Hi All
Apologies for the long post......
Background:
So I have a problem. My husband and I have a large(ish) flock. We have everything from a parrotlet to the grand daddy of them all - the Hyacinth. We are fairly experienced and very competent. Just over a year ago we brought in a rescue Hy named Carter. He is very plucked and a little neurotic. It was a fairly long road but Carter has bonded to me and loves me. I took a lot of bites and hurt feelings to get there. Carter dislikes my husband and will bite him. We have accepted this as he is an abused bird and we have little information about his background. All is fine with dear Carter.
Problem:
Less than a week ago we rehomed another hyacinth. Robi came from a loving home of 26 years (since he was a baby). He has not been abused and has no behavioral issues related to abuse. In the home he came from it was a middle aged female (like me) who was his primary person. Over the years she had children who she raised and they grew up and left home ect. She has reported that Robi was good with everyone in the family and particularly loved her son who has since passed away (he was a young adult at the time). Now Robi comes to live with us. He is settling in well. He loves my husband and allows my husband to handle him, love him, roll him on his back etc. My husband has taken bites because Robi is a bit of a spoiled child and does not like doing things that are not his idea. Being put back in his cage can be a bit of a fight. I should also share that Robi lived among other macaws and they basically had the run of the place. They lived in a garage and an outdoor aviary and were never actually caged. So there was a lack of structure and discipline. Now Robi comes to our aviary where birds are caged for their safety and everyone comes out for common play and one one time with us. Meals are structured an nutritious and its lights out at 7:30 pm every night with the day beginning at 6:00 am. We run a tight and clean ship!
The issue is Robi seem to hate me. I cannot handle him and I can rarely touch in and when I do get the chance it usually ends in a strike. He bites me, he lunges at the cage and it breaks my heart. This is counter intuitive because he loved his whole family and his primary owner was a middle aged female (like me).
What do I do? I have been told "just get in there, take the bites and get him to obey you". Im not sure that is the best way to win this guy's trust and affection. Does my husband need to step back an push me out front in all of the interactions with Robi, do I just go slow and speak sweetly to him. Please advise me as to how to win his heart. I know its early; should I just accept it as it is for now and in time he will come around. This has never been the case with Carter and my husband. The more in the background my husband is the less Carter wants to do with him.
Please, guide me.
Signed
Broken Hearted
Apologies for the long post......
Background:
So I have a problem. My husband and I have a large(ish) flock. We have everything from a parrotlet to the grand daddy of them all - the Hyacinth. We are fairly experienced and very competent. Just over a year ago we brought in a rescue Hy named Carter. He is very plucked and a little neurotic. It was a fairly long road but Carter has bonded to me and loves me. I took a lot of bites and hurt feelings to get there. Carter dislikes my husband and will bite him. We have accepted this as he is an abused bird and we have little information about his background. All is fine with dear Carter.
Problem:
Less than a week ago we rehomed another hyacinth. Robi came from a loving home of 26 years (since he was a baby). He has not been abused and has no behavioral issues related to abuse. In the home he came from it was a middle aged female (like me) who was his primary person. Over the years she had children who she raised and they grew up and left home ect. She has reported that Robi was good with everyone in the family and particularly loved her son who has since passed away (he was a young adult at the time). Now Robi comes to live with us. He is settling in well. He loves my husband and allows my husband to handle him, love him, roll him on his back etc. My husband has taken bites because Robi is a bit of a spoiled child and does not like doing things that are not his idea. Being put back in his cage can be a bit of a fight. I should also share that Robi lived among other macaws and they basically had the run of the place. They lived in a garage and an outdoor aviary and were never actually caged. So there was a lack of structure and discipline. Now Robi comes to our aviary where birds are caged for their safety and everyone comes out for common play and one one time with us. Meals are structured an nutritious and its lights out at 7:30 pm every night with the day beginning at 6:00 am. We run a tight and clean ship!
The issue is Robi seem to hate me. I cannot handle him and I can rarely touch in and when I do get the chance it usually ends in a strike. He bites me, he lunges at the cage and it breaks my heart. This is counter intuitive because he loved his whole family and his primary owner was a middle aged female (like me).
What do I do? I have been told "just get in there, take the bites and get him to obey you". Im not sure that is the best way to win this guy's trust and affection. Does my husband need to step back an push me out front in all of the interactions with Robi, do I just go slow and speak sweetly to him. Please advise me as to how to win his heart. I know its early; should I just accept it as it is for now and in time he will come around. This has never been the case with Carter and my husband. The more in the background my husband is the less Carter wants to do with him.
Please, guide me.
Signed
Broken Hearted
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