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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 18, 2012 19:38:36 GMT -5
Thanks to Ilyich, I now have a hope that Screech (the office bird) will one day not loath my existance! Taming Screech (sun concure)
Sit by his cage for a long time (about an hour a day) everyday for at least five days. Or until he is calm with you that close to his territory.
Then you could continue on (as long as he is in a secure area) and open the cage door and sit in front of it without putting your hand in or anything. Do this until he is unfazed by the opening of the door.
Then you can start holding your hand within (make sure you have really tough leather fencing gloves on or the like; even with small parrots I use hawking gloves because that sh*t hurts) but don't actually touch him or even try to touch him. If me bites you, ignore it. If he flies out let him and do not chase him. Do not chase him in the cage either. It would be best to do this until he either will stand next to or on your hand or until he ignores your hand entirely.
After that you can start trying to get him to step up by tapping his toesVERY lightly with your hand flat so he can grip onto the top of you're thumb (pressed tight to the index) or wrist depending on his size. Wait until he is comfortable sitting on your gloved hand then try to move him. If he hops off just hold your hand out for him to step up again. If he doesn't hop back on, leave him alone for a bit then try again. Keep doing this until he lets you take him out.
After that entire process you can start trying to get him to let you stroke him (most birds like to have their shoulders right above their wing muscles stroked—just be sure to avoid his head, legs, and throat for now). Otherwise, you can start trying to train or condition him for just about anything. Be sure to keep those gloves on though until he has either learned to pressure his bite properly (most parrots grip with their beak before stepping up it's perfectly normal and shouldn't hurt) or simply stops biting you.
Then you can start trying to get him to step up on bare flesh which is actually much harder to train because the colour and texture freaks them out
This entire process should only take about two to three months depending on how open the bird is and how patient you are to get him to allow you to be his companion.
After he has been conditioned to skin I would recommend taking him around on shoulder anywhere he isn't likely to fly off. It’s a very good companionable exercise and gives the bird a sense of flock. We do it with our social birds all the time to keep them happy with us.
To a concure, which live in flocks of up to 100 bird, the flock family is very important and to keep with his bonded flock mate (that hopefully being you) is one of the most peaceful and happy experiences you can provide him.
If he does calm down (which I am sure socialization will help him with) he should be willing to cuddle and play and do just about anything with you. Concures are very touchy birds c:
If for whatever reason he remains highly sensitive in certain situations it is highly likely that he is being territorial about his cage. If you move his cage to a different room for short periods of time that should help the behavior. Or you could keep a perch somewhere and move him via that to some other room and see if that helps his temperament.
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 19, 2012 12:51:43 GMT -5
Day 1
One of my bosses gave me permission to sit with Screech on my break each day, plus work with him during any down time I have (which is honestly a lot more than I care to admit during the school times because no one goes on vacation and boards with us). I was unable to speak with Doctor Coleman, Screech's actual human, so his food has not yet been changed. Since today was a rather short day (we only stayed until 1oclock, rather than 6oclock) I did not have any break. However, I had a few responsibilities, but most of the time I was there, I would get on my knees and whistle at Screech. He does not scream at me now, which is a major improvement, nor does he attack the cage bars when I am near. Everyone has said that, besides Doctor Coleman, I am the only one now that he doesn't try and kill. He still tries to eat my fingers when I put them near the bars, but it isn't done with malice so much now. All in all, he has become more shy than aggressive towards me. He will avoid eye contact when I whistle at him, and slink off behind his fuzzy hide-away, peaking around the corner at me. If I don't pay any attention, he creeps forward and sits real close to me while I work (there are some dog cages near him for dogs before/after they are groomed/bathed. I whistle while I work when in that room and he becomes very curious if I don't look at him. He will get close and watch me. As soon as I look at him, though, he will either hide or tear at the newspaper in the tray beneath his cage.
Questions for Ily:
Joy (one of my bosses): "Does Sara want him?" (she asked this when I said you worked at a bird rescue...he is not her bird, though, and we would never separate him from Doctor Coleman permanently so she was joking)
Me:
1) He isn't aggressive so much towards me now, as he starts to tear at the newspaper, shredding it, when I get too close. Is this behavior normal? What does it mean?
2) He has become more shy than aggressive towards me. Is that a good sign?
3) He has a very good bond with Doctor Coleman, according to Joy and Nancy. Can he have a close bond to more than one person?
4) Every time I go near him, he will drop whatever he is doing and go eat one seed. Just one. He does this before he starts tearing at the newspaper or hiding. Does that mean anything, or do I just look delicious and seeing me makes him hungry? Haha.
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Post by I L Y I C H on Sept 19, 2012 16:22:22 GMT -5
1) It is completely normal in shy birds. It's the same thing as you picking at your finger nails or any other sort of generally anxious behavior.
2) That is a very good sign. It means he has decided that you are not a threat and now he is simply trying to reason out whether you are a friend or not. It's very normal behavior in neglected animals, much like people they are reluctant to form close bonds.
3) A bird can be bonded to dozens of people. in all actuality most birds pick one specific person ( a best friend) and a group of other people (just friends). A person's station can easily change however depending on behavior or reaction to emergency. We have an Eagle Owl named Daloris who utterly loves our female falconer. To the point were she will not breed. She considers her handler her mate and that's that. But for a three foot tall owl she is devoted (and cuddly) to the male falconer James and I as well. We aren't her mate but we are still her very good flock mates.
4) It just sounds like nervous eating. like he is trying to find what attracts you're attention so he can then act shy towards you. It is most likely Screech's way of hovering around like a freshmen trying to make friends but unsure how. Keep working with him and I'm sure this behavior will lapse into him greeting you instead.
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 19, 2012 17:01:14 GMT -5
Thank you, Ilyich! I shall continue to post progress daily, and ask any questions that come up throughout the day (I carried around a little notepad today and wrote down these questions as I thought them) <3
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 20, 2012 19:01:01 GMT -5
Day 2
We didn't have much progress today. Well, I guess that is sort of a lie. He doesn't hide or tear the newspaper everytime I go near him anymore. I suppose that is an improvement. Of course, we took a step backwards because while I was sitting with him Gus, the resident feline, curled onto my lap. Screech panicked, the cat panicked, and I picked up Gus and cradled him to make him relax before releasing him and shooing him away. Seemed like Screech held a grudge at me for being nice to Gus after that. He started picking at the newspaper again, even if it wasn't every time. He also screamed at me a few times, which I thought we were passed.
Questions for Ily:
1) He preens his hide-away whenever I come near. Why would he preen an inanimate object and display that act to me?
2) He bobs/dances when I first approach now. Everyone said that is his warrior dance, but he only does it to me, while he just attacks everyone else. Any idea what all that dancing could mean?
3) He bows down his head and walks around like that sometimes when I sit with him. I have began to mimic this, thinking eye contact is a negative....is eye contact threatening, like it is for canines and felines? If not, what is that flatback/head bowed walking around movement?
Big whopping of Ily answers:
Those are all flocking behaviors. The first one is simply preening. He is trying to get you're attention so maybe you will preen him. It's a comforting thing. Or bonding behavior. it could also be nervousness or anxiety however. The bobbing is dominating behavior, which is simply him trying to figure out his stance in the flock in relation to you. The same goes for the ducking. He is alternating between dominant and simissive to see what happens. Hopefully he will find that he can be a neutral flock mate. Otherwise the dominance will have to be trained out of him later on c:
Some media:
Crappy sideways video of Screech preening and rubbing up on his hide-away house.
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Post by I L Y I C H on Sept 20, 2012 21:26:50 GMT -5
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 21, 2012 7:33:54 GMT -5
Thanks, Ily! I like the first video a lot more. The first concure seems much more relaxed and, like you said, isn't having to figure out what the thumb is, haha.
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 24, 2012 18:02:04 GMT -5
Day 3
He bit me today. I wore gloves because he was being nice and I wanted to take him out. Well, he started attacking the gloves like I was going in for the kill. Joy eventaully told me that he only knows gloves from when he gets his nails clipped (which he hates). So I took them off. He seemed fine at first...then he looked at my face and something clicked in him and he latched onto my right pointed finger. He ripped off a good size chunk and got a good deal of blood. Joy said he probably remembered the gloves I had been wearing a minute before and panicked. Apparently they have to sedate him to clip his nails usually. We agreed that he must have had a bad experience before Dr. Coleman adopted him. I have decided to adopt my own bird...and after some true persuasion techniques, my ma has agreed given in. I am back at stage one with Screech. I don't know if I am going to try again. We will see when my finger stops hurting.
I will adopt a bird (with Sara's expert help, yes?) and train him to be perfect...and a hiking buddy owo I should have the fundning to do so in a few weeks.
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 26, 2012 12:58:43 GMT -5
Day 4
I am a loser and I forgot to do my day 4 post yesterday. We climbed back to the aquaintence position on day 4. He became shy rather than aggressive again. That is about it.
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Sept 26, 2012 13:11:52 GMT -5
Day 5
Today was GREAT. Most of the day went by pretty regular. I discovered Screech simply hates not being able to see my skin so I cannot cover my hands with any gloves, towels, ect. This, of course, makes me a little hesitant to put my hands on there too much. He viciously attacks my hands if they're covered, but only curiously bites if they are not covered. Bottom line is, though, it hurts like Hell. So, around 10am, I started making visits and opening his cage with my leg raised near the opening. He was hesitant and hiding the first several times I wandered by and opened the cage. Suddenly, around 12pm, he worked up the courage to come over and bite my legs curiously. I did this every few minutes for a minute or two. At 12:55 (5 minutes before my day ended there) I did it and he climbed out onto my leg, still nipping my pants in curiousity. I reached down and pet the top of his head to between his wings on his back! He froze, but then went back to nibbling. I did it a few more times and he ignored me. He seemed unwilling when I put him back in his cage! I think this is a good sign :)
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Oct 1, 2012 5:58:50 GMT -5
Day 6
Turns out Screech doesn't mind long sleeves. I was wearing my jacket and he didn't mind that so much. He climbed onto my arm while chewing on the coat. We chirped together like this for a little while...he never completely relaxed, and he neevr stopped chewing on my coat for long, but it is a start.
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Post by I L Y I C H on Oct 1, 2012 11:18:54 GMT -5
that's brilliant  that is attempted socializing behavior <3 just keep right on doing what you're doing and we'll see what happens next owo. |
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Oct 1, 2012 16:51:48 GMT -5
Day 7
I did not get much quiet time with Screech today. There were yappy terriers in the kennels near him all day long. He got out and onto my arm once, but panicked because the closest terrier was not bird friendly -.-
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Oct 2, 2012 16:35:18 GMT -5
Day 8
The way to the Screech's heart is through his stomach...goldfish, to be more precise. Unhealthy, but affective. :)
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Post by Bhu ♥ Irwin on Oct 3, 2012 14:11:04 GMT -5
Day 9
Apparently I am the better of two evils in Screech's mind. I have gotten in the habit of opening his cage and leaving it open. He typically ignores it, sometimes hovers in the doorway. Sometimes he might climb to the top of the cage if no one else is around but me and/or Dr. Coleman. Well, today I opened it to give him a goldfish because he was being good and quiet despite there being a couple dogs in his neighboring cages, and a coworker. I opened the cage, he climbed right out and down to the floor, then ran and started attacking my coworker's shoe. I told him in a quiet, but firm voice 'No, Screech." He stopped midbite and looked at me. I patted the spot between his wings on his back then put my hand down....he climbed on and let me put him back in the cage! My coworker was in shock. Dr. Coleman's husband was walking by at that time and I played it off to both of them like Screech and I were good friends and I always carry him around and such...when, in reality, that was a miracle and my first time.
Watch, Hal (Dr. Coleman's husband) is going to tell Dr. Coleman tonight and tomorrow she is going to excitedly have me go to take him out because she will want to see how good of friends we are....and he will bite me like he usually does, haha. That bird is a real character xD
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that is attempted socializing behavior <3 just keep right on doing what you're doing and we'll see what happens next owo.