clackey02
Strolling the yard
Hi Guys!
I've been stalking the pages for quite some time while I figured out what questions I need to ask and which ones will answer themselves. First, we've recently added a 7 month old GCC to our home. He follows one other bird, a parrotlet that we had adopted but was sick and passed away a few months after we got him. It was very sad. Our GCC was DNA sexed and is a male, but he does not have a name yet. We are looking for something tropical. So far, a few things are on my mind and I would love any advice you might have. I realize that you might need to know more about us, so if I've left something out, please ask!
Here is what our zoo looks like: My husband and I take care of all the pets, although we make the kids help. We have a 7, 5 , 3 year old and an 11 month old for human kids. Then, we have a miniature poodle and a bichon frise to round out the canine sector. It's all topped off by our Bengal cat and the GCC.
Here is more about Birdy (which is what we've been calling him in the absence of a name): He lives in a big Flight cage. He has tons of toys, fresh water and food. We offer him table food twice a day, but he does not eat much of it. He came from a breeder who did handle them, but probably not as much as I would like. He's on a seed and pellet mixture, but I'm trying to get more pellet and less seed because our former bird died of liver failure due to an all-seed diet and we want to provide a better life for this bird. He steps up well from his perch, but not so well if he's on the side or top of his cage. When he is on the side, I think it's just that he's not really sure how to get his little body onto my hand without biting me. He seems to be getting more social each day, coming to the front of the cage when I come near and calling to me when I leave the house. He's not loud and obnoxious about it, just greeting me. He does tend to be nippy. I can pet him on his back, but not his head. I can touch his feet, but not his beak. He will gently take seeds from my hands. He seems to have about a 10 minute tolerance for me and then he gets nippy.
What I've done:
- not been bitten in 2 days since I've learned his cues and take him back to the cage when he starts getting sick of me.
- started target training, which seems to be going ok. I just tried it today, but he seemed to dig it.
- felt bad that I am afraid of his beaking now because I've been bitten a few times and I don't like it. I'm not sure how to let him try again.
What I need to know:
-Should I encourage the girls (5 and 7) who want a relationship with him to handle him now, or wait until I get him settled in and learning not to bite me so much first?
-How can I let him explore with me without biting? He bites if he gets anywhere buy on my hand and I want him to step back up.
-He seems to like to step up over and over. Why? Is that ok?
-What is the best way to show him that he can trust me? (Other than the fact that I think I got brownie point for catching him as he almost fell off the top of his cage yesterday )
-What am I missing?
Thanks if you can answer any of these or offer me other advice that you think I could use. Sorry for the long post! The more advice, the better! I want this guy to have a great life.
I've been stalking the pages for quite some time while I figured out what questions I need to ask and which ones will answer themselves. First, we've recently added a 7 month old GCC to our home. He follows one other bird, a parrotlet that we had adopted but was sick and passed away a few months after we got him. It was very sad. Our GCC was DNA sexed and is a male, but he does not have a name yet. We are looking for something tropical. So far, a few things are on my mind and I would love any advice you might have. I realize that you might need to know more about us, so if I've left something out, please ask!
Here is what our zoo looks like: My husband and I take care of all the pets, although we make the kids help. We have a 7, 5 , 3 year old and an 11 month old for human kids. Then, we have a miniature poodle and a bichon frise to round out the canine sector. It's all topped off by our Bengal cat and the GCC.
Here is more about Birdy (which is what we've been calling him in the absence of a name): He lives in a big Flight cage. He has tons of toys, fresh water and food. We offer him table food twice a day, but he does not eat much of it. He came from a breeder who did handle them, but probably not as much as I would like. He's on a seed and pellet mixture, but I'm trying to get more pellet and less seed because our former bird died of liver failure due to an all-seed diet and we want to provide a better life for this bird. He steps up well from his perch, but not so well if he's on the side or top of his cage. When he is on the side, I think it's just that he's not really sure how to get his little body onto my hand without biting me. He seems to be getting more social each day, coming to the front of the cage when I come near and calling to me when I leave the house. He's not loud and obnoxious about it, just greeting me. He does tend to be nippy. I can pet him on his back, but not his head. I can touch his feet, but not his beak. He will gently take seeds from my hands. He seems to have about a 10 minute tolerance for me and then he gets nippy.
What I've done:
- not been bitten in 2 days since I've learned his cues and take him back to the cage when he starts getting sick of me.
- started target training, which seems to be going ok. I just tried it today, but he seemed to dig it.
- felt bad that I am afraid of his beaking now because I've been bitten a few times and I don't like it. I'm not sure how to let him try again.
What I need to know:
-Should I encourage the girls (5 and 7) who want a relationship with him to handle him now, or wait until I get him settled in and learning not to bite me so much first?
-How can I let him explore with me without biting? He bites if he gets anywhere buy on my hand and I want him to step back up.
-He seems to like to step up over and over. Why? Is that ok?
-What is the best way to show him that he can trust me? (Other than the fact that I think I got brownie point for catching him as he almost fell off the top of his cage yesterday )
-What am I missing?
Thanks if you can answer any of these or offer me other advice that you think I could use. Sorry for the long post! The more advice, the better! I want this guy to have a great life.