sdkramer76

Hi there, I'm Shannon and last night, I adopted a 15 year old CAG named Peatree. I'm here to learn from you all, and to have a sounding board to ask questions as we go. Peatree has some baggage. 10 or so years ago, his last owner found him in a bunny cage, outside in Michigan weather, with a pair of jeans draped over the cage. His cage was overfilling with feces and mold, and his feet were moldy. For a while, he was handleable, but clearly her bird - he hates men, boys and is a one person bird. He's currently on a bad diet of mostly seed with a small amount of pellet. I plan to ease him into a better diet of mostly fresh with a little pellet and of course whatever we're eating. This morning we shared scrambled eggs, and he was delighted. Peatree is not currently handleable. He hasn't been out of his cage in several years from what I understand. His last owner is a Foster mother of children (lots and lots of children) and is trying to simplify her life. She didn't feel like she had the time or energy to try to rehab Peatree to get him to a place where he could live out a safe and happy life. I am ridiculously excited to embark on this adventure with Peatree. So far here's what has transpired: I toweled him into the carrier, (he was NOT happy about that, clearly). We put his cage, exactly as she had it with toys and everything all in the same places in the cage they were in at his old house, and i've been reaching in and giving him treats. Pretzels, eggs, strawberries, grapes, etc. He's taken all of them and eaten the majority of everything I've given him. Right now, he's in his cage, with the door open and has not deemed us safe enough to come out. I think I'll wait for a few days and start getting closer and closer so he trusts my hands. Is that the right course for a bird that is wholly unhandleable? Work up to it? I don't want to set us both up for failure by just demanding that he steps up. I want him to know I'm his friend. I talk to him all the time. Anyway - thank you for having me. Looking forward to getting to know you all. Shannon