I did it

[Tycos_mom]

It was kind Of mean but I proved to myself Gizmo is a totaly different bird away from his cage. I tried to get him to step up on to a perch which Is mean because he get very scared but he flew off his cage and onto the floor then it was easy he stepped right up on to my hand and I wisped him away to the bathroom. I sat down on the bench I have in there and stepped him down on to my knee I sat there with him for 15 minutes pinching his pin feathers and petting him all the way down his back. he didn't even try to nip he was just loving it. He is the biggest sweet heart I've ever seen when he's not near his cage. I don't want to have to scare him everytime I want to take him away from his cage. So any suggestions on how to get around that looking for some help here.

[she]

As you know a lot of birds are totally different when in a strange environment away from the cage. I would keep taking him to the bathroom and practice step up while there. It should be easy by the sounds of things.Once it is consistant try it from his cage.Try luring him on to your hand with a treat if he is reluctant. You have come so far with him already, I am sure its just a matter of time.

[BaxtersMom]

Well good for you getting him away from the cage and getting to pet him all over. And he enjoyed it so that is even better!!!!

 

Its tough to get them away from the cage but they are so much better when they are away from it. I don't know of a easy way to get them off the cage when they are determined thats the place they want to be. I think it's just a time thing. Baxter was like that, he would get spooked and jump off the cage but he would come right to me when he was on the ground(before he knew how to step up) Those were the times I would teach him the step up command and it just got easier with time. It's not an easy process though and I am remember that all over again since Cooper came to live with us.

[Tycos_mom]

Are you haveing trouble getting Cooper off his cage also? I bet he would be just like Gizmo if you could just get him to step up and take him somewhere out of the sight of his cage. Least with Gizmo if he lands on the floor he will turn to me to pick him up to put him on or in his cage. He's fully flighted also though so I have to watch that he doesn't fly back to his cage while I'm transporting him to another room.

[casper]

Pat its a difficult one!

 

You need to get Gizmo into another room as things worked out so well for you and you acheived so much. I cant believe the progress you are making, its fantastic!

But on the other hand I understand you not wanting to freak him out or scare him by transporting him there.

Does he have a favourite treat at the moment? I think this is going to be the only way of enticing him in there.

I hope you find a solution Pat, I look forward to hearing more about Gizmo's progress.

[BaxtersMom]

I'm not having too much trouble getting him off his cage anymore but it's still not as "smooth" as I'd like. He spends alot of time on top of his playgym so when I want to get him down I will try and get him to one corner of the top of the cage and I will put the length of my arm behind him but not touching him and kind of seclude him to that area. Then I take my other hand in front of him and tell him to step up. He tries to back up and realized my arm is back there and he will pace a couple times and figure out the only place to go is up on my hand and he does it. He doesn't get freaked out but he really doesn't want to get up on my hand but he does it:) Then he stands up really tall like he is proud of himself.:laugh: Then I turn his back to the cage and do the step up command about 4 or 5 times and he knows exactly what I am wanting him to do. So we are coming along nicely. There still is no way to get him to step up out of the cage and I haven't even tried either cuz I know he won't do it yet.

 

The last 2 nights I have taken him to the couch and have a square pillow and put it on my lap. I cover that with a baby blanket and he gets on it and just plays with the baby blanket by tugging on it and walking around. He looks like he is having so much fun too. He is not scared at all either and not wanting to get away from me either:) . I put my hands on the pillow and he will bump into them or beak them and he doesn't even care at all. I have been sneaking a few pets in on his chest and he still don't like it but is letting me do it for a few seconds. Last night I gave him a toy cell phone on my lap to play with and he was in heaven. He can push the buttons and make it make all kinds of sounds. He had a really good time last night:) .

[LindaMary]

This is all such great stuff, Pat and Erika! Congratulations to both of you - and good work! Your tenacity and creative ideas are an inspiration to the rest of us!

[Tycos_mom]

wow Your doing great with Cooper he sounds Like the typical young Amazon very playful and curious about everything Sounds to me like he's a real sweetie It won't be long before he will be begging you for xcritches and pets.

[Tycos_mom]

I found out yesterday that Gizmo is terrified of the colour red. I had to go out for a few minutes yesterday and I put on a red hoody. When I came back I didn't take it off and I went to play with Gizmo. He was up on top of his cage. I went over and stepped him up I was shocked because he stepped right up so I thought great I'll take him into the bathroom Well I tryed to step him down and he was frozen to my arm when I finally got him off my arm he start screaming and hiding his head under my shirt not bitint just hiding I felt so bad I said OMG baby its ok I took the sweater off and he was fine. I guess I won't be wearing red around him again anytime soon. Least he didn't hold a grudge or hate me for ever he was back to asking for scritches again in no time. He's funny when I ask him if I can give him scritches he starts scratching really slowly. he uses body language to tell me he knows and yes give me scritches. pretty smart of him I think. I just love him so much. I felt just horrible he was so scared of the sweater I almost cried because he was so upset and so scared poor little angel. I wonder why the colour red scares some birds so badley what does their minds tell them when they see red that makes them react like that. I feel sorry for the birds that live in rooms that are painted red. they must live in fear everyday of their lives.