murfchck Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 First time since November (i think) the macaws were louder than Gus! In fact Gus would start jabbering when one of the boys let out a noise and then just watch them. They wanted their box time on the table but since Oliver is plucking Bubba, we are limiting that to twice a week and they are not happy with that! Ah, the joys of having many parrots. I had pulled the bowls from their cages for breakfast the other day then i got shiny syndrome and forgot what i was doing. 15 minutes later i was letting out the dogs and heard this "hello", i looked around bc it sounded close but didn't see anyone, but as i walked through the living room again, there was Gabby walking to our bedroom without a care in the world. i mean who cares we have 4 dogs and a cat, its time for them to wake up and play with me! She pushed her food door open and got out! And now Bongos low toned whistles have become a higher, head splitting tone. Don't know where it came from but now Gabby has that pitch also. I can't even match it, it is so high, still the same songs just higher. Good times!! Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Keep up the good work, there may some back sliding just to test the waters so to speak but I think Gus is on the right path now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 He did great yesterday, once again, with the screaming. HOWEVER, he has a new approach to getting our attention. Crying. He started this a few days ago but we really didn't give it much thought. I must say even though it is a softer noise, it is so much worse than the screams. His crying sounds so heartbreaking. He was doing it at bedtime last night and we ignored it as long as we could, then Pat went in and got him out. He sat in my lap then, i swear to you, smiled. Then just started running around the couch, flipping his crown up and jumping from the couch to the coffee table. When Pat put him back to bed, he started screaming. It only lasted 10 minutes but still... Lol He is pulling out all the tricks and sad to say, last night he won! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Gus sure knows how to "work it" doesn't he? They are so smart! I can see what you mean about the crying. That would be harder for me to take too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 He is doing his best baby bird imitation, it worked!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 Well he just couldn't decide yesterday which was working better so he did both! Lol still nothing like it was a few weeks ago. Now its time to start working on this food and toy flinging thing. I am trying to get it on video for you. It is up there with one of the funniest things i have seen. One piece at a time with a fling and a stare, then right back in for another piece to fling. He will do that until there is only one thing left then lay his head down in it. I do not understand it but everytime i put food in his bowls or his toys back in the bucket, he does it. The food thing is getting expensive. And with fresh food, unless i hold it for him he doesn't eat it. I had orange slices so i gave him one and he picked at it but the second i got him to hold it in his mouth he ran to his food bowl and put it in there and came back to me. I tried again and the same outcome. I really can't see what he is eating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Try putting a container on the floor of his cage, not in a place he usually voids his droppings. You can add shredded paper, large marbles foot toys what ever lets see if he does better foraging for his food. They do ground feed in the wild at least part of the time. You can also ball up a sock and see if you can get him to play ball, catching his toss and gently tossing it back to him. As he like to throw things try making it a family activity, he is a Too and is most likely certain he is of your flock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 I did that with box, he avoided it like it was going to bite him! Yet out of the cage, he loves boxes. We are going to move his bolws down near the bottom tomorrow to see if that helps him. Made oatmeal this morning, he loved it! He does play ball with us, just we have to be so careful as he gets too excited when he plays and he jumps on us and bites. If we avoid the jump, he gets on the floor and then attacks our feet. He is such a stinker! Funny as crap, but such a challange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I imagine it is a challenge. When I see a 'too, my first thought is always "my what a big beak you have." Considering the damage Timber (TAG) can do with his much smaller beak, that's something to think about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Ok then try a shallow pan or earthenware crock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Lil backslide... We had suprise company stop over last night. Gus does not like getting visitors he has never met before. It got so bad we had to put him in his cage where he screamed for a long time. I felt bad but he was aggressive towards us and talking to him was not working. They were only here an hour or so but his screams continued until lights out. I got a quick video of Gus doing his "fling". It is uploading to photobucket, i will post it soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 Ewww, bad birdies day! I bent over to pick up Gus's toys that were all on the floor, lil bugger bit me on the back of my neck. Went to do something on my tablet, Gabby flew over and bit tru the side of my finger right on the edge of my finger nail. Then i got the hiccups, which put them all on edge. I couldn't catch a break! We are going to a pretty cool thing today, "Painting With a Twist" . All the money goes to Bird Haven, a rescue group in my area. The picture we will be trying to paint is of a scarlet macaw, lol. I wonder if they would let me paint Oliver. I also wonder if it would be cheaper since if i do get to paint his picture, i wouldn't be using a whole lotta paint, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I think they have you outnumbered. Wearing at hat helps to avoid those sneak attacks on your head & neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 11, 2013 Author Share Posted March 11, 2013 Lol. On Gus's first month with us, we found out the hard way that no hats can be worn around him! That brought on a full flight neck biting attack. A neck brace on the other hand could work for us! Painting With a Twist, sooo much fun. If there is one near you, grab a bottle or two of wine, some friends who love to laugh and go! It was a fund raiser that my local resue put on, we painted a vintage macaw. What a blast it was. I am a wee it scared though. Next saturday we are going to the shelter to help out and she still has a goffin named Elvis that i fell madly in love with over a year ago. My saving grace is that they have a rule that they will not adopt out to smokers, we do not smoke in our home and do wash our hands before we handle them but thats their rule so we are out. Now i just need to be sure she sees us smoking so she doesn't try tempting us! Lol I put a bowl on the botton of the cage, also filled his other bowls higher up. He went right to the upper bowls and flung out the food. The one on the bottom still had some food in it but nothing around it so i guess he ate some! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 I fear we are going to have to do a slight wing trim. He keeps flying off his stand to Pat, which in itself is okay but to get his balance when he lands, he grabs ahold of what ever is closest. Pat got 13 nips yesterday, a few drawing blood. I am starting to feel beaten. He is still screaming some and now he is being vocal in the middle of the night. Like last night around 1 am, he starts squaking, lasted about 20 minutes. I checked and all the 4 legged animals were with us in bed so none where out to have scared him. Again about 4 am. Covering the cage scares him really badly, we tried. I just really feel he may never change these habits he has. Food tossing, screaming, biting and attacking on a whim! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingy Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Is it to light at night, to dark or perhaps to quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 This is just a new thing he has started to do. Nothing in the room has changed at all. If he screamed last night though, i didn't hear it. He was screaming all during dinner and we were worn out so they went to bed and so did we. On the flip side, not one jump on us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Some times when a behavior is extinguishing you can get a real surge of the behavior you are working on avoiding, I think that is some corollary of Murphy's Law. Or just a Cockatoo thing. >:> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Lol, being my last name is Murphy and he is a cockatoo, i am doomed to be screwed either way!! Oh are all the birds a mess this morning, except Gus. They got a peanut butter bannana sandwhich for breakfast, Gus is a nibbler and doesn't hold his food with his foot so he is clean, the others are covered in it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 So very true, lol indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Sitting outside last night we realized that Gus really is doing much better, its just us. Lol Thinking back, we couldn't even get out of eye shot of him before he would scream until he would run out of breath. His screams still happen but do not last near as long and not near as loud. It is hard to really see the progress being around him everyday but we took a step back and can really see it. Pat also noted that he has the most issues with Gus when he brings the stress of his work day home with him. Poor Gus has been dealing with big changes in his life, the move into our home, the much bigger cage and mostly the freedom. He has no clue how to deal with it. We think we just expected him to think, " oh thank heavens, someone noticed what has been happening to me and is loving me again.", when in reality he was/ is thinking, " what the hell is going on?" We are recharged again and ready to face this head on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 It really is an ongoing process, you have great capacity for learning and helping Gus move forward. Your dedication and flexibility are very good examples for every one dealing with a Parrot who brings more history than average. Once you understand more of what he has been dealing with you see progress every time. Gus and both of you are on this journey together and you will get to a happier place (between the tears and the hysterical laughter). From one who lives with two Too's. >:> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 A good friend came by yesterday, last time he was here we didn't have Gus. They fell in love with each other. Gus was in his harness, we were outside and he wouldn't leave his lap. Most of the time when someone stops in, he throws up that crown and puts on a show, this time he just got in his lap and relaxed. It was so nice to see that, and to know we have found our bird sitter! Lol Thank you for that reassurance! I hope i don't let Gus down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 Welp, i expect to have a big bruise on my chin tomorrow. I was bent over trying to get soap in the dishwasher when Gus flew over onto me. He scared me so bad i smacked my chin into the cabinet door, i actually had to check some teeth to see if they were loose. Not anthing he did, just scared me, the stinker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 Woo-hoo. Just a little swollen, coverable bruise. Atleast i don't have to explain my stupidity all day. Lol I am pretty sure he has learned this from the greys. They fly past him when they fly to us. Monkey see, monkey do. What that monkey doesn't see, or doesn't care to see is that we call the greys so we are expecting them, or they contact call before taking flight! Plus, they are a little bit smaller, seeing a big white cotton ball coming at you is shocking sometimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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