have done this with my Amazons who are afraid of sticks and towels:
use a grate from an old cage or one of those wire freezer shelves or closet shelves.
It looks like the cage they look at all day so they aren't scared of it.

 

[Clueless]

Secret.... in the beginning, we bribed. That bird will do anything for a sprig of cheese. That's not good and they can't process dairy so only in emergency will that EVER be used in my house.

I know a family that uses the cotton perches (they also come in a ring) to transport an Amazon.

 

[Clueless]

Don't forget.... you are in the honeymoon period with this amazon.

Even if they're temperamental, they can still learn to love and trust. Case in point? Secret.

MC saved her life. I adored MC (lost him to cancer) but he made me aware that underneath Secret's crust, there was a bird that needed love and I couldn't give up.

 

[Mizzely]

Bribes

 

[Greylady1966]

Congratulations!

 

[SumitaSinh]

Welcome to Zon paronting. My OWA Inca is afraid of stick. He doesn't step up. I made a step up tool with a toaster. Amazons are foodies, so can be bribed with treats. Inca goes inside his cage for almonds.

 

[Millenia]

I have done this with my Amazons who are afraid of sticks and towels:
use a grate from an old cage or one of those wire freezer shelves or closet shelves.
It looks like the cage they look at all day so they aren't scared of it.

Hmmm…okay. I will look around and see what types of grates are lying around. I can see this possibly working.

 

[Millenia]

I know a family that uses the cotton perches (they also come in a ring) to transport an Amazon.

Another possible tool. Thank you!

 

[Millenia]

Don't forget.... you are in the honeymoon period with this amazon.

For clarity, do you mean he’s being extra nice? I was expecting the opposite, tbh. LOL

I was expecting an independent bird that wanted to be left alone and just hang out on his cage and interact vocally. Now that he’s trying to be buddies I’m not sure what to do! HaHa. He is reminding me so much of my Grey at this point that it feels weird. I know that he’s not a green African Grey, but dang! LOL

 

[Pixiebeak]

Congratulations on your rescue!

I think birds can pick up on routine pretty quickly. Use the same phrase , use most Hugh value food and show you are putting in cage , happy dance sing praises when does .

I've work d with birds that seemed like blocks of ice , but sure loved to be bragged on and flattered , even if at first wouldn't show it

Please keep us updated on your adventures!

 

[Clueless]

For clarity, do you mean he’s being extra nice? I was expecting the opposite, tbh. LOL

look at the search bar above and put in honeymoon. There are numerous threads about birds. I'll tag someone @sunnysmom that might be able to give more info.

You will see a change in the bird but a lot of people sem to use this time to introduce new things.

 

[Fuzzy]

You can also get him to go in of his own accord, ie. without touching him. Usually you would keep a bird inside the cage for a few days for him to get used to the morning food routine, then open the door/let him out an hour or so before his breakfast and he should take himself back into the cage to eat when he sees you slot in his food bowl. This worked beautifully with my then untame Orange-wing Amazon, Ollie. Then you can gradually let him out for longer times and do the same with the evening bowl.

Yay for pellets and cauliflower!!

He looks like a Yellow crowned Amazon.

 

[Pixiebeak]

I'm not an Amazon keeper , so defer to all experienced members with species specific behavior. But I have cared for a few

In general, when you bring a parrot home , you may not see all of their true nature and personality until they settle in. For some there is the honeymoon where they are on the best behavior, I think it's to be accepted into the flock , because parrots are vulnerable without a flock , but I'm not sure if that's it or all of the reasons. But I have also seen new ones who are shut down and grieving their past people, even if was a terrible situation. Some will act out and test you , and be all over the place ...which is what I have seen the most of in my rescuees and fosters.
All are individuals, but most seem to settle in and adjust by 3 months

Parrots are so intelligent, social , emotional, and individual. It's a real big change to go to a new home , with new people, and new routines. Lots of patience and understanding right now. Talk everything out and explain what you are doing. Try and be predictable and create routines and use same phrases , tho you don't have to be rigid. But parrots like knowing what to expect, what's going on.

 

[sunnysmom]

You can start teaching target training to get her to go back in. There are some good YouTube videos on it. Just keep training sessions short like 5-10 minutes at a time.

 

[SumitaSinh]

But I have also seen new ones who are shut down and grieving their past people, even if was a terrible

You're right. Pestaa the Macaw is still grieving his old set up and his mate who is no more. I doubt he'll ever open up to me.

 

[Clueless]

You're right. Pestaa the Macaw is still grieving his old set up and his mate who is no more. I doubt he'll ever open up to me.

Time.....HIS time!

 

[Pixiebeak]

You're right. Pestaa the Macaw is still grieving his old set up and his mate who is no more. I doubt he'll ever open up to me.

I believe in postive outcomes! Do you have a thread im the macaw forum? Lots of great macaw folks here this might have tips and ideas to move you forward

 

[Shezbug]

You're right. Pestaa the Macaw is still grieving his old set up and his mate who is no more. I doubt he'll ever open up to me.

I honestly thought a similar thing about Birdie, to the degree that I really believed he’d be better off with someone else if he ever took a shining to anyone… he’s changing more and more every day and allowing (actually instigating) more interactions from myself and my son.

 

[Millenia]

Thanks so much for the info and advice to read some other threads about honeymoon. I've also watched some videos on Youtube on parrot training. Lot's of info out there that wasn't available back when I got my first parrot. (Internet was barely a thing and Youtube didn't yet exist.)

As an update:

He finally stepped up yesterday from inside his cage. It took a bit more effort to get him to step up from outside, but he finally did that as well. I'm being patient and encouraging to him, not insisting on anything. But he's pretty cooperative overall. I did play around with some target training with a small paintbrush I had lying around and he was receptive to it. I can tell that he wants attention. If he was attached to his previous owner, I think his months at the rescue has allowed him to get past it. He has asked for neck scratches a couple of times. He hasn't even protested if I touched him elsewhere, but I'm following his lead on touching and not pushing it. He likes to be sprayed with water from my mist bottle. He will open his wings up and bob around so I can get him all over. He bathed in his water dish until he had a lake on the bottom of his cage.

I also discovered he likes mariachi music, specifically La cucaracha. He started bobbing and holding his wings out and so I joined him. The more I would move the more he would move. I turned a circle and he turned one, too. LOL I wondered if it was a coincidence, so I did it again, so did he. I turned the other way, and so did he. Such a clown. I played that stupid song over and over on Saturday and danced until I was out of breath. HAHA

He seems a pretty well adjusted bird overall, and has been good about staying on his cage when he's out. I did notice he has some clipped wing feathers when he was spreading them out, but he has never offered to fly at all so I'm not sure he even could if he wanted to. Still working on the whole food thing. He did eat a piece of apple yesterday, but I think he was fed Zupreem pellets at some point in his life as he seems to like those. They may not be the best diet out there, but they are better than a peanut and sunflower seed diet so I'll take it. LOL