katana600

They all look so sweet and innocent. Welcome to the signature DJ!

Ray, that sounds like such a peaceful morning. Cricket probably went right back to sleep and dreamed of your homecoming. In the midst of your morning bonding, it must be hard to leave for work. Then again, having that warmth and contact and knowing she will be cheering for you when you walk in the door, the hours quickly pass and you are home again.

That is an adorable picture.

That is priceless. I want one. I am relatively certain Gilbert is from the carnivorous people-eater group, he is always trying to get a taste of me. Great job Steve.

That is great. I love that she wants to be with you but she is brave enough to walk around on the floor. She is loving her mama.

He is so cute playing with the little piece of loose string and giving it the "what for". Then, I noticed Maverick getting a head rub video. The walls are the same color, the basket is the same, it is hard to believe this is the same little guy as in the raptor imitation. What an adorable little boy he is whether he is being sweet or the prehistoric tough guy.

Throughout the day, I have peeked in the cup and there are two pistachios. Gilbert has been staying inside his cage today for the most part. I have observed him a few times just coming to the edge of his open door and eyeballing his distant treat. Finally, he cautiously slid down the outside of the cage, reached, repositioned and reached some more until he retrieved his prize. He was not willing to stand on the travel cage, he painstakingly climbed to his highest perch to relax enough to eat his pistachio. Then, as I was writing, he went back for the second one. This time, he only went as far back up as the bottom of his door frame. He finished his second pistachio, then rummaged around on the bottom of his cage to toss out his almond shell from last night and both pistachio shells. He wasn't flinging them like he sometimes does when he gets in a snit, just quietly housekeeping. He almost looked like he was playing a carnival game trying to toss them into the empty cup.

Yes, I was holding my breath watching him carefully climb down, then get the first nut. When he was on the floor, I was praying for nothing in the neighborhood to make a sound outdoors. He did it! His travel cage was not open, simply a stepping stone to get him off his cage on his own steam. His big cage is always open and he has only recently started exploring the playtop. In recent weeks, we have taken temporary pets to their own homes. Now I feel a lot safer about out of cage time and exploring. After Gilbert got startled and jumped off the little cage just a foot or so from the floor, and after he found he can get back into his cage that way, I saw him going up and down a few times. He has refused to eat the nut I left out for him after he got the first two pistachios. He has had no interest in trying it again today, and there is no way I would get close to him at this point. He made a huge step by leaving the safety zone of his cage and now he is touchy and edgy. He did barber off one small feather, but he is talking and happy so that is a win in my book. I have tried lots of things to entice him away from his cage millimeter, but millimeter. This was the longest time and farthest he has dared to go. He may need a recovery period before he goes down again but it has boosted his confidence in other ways. He has been saying things I have never heard before. Some is unclear, but he has really been chattering excitely telling someone about his bravery and scouting abilities.

AriIsaMis, It took a tremendous amount of courage to lay out your concerns and thoughts. I admire that you have been able to work through your fears and concerns for Whitney and find a calm within yourself that is determined to give this a go. It does hurt when you see someone you love struggling and the time will come when Whitney gets her balance worked out. Enjoy her cuddles mama, she is in good hands.

Scary on target! I have backed off with Gilbert and I am trying some new things to encourage him to move forward in ways that do not include contact. He has been challenging my presence anywhere near his cage. For now, I am minimizing any opportunities for him to bite. He did give me a fakeout last night. The less I have approached, the more he has persisted in calling to me and asking for a scratch. At bedtime, I couldn't resist and he bit me for the first time in a long time. Today I am more resolved to creating exercises that will give him more mobility and exercise hoping that will build his confidence. He asked for a cracker, which is what he calls any food. I moved his travel cage close to his open door, on the floor. I made a big production over showing him a pistachio, then dropped it into one of his stainless steel food dishes, and set it within his reach on top of the travel cage. He was so funny, cautiously climbing down, stretching so he didn't have to leave the safety of touching his cage. He got the treat and scuttled back to the safety of his cage. Phew. Then, I moved the food dish just out of his reach so he would have to get off the cage, but he can easily reach to get back. He tried everything, pulled the whole travel cage closer, but still couldn't reach. Tentatively, he climbed off his cage but startled himself and jumped to the floor. He hid a minute under his big cage. I said nothing. He came out, looked around a little, walked to the front door to look though the side light windows. Then like little military man on a covert mission, he made his way back to the travel cage. He retrieved his prize and then stood there to eat it instead of rushing back into his cage. It is a small step, but I feel a great triumph for him to overcome a little bit of his fear. He is inside his cage again by his own choice and he is grinding his beak. Whew, it was a big morning and now he needs a nap.

Hahaha, the net would make for a nice little confrontation now wouldn't it? My husband is the only one who could give me that kind of surprise. You gave me such a good laugh this morning thinking about it though. Early in our marriage, many moons ago, he was watching football and it got him feeling like a tough guy so he surprised me with a tackle. That was not good. There was much gnashing of teeth and he was begging me not to hurt him if he released me. LOL. Now that I think of it, that is about the same reaction I might expect from Gilbert if I suddenly toweled him and snatched him out of his cage. I won't ever be trying that one. Now you have me visualing those slippers and stalking through the house the next time we have company. I bet that would make them think twice about coming again. This is a funny thread, thanks for the giggles.

I wish I could answer the question about how often Timber can have a chicken bone. Maybe if you post that in the health room explaining his weight issue, you might get some suggestions. Also, give your vet a call because he already knows Timber and what you are trying to accomplish. My thought is if you remove the skin, the little meat he would get shouldn't be bad for him for a once a week treat. But, I am just guessing. I know if I found something Gilbert liked this much, I would be wanting to give it to him for every meal. LOL. Now, I know that isn't good so I have to just pace myself.

Thanks Talon, it is good to read about a happy relationship that started out rocky. I know we will get there with Gilbert but it helps to know that others have tread where we have been and there is a rainbow and sunshine in sight. We just have to stay calm, weather the storms and keep the faith. Lucky for me though that Gilbert is such a quiet, withdrawn little guy. There will come the day when he opens up the floodgates and makes lots of noise and while that would be a welcome change, I am sure it is going to be trying at times. Your experience is a blessing to us out here taking it one day at a time and hoping we are "good enough" to be accepted some day.

It is raising the hairs on my neck a little that I step back and think about things and when I come back in, I find you have read my mind and posted something that I was thinking. I so love that he has opened up to David and Rachel and I know I had a lot to do with encouraging him and at the same time teaching them how to interact and to recognize when to step forward and when to step back and how to read his body language. Then, when he joyfully comes running every time he hears a sound from upstairs and knows Rachel is coming at the same time as he is giving me the cold shoulder, it stings a little. Just this afternoon when I had verbalized my fears that Rachel's influence and assistance would soon be gone, I had a thought that when it is just Gilbert and me for days at a time, he will be more appreciative that I am here. It made me just a tinge guilty but then you came in and put in different words and it is all going to be okay. On a side note, Rachel should have left immediately after our trip and started Sept 6th. We have another whole month with her due to Gilbert's syndrome. When she took her DOT physical, she felt ill after 50 squats in under one minute. She passed the physical, but understandably they wanted more medical testing since she will work with hazardous materials and a commercial driving license. That opened our eyes that there is such a real thing as Gilbert's syndrome and it wasn't really just to spend another month with our Gilbert.

Thank you Wingy, your words gave me an emotional response. It is so hard to know what to do for Gilbert, when to push, when to wait, when to back off entirely. I am writing so I can go back and remember the things I forgot because I assure you, he forgets nothing. I have to admit that I have come to the realization that I am pushing him more than I might normally because of something he knows nothing about. Rachel has been instrumental in Gilbert reaching a more "hands on" acceptance. She is leaving in two weeks for her first full time job, far away from us. He will happily step up for her every time she asks and she will offer to hand him off to me and he accepts every time. He also steps up off the floor to me, off his play stand to me, but he quit stepping up from his cage when I got braces on my teeth and that has been a long time now. I realize now that I was feeling the clock ticking and disregarded my own tendencies to not push him because I wanted to restore that behavior. So, I have to change my thinking. There is no rushing a grey relationship and no shortcuts to trust. On the other hand, if I never gently encouraged Gilbert to advance, he would still be huddled up in the corner of his cage. In the end it is all about watching for those subtle clues, asking for more and many many times accepting no. That doesn't mean I can't ask him five minutes later and get a different answer, but he has to trust that when he says no, I am okay with that for now.

A lot of heart and soul has already been vested into Whitney and I am certain that you have looked into this situation from many angles through many sleepless nights. At this point you have so much anguish and concern for Whitney and what her needs will be going forward. I don't believe this is about money but any of us would be disingenuous if we didn't worry about how far we could go or how much we could afford to do for our companions. At this point, I don't believe Whitney has had so much time with you that she wouldn't accept a new loving home and that your intentions are the kindest and caring option for her to have that chance. When I brought Java home, she had a brutal clip and could not hang on to anything. She did hurt herself falling to the floor. If the vet back then told me it was never going to get any better than his, I would have been so worried about the cat getting her or her being hurt over and over again, I don't know what I would have done then. From my vantage point years later and with much more experience, Gilbert's flightlessness still pains me some, he doesn't crash to the floor but it definitely has an impact on his world view. I am just speaking for myself when I say that choices I would make today are different than choices I would have made at a different place in my life. It comes down to making the best choice given our place right now and I am sorry you are in this challenging place.

Good for you to think about all the things you have tried and to be patient and wait for him to decide to look for more. You are going to have much success with him and I think it will be in a shorter time frame from most because you have a great attitude toward watching him and adjusting to help him feel more secure and in control of his environment. Kudos to your outlook and patience with him.

Thanks Judy, through your words and others, I have recognized that I was pushing Gilbert when I got him out the second night because I wanted to take advantage of his willingness to come out with me. That was not the right approach in his mind and I was overlooking his reluctance thinking there are times to step back and times to encourage him more. This is our time to step back and give him the chance to regroup. It was huge for him to sleep on my shoulder so even if I am hands off for a while, we are still way ahead. Last night and this morning he was eager for me to scratch his head so we are still okay but there will be no more drawing him out of his cage until he is good and ready. In hind sight there were a lot of cues that I overlooked the second night when he came out for me. When he was going to my toes, he was distancing himself and even though he willingly stepped up, I am sure he was expecting me to offer to take him back. When I finally got that, he was eager to return to his comfort zone. Also, I had offered him pine nuts while he was on my lap and he took them gently, but dropped them and that should have been my cue that he was uncomfortable. I will listen better the next time. I thought I was doing well because he wasn't making any quick movements or offering to bite me, but especially when he is making changes that are encouraging to me, I need to be a better observer of his body language and listen to the subtle cues and not think I have to wait for him to offer me a bite before I give him the offer to go back. I have to admit, I wanted more but there is a saying of "always leave them wanting more" and maybe Gilbert has been reading over my shoulder and he is trying that tactic with me. Tiny little steps.

Motu is a beautiful boy. One thing with us as we have worked long and hard to get Gilbert to a place where he isn't so scared all the time is to offer him a treat through the bars with the door closed. He has reapched the point that he lets us scratch his head, but only (for me) when he is inside with the door closed. Also Gilbert will not take anything from my outstretched hand, I need to pinch one treat at time and offer it. For some reason that doesn't threaten him as much. It works for me too because there is less surface area available for him to bite if he were so inclined. I like that you said you usually offer and if he growls you back off. The growl is a warning and his only next recourse is a bite and you are wise not to escalate if he is reluctant. Even when he growls though, he is not getting panicked so he seems to know you are not going to push him.

Thanks for the head's up. A long time ago, I was giving the jerky treats to our dog and her weight was going up. I would have thought chicken was lean but the vet said that every time I give her a strip, I should consider it similar to giving a four year old child a king size candy bar. That did it for us. This article is eye opening about reading labels and food origins.

Oh, you are onto something now. Every time I think I might want to give my husband a surprise, it is only to dye my whole head grey and get a red weave for a tail in the back then show up to his office to take him to lunch. LOL. You might be able to market the whole package ensemble if you collect pigeon feathers from the airport and a big park somewhere. Add a few goosefeathers too. I better try to stay out of this thread, I am beginning to scare myself now.

Yes, thank you for letting us know. My mind has been working overtime and I was thinking of asking our dental hygenist if she was up to having Pepper. She is enthralled with Gilbert and has me bring him to my cleaning appointments so she can talk to him and is very interested. The thing with your plan is that the organization that is taking Pepper will get to know him and has the experience to find the home that will match his personality and needs. Pepper is a beautiful bird and your care and love for him is obvious.

That Halloween costume will be a scream whichever way you go. I like the feather and fluff but you may be mistaken for Big Bird when he needs a bath. I can visualize the Tippy Hendren look with paper crows attached to thin wire or springs so they will flap wildly and "follow" you if you run. This could be fun, please post photos. LOL.

Wingy, I hadn't thought of it that way, but it does seem to work out that Gilbert is in his cage a few feet away when he will start talking or leaning or bobbing to get my attention that cues me to think he is being receptive to some interaction. He seems to be the one to call to me rather than me going up to him and asking him to come to me. He can't fly and his balance is really bad so there is no chance he can come to me and he is generally very reluctant to leave his cage. We have been working for months just to get him to step up from the rope perch loop on his cage door. He has been so frantic to get back to his cage that at first I would just ask if he wants to go back. He would step up to me and then I would immediately ask if he wants to go back. Gradually over a really long period of time and a lot of repetitions and rewards for the step up, I would walk five steps away and then take him back, stand near the door and ask if he wants to go back. As time went on, he was not as eager to jump off my hand and if he didn't "bolt" at the opportunity, I would repeat the walk away and back. When we are home alone for several days he is willing to go for a walk through each room of the main floor and that is huge for him. I watch his face and he will start looking back toward his cage, his eyes will dart and he will flap his wings as a sign that he is reaching his limit. Once he got so he would sit on his floor stand, I would push it next to his cage and if he feels like coming closer, he will get on it, I will wheel it close to where I am sitting and give him some pine nuts when he walks to the end closest to me. He is much more willing to step up from the stand and I think that is because of his cage issues. Last night was too much for him even though I kept it short and offered him to go back and took him as soon as he looked uncomfortable. Today he is staying inside his cage and is flinging his pellets out, going to the grates to get some almond shells and flinging them out too. When I offered him a favored pistachio, he took it gently but then tossed it and quickly tried to bite me through the bars. I take that as his wariness that I might try to get him out of his cage so I am not going to try the rope perch extraction again. Even though he did it, I think it was only because it caught him off guard. He may just need to get his bearings and feel safe in his cage again, so I am not going to breach his boundaries. One of the hardest things to do is to stop while we are ahead.

After such a successful interaction the previous evening, I tried again last night. Gilbert was at first having none of it. He does so much better when I am the only one home and there are no other noises or distractions to keep him on guard. I offered a step up and he went up the cagetop in his battle position. I walked away and tried again, nothing doing. Since I really wanted to continue on the momentum of the previous exchange, I took a rope perch to him that looks just like the favorite on his cage door. He countered by running inside and hanging from the bars on his "ceiling". He was definitely retreating but there was none of the usual flapping, squawking or thrashing about in a panic that someone was surely trying to take his life. Usually, I back off but this time, I just kept gently advancing and lo and behold, he stepped up on the rope. He let me draw him out through the big open door and I brought him to my lap on the sofa again. This time he was curious, but definitely more skittish. He would run down the fleece blanket on my legs and perch on my toes. I guess he figured that is as far away from me and as high as he could get. When I would reach down and offer him a step up, he obliged, but I have to admit, I know it was wishful thinking on his part that I was offering him a lift back to his safety zone in the cage. We continued for a half hour, he was chatty and pleasant but he would lean and look at his cage. At least he wasn't pleading with me "wanna go back?". We quit on a positive note, I asked if he wanted to go back and he got so excited, leaning and swaying toward his cage that I knew I had to follow through. By this evening when we try again, he will be onto me with the ole rope trick, so we will probably have to try something entirely new.