lockarec

My Mynah made automatic weapons fire sounds from listening to my boys play video games. I know that is off topic, but Ray P's post made me think of all the things that Gizmo COULD be learning if my boys were still home!

Hello, I hope you won't get tired of my questions. I have used the search function to read the posts related to this question, including the sticky. I have tried the method related in that post. My problem is that Gizmo has only recently allowed me to pet him. I have been working slowly and patiently, spending time just standing by his perch, inching my hand slowly closer when he is in a relaxed state, but not so fast as to alarm him. This week, he finally has been allowing me to scratch his head and chin on a daily basis. Sometimes, he will allow an under the wing scratch, but it is rare, and I don't push when he says he's had enough. No matter what state he is in, if I attempt to place my hand near his belly for step up training, he tries to bite. It isn't a testing nip, it is a "take some flesh" attempt. I tried a perch, but he was terrified of it, even though I left it on the table beside his cage for several days before attempting to use it. At first, I thought that I needed to work on the step up concurrently with the trust issue, then decided I was a goof and concentrated instead on gaining his trust. Can someone give me some idea as to what I am doing wrong? I need to take him to the vet for a well bird check, and it seems as though there are so many things that could make him hate me forever just getting him there. He's such an intelligent, vulnerable, funny little guy!

I just realized this afternoon, that the only time he makes his dog squeaky toy sound is when I am petting one of the dogs...which invariably makes the dog run to find the squeaky toy, which means he is not getting petted any more. I tested it several times. Are they that smart?

Gizmo came to us with a Greek swear word as part of his vocabulary. He said it quite a bit when he first came, but says it rarely now. I fully expect him to come out with a "Well, SH!T!", as I let one out loudly when I dropped a small anvil on my foot the other day.

Katana600, that was a very calming and helpful reply, thanks for taking the time to share your experience with me. I know from my experience with kids and dogs...well, anyone, that being calm when they are stressed, hurting or frightened, can definitely help bring them back to a more calm place.

Kins2321, that's what I thought; that if I showed him a calm face and voice, that it would help him in the long term. I see that there are so many ways to mess up a parrot, that when I saw him showing fear with the rumbles, I wanted to get the advice of more experienced parrot people. Your experience is encouraging. Evalie

Luvparrots, thanks very much, Gizmo is used to the sound of hammers and things like that, as I am a goldsmith, so I am hoping a recording of those sounds during a thunder storm will calm him down, as it is just the regular noise. I would never have thought to do that.

Hi everyone, I have been trying to keep up with learning through reading posts and searching the archives which have been very helpful, but I wasn't able to find an answer to this specific problem. Our lightening rod took a direct hit from a lightening strike yesterday, with the resulting incredibly loud thunder clap. Gizmo was on his day perch with me, and was so startled, that he nearly fell off his perch. I immediately went to him and began using the soothing words that have always helped him calm down. He did calm, but the remaining thunderstorm was obviously very uncomfortable for him. While in his main cage late afternoon and overnight...more thunder throughout this time...he did not eat, and there was no feces on the liner this morning when I uncovered him. He did take care of business while I was calling the vet, so I believe he is okay, (will be watching just to be safe) but we are slated to have thunderstorms all day today and tonight, and already, the distant rumbles are making his eyes wide. Does anyone have ideas as to how best help him through this scary time?

Thanks for the welcome! There are huge differences! Yewbie was a much less demanding bird. He was intelligent, and definitely used his words intentionally, but in the 4 years I had him, he never learned to open his cage! Gizmo sussed that out this morning...including the carabiners and snap clips I had on the door. Of course, there are the obvious food and water differences. Mynahs bathe several times a day, so Yewbie had to have a bathtub in his cage. We used shower curtains cut to size as cage liners, and had plexi-glass lining the bottom half of his cage to contain shake off. It is hard to determine what is bird trait, and what is personality. Yewbie was a very happy, cheerful bird. But was that due to how I had raised him, or just his natural "him-ness"? Gizmo is also a happy bird, but there is also an undercurrent of neediness that makes him unpredictable at this point. Perhaps that is because we have not completely jelled...I have not completely figured all the ins and outs of being his mom...or because he is young and doesn't always know what he wants or how to ask for it from moment to moment. I remember that stage from raising three boys. In any case, I do love a challenge, and learning about a new type of animal friend keeps my brain cells active. It's all good!

Nancy, I am still learning about all of the options, so am eager to hear opinions on different methods. We are in a leased villa at the moment, so we are hesitant to let him out with free reign. That said, there is no way for his cage or even a smaller cage to be moved where I spend the majority of my day, so I would like him to have a "place" however that can happen safely...for him and for my workshop. Another consideration is our young dog, Wilbur, who is fine until he flaps his wings, then he is all, "Wow! That is a really cool thing that I might need to see much more closely!" It appears that Gizmo has been clipped severely...he still doesn't like to be held, so it has been difficult for me do a very thorough exam...so he won't be able to fly in defence for quite some time. I know that is a lot more than you asked, but it is what is on my mind at the moment. We are letting him out while standing or sitting beside the cage. So far, he is content to stay on top, or on the sides. Surely that will change?

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome! Thankfully my heart is plenty big enough for Gizmo...we were always the neighborhood "I found this...hurt...abandoned...etc.." house when we lived in Saudi, so I am used to opening my heart wide. I have raised or nursed Bulbuls, ring necked doves, bunnies, African hedgehogs, and a baby squirrel to happy, healthy, re-homed adulthood or to a place where the mother could safely retrieve it away from the dog or cat which had nabbed it from the ground. The screens are being installed today!! I am so excited to learn more about Gizmo and to be able to have him more closely involved in my day to day activities rather than in the living room in a cage while I am in my workshop.

Just letting everyone know that I have come out of lurk mode in order to be a "official" member. I came home from a 6 week business trip, to find my husband had surprised me with a 7 1/2 month old CAG we have named Gizmo. He is a replacement for my Mynah, Yewbie, whom I had raised from a featherless nestling. Yewbie died tragically two years ago, and I have longed for another bird to talk to since. Gizmo had been in the care of our housekeeper for three weeks while my husband was also away on business, and had completely stopped the feather plucking he had started in the pet shop. I am saying "he" only because when I tried to teach him to step up, he began to make small chirply sounds and then mounted my hand. I told him "thanks, but no thanks". He sure is a fast worker! Is this in fact what was happening? It seems awfully young. He is not out of the cage yet, as our only air conditioning is open door sea breeze. We are having proper screen doors made as I type this. I am also making play stands for him for my workshop (only when safe), and other areas of the house. In a few days all should be ready, then, slowly, slowly, we will let him begin to explore the world. We have two dogs and a cat; one dog and the cat grew up with Yewbie, and seem completely unfazed by Gizmo. I won't take chances with any of them however. I have introduced fresh vegies and fruits, as well as cooked grains and legumes. He is keen on some...not so much on others. Not to worry, it's early days...I have only had him for 10 days! He is certainly a different type of bird!