ClarityBee
Moving in
- Joined
- 6/21/19
- Messages
- 8
- Real Name
- Claire
Hello everyone! I need your help!
About two years ago I rescued a cockatiel (Lucky) and a budgie (Tiny), both seniors, from a bad situation. They were in the care of a friend of mine who didn't take good care of them. Their cage was always filthy, their toys were never changed, they were on a seed only diet, and they recieved barely any attention. I didn't know a lot about birds at the time, but I knew I had to help them, so I did a bunch of research and took them home with me. I got them on a better diet and gave them lots of love and attention, and they improved. Somewhat.
Tiny did really well. She was friendly and affectionate, and although she never really warmed up to people and didn't like to be handled, she seemed like a pretty happy bird. She would sing and give me kisses in the morning, and was really responsive to us. Lucky seemed okay, but he was terrified of people and would hiss and bite anytime you went near him. I got him to the point of not being afraid while we were near the cage, but that's it. Neither of them were at all tame, and although I tried to work on handling, no matter what I did or how many guides I followed, it never worked, so eventually I gave up. They had each other and were very bonded, so I figured they would be okay with interaction through the cage. I know this isn't what I should have done, but I didn't know what to do. They seemed happy to just play together in the cage and interact with us through the bars, and none of my attempts at friendship were working, so I let them be.
Tiny passed away last week. Lucky seems to be doing fine, and I've been watching him really closely. However, now I'm stuck, because he's an aggressive and scared bird that won't interact with people that no longer has a bird friend. I don't feel comfortable getting another bird at this time, and I live with my parents and they won't allow it because they don't like birds, so that isn't an option. He won't play with toys. I don't know why, but he never plays with anything I put in the cage, which means without Tiny around all he does is sit in the cage by himself doing nothing. We've been playing lots of music and interacting with him a lot, which he likes (he enjoys playing and singing with us through the cage), but that isn't enough anymore. I've been trying to work with him, but I've hit the same wall I did before and I don't know what to do.
He's okay with faces, but is terrified of hands. If you put your hand in the cage, he hisses and lunges at you. The only treat he likes is millet. (He's super picky about food. I've tried every trick out there to get him to eat fruits, veggies, and other treats, but he won't go near them. He's terrified of anything I put in his cage, and the only things I can get him to eat are his pellets, millet, and some lettuce on rare occasions.) He won't take millet from your hand unless it's an entire sprig that you're holding at one end, and as soon as he notices your hand he freaks out. He's an avid singer and loves to chirp along with us when we're talking or playing music, but will not come out of the cage. It's been two years of me trying to get him used to hands in the cage, and still nothing. He still hisses everytime I change his food and water. There has been lots of treats and patience, but nothing is working and I'm getting desperate.
I don't know what to do. I love him so much and I want to make him happy, but I'm stuck. No matter how slow and patient I am, he still hisses and bites me. I've spent so many hours with my hand resting in the cage, and although he's better than he was two years ago in the sense that he will kind of tolerate it, if I move my hand or go anywhere near him he hisses and lunges. He has a history of pulling out his feathers so I'm terrified of stressing him out. I've shed so many frustrated and heartbroken tears over him and I need help. So to everyone out there who knows more about birds than I do, what should I do? Where do I go from here? How do I tame a lonely bird that is scared, aggressive, and unresponsive?
About two years ago I rescued a cockatiel (Lucky) and a budgie (Tiny), both seniors, from a bad situation. They were in the care of a friend of mine who didn't take good care of them. Their cage was always filthy, their toys were never changed, they were on a seed only diet, and they recieved barely any attention. I didn't know a lot about birds at the time, but I knew I had to help them, so I did a bunch of research and took them home with me. I got them on a better diet and gave them lots of love and attention, and they improved. Somewhat.
Tiny did really well. She was friendly and affectionate, and although she never really warmed up to people and didn't like to be handled, she seemed like a pretty happy bird. She would sing and give me kisses in the morning, and was really responsive to us. Lucky seemed okay, but he was terrified of people and would hiss and bite anytime you went near him. I got him to the point of not being afraid while we were near the cage, but that's it. Neither of them were at all tame, and although I tried to work on handling, no matter what I did or how many guides I followed, it never worked, so eventually I gave up. They had each other and were very bonded, so I figured they would be okay with interaction through the cage. I know this isn't what I should have done, but I didn't know what to do. They seemed happy to just play together in the cage and interact with us through the bars, and none of my attempts at friendship were working, so I let them be.
Tiny passed away last week. Lucky seems to be doing fine, and I've been watching him really closely. However, now I'm stuck, because he's an aggressive and scared bird that won't interact with people that no longer has a bird friend. I don't feel comfortable getting another bird at this time, and I live with my parents and they won't allow it because they don't like birds, so that isn't an option. He won't play with toys. I don't know why, but he never plays with anything I put in the cage, which means without Tiny around all he does is sit in the cage by himself doing nothing. We've been playing lots of music and interacting with him a lot, which he likes (he enjoys playing and singing with us through the cage), but that isn't enough anymore. I've been trying to work with him, but I've hit the same wall I did before and I don't know what to do.
He's okay with faces, but is terrified of hands. If you put your hand in the cage, he hisses and lunges at you. The only treat he likes is millet. (He's super picky about food. I've tried every trick out there to get him to eat fruits, veggies, and other treats, but he won't go near them. He's terrified of anything I put in his cage, and the only things I can get him to eat are his pellets, millet, and some lettuce on rare occasions.) He won't take millet from your hand unless it's an entire sprig that you're holding at one end, and as soon as he notices your hand he freaks out. He's an avid singer and loves to chirp along with us when we're talking or playing music, but will not come out of the cage. It's been two years of me trying to get him used to hands in the cage, and still nothing. He still hisses everytime I change his food and water. There has been lots of treats and patience, but nothing is working and I'm getting desperate.
I don't know what to do. I love him so much and I want to make him happy, but I'm stuck. No matter how slow and patient I am, he still hisses and bites me. I've spent so many hours with my hand resting in the cage, and although he's better than he was two years ago in the sense that he will kind of tolerate it, if I move my hand or go anywhere near him he hisses and lunges. He has a history of pulling out his feathers so I'm terrified of stressing him out. I've shed so many frustrated and heartbroken tears over him and I need help. So to everyone out there who knows more about birds than I do, what should I do? Where do I go from here? How do I tame a lonely bird that is scared, aggressive, and unresponsive?