doubletefarm

I think I made the pictures too small, but at least I got it!

There we go. I also ordered him a multi branch manzanita that I can attach to the side of the cage till they make my play stand.

Try that again. <br><br>Post edited by: doubletefarm, at: 2009/05/05 02:57

I took some pictures tonight when he came out. I attached his boing to the side of the cage, which he came right out to. and put a small table under it so he could hop down to that. (with treats, but he preferred me handing him the treats) <img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-3/118591/sydney.jpg"/>

I'm always in the room if the cage is open. And two of the cats are declawed and can't do damage. The one that isn't declawed is too fat to care. At this moment she's slung across the back of the couch. I don't think the cats are a concern. Just something Sydney needs to get used to. Earlier I sat about a foot away from his cage, on the ground talking to him. The fat cat (Susie) came over and laid on my lap. I fed Sydney treats, so he had to come to the door and get them because I was immobilized (I really do mean fat- we've tried diets, the vet told me she HAS to go on one, but have you ever tried to put a fat cat on a diet???? one with claws???) Sydney came out again today. And he was playing with his toys quite a bit for the first time. I looked over to see him hanging by a chain and playing upside down, and then he also hung from one of his wooden toys with a bell on it and rang the bell. Still eating really well and taking treats (except the icky dried fruit that he does NOT like- all things yogurt covered are cool)

Congrats on the decision and sounds like a great experience so far.

He came out of his cage by crawling along the side. Then sat on the top of his cage for a while (there is no playtop- its a domed cage), and as I was sitting about 4 feet away, tried to fly to the ground. My heart stopped. He looked a little confused, and when I went to him he immediately stepped towards me and up to my hand, and I did put him back in his cage (no shriek- so that indicates he does do it as a fear, but that moment the fear was NOT being with me). He was also face to face with one of my cats who was lazily laying nearby. Luckily, cat stayed lazily where she was and wondered why I jumped to the rescue. Going to the pet store (went to petsmart yesterday but they don't have what I need, so will go to the avian supply store) nearby asap. Can't wait for more supplies to come by mail. Need a ladder to help him get down to the ground, and need a playstand to entertain him.

Ok, on that last post- question. How do I get him out of the cage without asking him to step up? His wings are clipped so he cannot fly out. The cage is about 2.5 feet off the ground. So if I do leave the cage door open (which I had done yesterday, but he almost seemed more comfortable with it closed), how will he get out and do anything with that?

Potentially stupid question... How do you cut the pvc?

I just joined this forum. I bought/adopted a congo 2 days ago. He will be two on May 7th. His first home had him from babyhood, but he took an intense dislike to the fiance from day one. They tried everything, but after a year and a half he seemed to also distrust the woman, so she decided that either her husband to be or the bird had to go. (me... I'd probably have decided the husband to be.. but that's another story. I believe animals have a great "read" on people LOL) So we will see how this goes. I did lots of research, but am kind of a first time bird owner. When i was growing up my family had birds. We had an amazon, and conures, and I had finches and parakeets. (and of course being a kid, I did hand tame my little birdies which was fun- finches flying around my room) I recently got a cockatiel that was cage raised, and over the past few months I've realized I really want a more interactive bird. A very close friend of mine has wanted a cockatiel forever, and i can't keep two birds, so I offered him to her if I got my congo. The only stipulation is she has to buy him a new cage because I'm keeping the large one that I bought him as a second cage for Sydney. Sydney has already been imitating the cockatiel, so I suspect I'll still have the lovely sounds (I do love the music he makes). I am home a lot. I'm only 26, single, no kids, etc. I have cats and a Chihuahua. I train race horses, so I do leave early in the am, but am usually home no later than noon. Then home till about 3 and then only gone for about 2-3 hours in the afternoon/evening till I'm back for the evening. So it's generally spans of a few hours that I'm gone and then back again. I've started to tell Sydney when "bye" when i'm leaving, and if I'm just going to be gone for a few minutes I do tell him. I'm very anxious to do this right for Sydney's sake.

Oh, and his wings are clipped already. How long do they take to grow out? I do not plan to clip them again. I've done all the reading on that and agree with what seems to also be the consensus here that "au natural" is better for the bird. (thus, natural)

So it is ok if he stays in his cage for a few days if that is what he wishes while he settles in? (plus gives me time to have the playstand delivered) I don't want him to get bored and develop any other habits. He has toys in there, and at least it is something he is familiar with. He also said pretty bird about 5 minutes ago. He walked over to his dried fruit/fresh foods dish and before reaching in for something I heard a bit muffled pretty bird. His voice sounds like a computer generated sound! So cute!!!

Thanks Judy! I hope I can create a great relationship with this bird (we have many years to look forward to).

He does make some sounds- he clucks softly like a chicken, has a strange whistle that i haven't identified what he is mimicking yet, and a very distinct hello. But, only the cluck has been meant for me to hear so far. The hello was not meant to get my attention from what i can tell.

Poor Sydney, I forgot to include his name! I should mention, he has shown me a few of his sounds. He clucks like a chicken (that he has done when I'm standing nearby). The other sounds when I am around, but not really paying attention so I would say it was more to amuse himself. He has a sound that I haven't quite figured out what it is, and I did hear a very clear and distinct hello today as well.

I just recently bought a almost 2 y/o African. He was with a woman and her fiance who had him from the breeder. Apparently when she first got him he hated the man from day one, and shrieked at him all the time. Then a few months ago he began shrieking at her as well. I went and met him, spent about 2 hours with her and him. He seemed to gravitate towards me, not shrieking at me, just a one note "call". He was obviously bonded to her, and did want to go to her, but would shriek. I have had him two days. He is obviously still settling in. He is eating well, takes treats (loves grapes and yogurt covered anything), but hasn't really been playing with his toys that she sent with him. It is the same cage, I did add new toys to the ones that he had. I do not have a play stand for him yet. I am looking for one and plan to purchase it online tomorrow. I have about 50 windows open now searching for the "right one". I am a bit worried that I do not have the experience to get him through this, because I really haven't had that much experience with birds. But there has to be a way to work with him and get him to step up without the shriek. He steps up well, but with a shriek. My instinct (I train horses as well), is that when he shrieks it is a fear response. When I observed him with his prior owner, I felt that she had lost his trust at some point and he was well trained enough to step up, but didn't trust that he was safe. Now, if I begin training him to come to the perch at his door (with treats- he came to grapes earlier), and only step up when he wants to, am I on the right track? If he appears to want out of his cage, he can step up without the shriek and be rewarded. Is it abuse to leave him in his cage for days if this does not happen? Especially since he has only been here for two days and is still getting used to things? Since I have gotten him, I've taken him out of his cage, set up familiar toys on a towel on a surface near his cage, and let him wander around. He seems comfortable with that. But still shrieks when I ask him to step up to leave the cage. And earlier when he stepped up off the towel he did bite me (not forcefully, it did not hurt, but I do not want to get to the point that it does). So, my question is, am I on the right track if I start training him to come to the cage door if he wants out? And not remove him if he doesn't? Is it perfectly ok with a new parrot to try to regain his trust that way? Please any hints and tips. I've done tons of research and googled as many articles and sites as I think humanly possible.

I just recently bought a almost 2 y/o African. He was with a woman and her fiance who had him from the breeder. Apparently when she first got him he hated the man from day one, and shrieked at him all the time. Then a few months ago he began shrieking at her as well. I went and met him, spent about 2 hours with her and him. He seemed to gravitate towards me, not shrieking at me, just a one note "call". He was obviously bonded to her, and did want to go to her, but would shriek. I have had him two days. He is obviously still settling in. He is eating well, takes treats (loves grapes and yogurt covered anything), but hasn't really been playing with his toys that she sent with him. It is the same cage, I did add new toys to the ones that he had. I do not have a play stand for him yet. I am a bit worried that I do not have the experience to get him through this, because I really haven't had that much experience with birds. But there has to be a way to work with him and get him to step up without the shriek. I'm going to continue this post in the training section.