Apollolyptic
Sitting on the front steps
- Joined
- 6/21/19
- Messages
- 19
- Real Name
- Margaret
Hi everyone, I'm so sorry to post yet another thread.
I probably did about one of the dumbest things I've ever done in my life as a pet owner.
So, a couple days ago one of my budgies, the one that is completely afraid of me flew out of their cage while I was cleaning it. I figured that maybe this would be a good time to get her used to being handled- first mistake. So I took out my other budgie, who does step up after some chasing, and I tried to see if I could get my shy budgie used to my hands. In the mess that ensued, I grabbed her roughly two or three times with my bare hands (stupid) and then three or four times with a t shirt (slightly less stupid). I'm used to small roents like gerbils and hamsters, who calm down if cradled against your chest with your hand cupped over them and realize they don't need to be afraid. I thought birds would react the same (stupid) so I basically held my bird against her will thinking that would calm her down. I also thought holding her firmly in my hands would get her used to me (After reading about the 'flooding method' and why it's wrong, I'm appalled that I basically was trying to give my bird Stockholm syndrome). She struggled and bit me a lot (obviously) and at this point I'm sure any sane person is wondering why I KEPT trying to catch her and grab her. I honestly don't know what kind of insane lapse of judgment and rational thought I had, but I did.
Basically, I have learned after doing the reading that I SHOULD have done before this entire mess that
1) I Did essentially every wrong thing that I could possibly have gotten wrong
2) I Should have realized that this was a bad idea immediately and I shouldn't have kept handling her
3) The more anxious and aggravated I got, the more afraid my bird got.
4) I'm very lucky she wasn't hurt and didn't go into shock
Both of my birds, not just the one who wound up being handled, now seem to stay right at the back of their cage and don't use the perches at the front. My female (the one I traumatized) now bites at the male if he tries to come onto the perch she's one, and I'm worried I caused that because she associates him with the 'coming of the hand'.
Since then I've just left the female alone, offered millet and handled the male, but I'm now reading that I shouldn't follow him and let both of them make the choice to come to me.
First, I sound like a horrible person, and I feel like one. I do love them so much and I want to help them feel comfortable after this disaster. What should I do to proceed? Can I even ever get them to relax around me at this point?
I probably did about one of the dumbest things I've ever done in my life as a pet owner.
So, a couple days ago one of my budgies, the one that is completely afraid of me flew out of their cage while I was cleaning it. I figured that maybe this would be a good time to get her used to being handled- first mistake. So I took out my other budgie, who does step up after some chasing, and I tried to see if I could get my shy budgie used to my hands. In the mess that ensued, I grabbed her roughly two or three times with my bare hands (stupid) and then three or four times with a t shirt (slightly less stupid). I'm used to small roents like gerbils and hamsters, who calm down if cradled against your chest with your hand cupped over them and realize they don't need to be afraid. I thought birds would react the same (stupid) so I basically held my bird against her will thinking that would calm her down. I also thought holding her firmly in my hands would get her used to me (After reading about the 'flooding method' and why it's wrong, I'm appalled that I basically was trying to give my bird Stockholm syndrome). She struggled and bit me a lot (obviously) and at this point I'm sure any sane person is wondering why I KEPT trying to catch her and grab her. I honestly don't know what kind of insane lapse of judgment and rational thought I had, but I did.
Basically, I have learned after doing the reading that I SHOULD have done before this entire mess that
1) I Did essentially every wrong thing that I could possibly have gotten wrong
2) I Should have realized that this was a bad idea immediately and I shouldn't have kept handling her
3) The more anxious and aggravated I got, the more afraid my bird got.
4) I'm very lucky she wasn't hurt and didn't go into shock
Both of my birds, not just the one who wound up being handled, now seem to stay right at the back of their cage and don't use the perches at the front. My female (the one I traumatized) now bites at the male if he tries to come onto the perch she's one, and I'm worried I caused that because she associates him with the 'coming of the hand'.
Since then I've just left the female alone, offered millet and handled the male, but I'm now reading that I shouldn't follow him and let both of them make the choice to come to me.
First, I sound like a horrible person, and I feel like one. I do love them so much and I want to help them feel comfortable after this disaster. What should I do to proceed? Can I even ever get them to relax around me at this point?