That's what I keep coming back to Deb, that first and foremost he needs to be healthy and happy, and he seems to be that, as long as he is in his cage. However, I see part of that health and happiness as having out of cage time too, and if I can't interact with him to "handle" his out of cage time, that becomes less likely for me to do. It is also hard to spend time with a bird that is just fine taking treats, but shows little interest in anything else involving me. How do I take him to the vet for check ups when everything I do becomes a traumatic event (for both of us)?

I am just finding it hard to reconcile that I may never be able to spend "quality" time with him. The most frustrating part is that when I first had him home he would occasionally step up if I got him away from his cage, and he would sit with me. Now he won't do those things. I know this is likely because now the "honeymoon" is over (boy don't I know it!), but it seems like we keep moving in the wrong direction. Every time I sit next to his cage to talk to him he paces like he can't wait for me to open the door. The when I do he comes out and if I try to give scritches I get bit. If he climbs on my arm and I happen to move at all he freaks out.

What really need is for Barbara Heidenreich to come to my house and show me what I am doing wrong. I really wish there was a Cesar Millan for birds out there somewhere.

Roger, good luck!

GlassOnion wrote:

A screaming amazon in an apartment? NO WAY!!

Eeee, after wanting some bird sooooo much, you'll call bird "beautiful talking amazon in apartment"- trust me

Small update on Arthur today. Today I was able to coax him off the arm of the couch onto some piled up blankets, and out to about halfway across the couch. He then practiced some "step ups" onto my forearm (still won't step up onto my hand). Once there I was able to get him to walk down my arm and finally onto my hand. He didn't stay long, but I did get him there. He also let me give a lengthy round of skritches without trying to remove my fingers. Overall, a fairly good day!

Just thought I would share the good as well as the bad!

yay!!! Go Arthur! Go Roger!

that is great news roger...well done


dusty

And back the pendulum swings! Arthur did his thing with coming out of the cage and walking across the couch to climb on my arm, as usual. Then, initially a breakthrough of sorts, he felt brave enough to crawl across my shirt and up onto my right shoulder, which kind of had me worried. When he reached toward my ear with his beak, I flinched. Which caused him to fly off my shoulder and land on the floor.

I left him there for a while to get his bearings, then went to get him. Which led to following him around the house, at one point having to get him out from under the couch. I eventually had to towel him to get him back to his cage, which he was oh so happy about!

Now, he is still coming out of the cage, will still step up on my arm, so it's not all bad. He won't stay there, however, so we have stepped back some, again.

Any feed back? Something I should have done, or should not have done? I know I screwed up with the flinching, but I don't trust him yet, and that beak hurts! I did not want him on my shoulder, but did not want to discourage the bravery.

Quick update: Today when Arthur came out to play, I was giving him some of his almond treats, then asked if I could give him skritches. He let me do this for a while, then turned his head. I thought this was where he was going to separate me from one of my fingers, but instead he began licking my fingers! He has never done this before with me! He has done it with my wife and my sons, but never with me.

He still won't step up on anyone for any length of time, but he does seem to be becoming at least a little more trusting. Just thought I would share!

Past my bedtime, good night all!

that is great news roger...arthur is a hard nut to crack but you can do it with time



dusty

Great news Roger, congrats. Now you're ready for a new challenge, how about a zon ?

Awesome news! Glad to hear!

You sure get an A for patience and persistence, that's a really good development!!!