Cobi Hay

Hey! Every proud parent is sure that their baby is the best :-D

I just love it when they eat and get a little dirty around the beak. Just like children :-) Neptune after a healthy meal.

Update... Yesterday for the first time, He signed that he wants to be rubbed around the neck, while sitting on my shoulder. Well he was doing that a couple of days ago, but when I tried to pat him he avoided my touch. Yesterday he didn't avoid my touch - He actually partly closed his eyes and looked happy about the whole thing. So guess we are doing alright! :-)

Hey - I got exactly the same cage! Had to remove the seed catchers though - no room for 'em in the niche. So got a bit more dirty here and there. But it's cool - i just pull the cage from place twice a week and clean below it. How about general cleaning? On the daily basis I use water with very little soap (and make sure it's all removed). Once a month or so, I just take the cage to the front yard and rinse it thoroughly with a garden hose. 20 minutes in the hot sun and it's dry and shiny. I loved the idea of using Vinegar and Hydrogen peroxide! It's not harmful for the parrot ? Should I take him away from the cage while cleaning? How many times a week would you recommend on using that type of cleaning method?

Thank you for the article! I enjoyed reading and learning a lot from it. Neptune is on my shoulder at the moment and I m reading him aloud stuff from this conversation and he seems to be enjoying it (plus trimming feathers and rubbing his head on my nose)

Thank you all for the advices and help. I'm seeing a little progress with my little one and it makes me glad. I agree with your opinion, though I still feel that he is scared of my hands. I get a very strong and nervous reaction from him esp. when he's placed on my palms. Clear and very very sharp there. He wouldn't mind any other part of my body (eg. lap, shoulder, arm) but when it comes to my palms he is afraid to be on my arm and afraid from my touch. Maybe it's a combination of few things, but what I'm doing (or trying to do, with your kind help), is settle things so I can tell what is wrong exactly, and how can it be fixed. I was reading the article posted here about the parrot "hierarchy" and was reading a few more posts from the same person, who wrote there something interesting: He said that one parrot entangled in his friend's hair, and she had to remove him while holding him - and he added that it took her a few months to make her parrot feel more relaxed with her touch. I believe we are talking about the same situation here: A parrot that is growing up, trying to find himself, but also having some kind of "trauma" from something I accidentally did. Here is something. I held him on my palm, which he tried to avoid. So I held his legs between my fingers, not applying pressure but not letting him jump or climb. I used my softest and most soothing voice and told him he's cute, that I love him, and that he's wonderful. And asked him to relax. After a minute or so (which looked like ever) of wing flapping he relaxed. Something I've learned is that "hysteria" of any kind is a very potent state of mind. But the brain can keep hysteria for about a minute or so, and then it stops. After this hysterical minute he got relaxed. And started noticing I'm talking to him, then answered me with little sounds which I already connect with relaxation (A small "koo" sound, that usually is followed with him patting me with his beak and head or showing other types of affection). After seeing he's cool I told him he's a good boy, placed him on my shoulder and told him we're going to get him something to chew on. We went to the kitchen, I chopped a fresh carrot for him (He loves carrots) and placed him all relaxed in the cage with a chopped carrot and some wooden beads for play. Hope I was doing right... (Though I know he's very stubborn and will act the same way next time I try to place him on my palm...)

Ok 2 different aspects here for the discussion: 1. Shirt subject/button subject: I didn't actually refer to the buttons - I referred to the "no" enforcement. As I was stating in the beginning of this discussion, I have a delicate situation with Neptune, which apparently lost his trust in me, and am working hard on gaining his trust again. Under this circumstances, should I stop a bad behavior, or just let it be and keep the "training" for later on? 2. Shoulder sitting: He begs for it. He wouldn't give it up for a second. When I place him on my palm he projects uncomfortableness (wing flapping, trying to jump away etc.) and this is part of the problem I was discussing earlier, saying that he is scared of my hands. Under this case, should I just place him down from my shoulder? Or just let it be until he's more relaxed and then fix it? I must add another thing here. Yesterday he allowed me to give him a little pat on the back of his head, in the first time ever. And it was when he were on my shoulder. So I guess he feels more relaxed there. He has never bitten me aggressively. Even though he does plays with my fingernails and sometimes uses too much pressure there. But it's more of playing me thinks.

Azzie, thank you for the reply! Neptune is cutest while sitting on my shoulder. It's just that I understood that being on my shoulder is not so good 'cos it makes him feel high on hierarchy?

Heard you all and doing what you recommended! A new question raised: He tries to nip on my shirt buttons etc. How should i treat a misbehave? Should I use the time out method? Should I look at him and say in a scolding tone "Don't do that?" And what about climbing my shoulder (which he constantly tries to do) should I let him? I know that being on my shoulder is not a very good thing sometimes? Cobi

Amazing. Extremely rare. I don't think anyone in Israel has one in person - only in public zoos. Just the thought of the huge pile of papers you need to get filled for actually having such a bird is .... Guess it's different in the US?

Hey All ! Some news. As you all expected, me guessing, we are having some ups and downs. It's not going smoothly and sometimes I must admit it's disappointing and difficult because I feel there is a small progress, and then a step backward. But I'm working very hard because it's important for me. Every time I feel it "glitches" backwards, I just take it easy, place Neptune back and give us both some time to rest. Did something which I might should have done long ago - Got a clicker. I do feel it's a good thing because it's new for both me and Neptune - a "clean" and new page to start from. I'm doing some basics. Step up/down commands. Talking. Reading aloud . I do try to give a little pat here and there but he gets all stiffened and tries to escape. I also noticed that the first thing Neptune is doing when I open the cage is going backwards. Sorry - I just don't understand what's the magic here: How will a parrot that practically avoid me change? To share with you guys - I think the hardest part was going to the pet store, seeing a few beautiful CAGs there, and they were playful and asked for patting and cuddling! And I was like - what am I doing wrong? I was his only keeper. Bought him directly from the breeder when he was 3 months. I honestly thought his behavior is normal (avoiding my contact) 'till I saw other CAGS and heard stories from other keepers who have a wonderful feathered companions. Well I guess i'll just keep trying. I can't do anything else right?

In this case - for how long should you use the "time out" method ? a few minutes ?

Well first of all thank you all for the wonderful discussion here. I learned a lot. However, it keeps me puzzled: Giving the parrot a "Time out" is a GOOD thing. However, this is exactly what they want: Being left alone. How do you build interaction with a parrot that way? If every time they acts "badly" you just place them back in the cage, and being in the cage - left alone - IS what the parrot wants anyways, what good will it make anyways? It's like raising a modern child, that has a PC, TV, WIFI, PlayStation and everything in their room, and as act of "punishment" or "time out" (They didn't do their homework, for example) you sent them to that room! Heck, I wouldn't care having such a punishment myself. Wouldn't it encourage them to do exactly the same thing again and again? Bite. Misbehave and get their peace of mind?

How does this work ? I always try to mix old toys with new ones. So yesterday's wooden beads are today's "find the treat in a bowl full with beads". :-) Just finished making a fancy toy from wooden beads, linen and raffia strings, plastic "jewels", cuttlefish bone, leather parts from older parrot toys etc, all based on 2 stainless still stripes that were part of a wooden ladder Neptune disassembled. Placed the entire construction on a large wooden 8 digit (which is usually used on doors to mark the number of your house). My parrot is crazy about that toy. Ate about 20% of it already. For that special key like toy - I'd combine it somehow or place it in a little more difficult place to reach, to add some action for your parrot's gathering habits :-) Btw - Was googeling for tall boy clothing basket and didn't find exactly what's that? Thank you Cobi

Great site. thank you