Marlene
Welcome to the neighborhood!
She sure is pretty! Hope things continue to improve.
I'm so glad to hear there's been improvement!!Thanks! Well, she's definitely warmed up to me. Is very leery of hubby and the kids... but there has already even been some slight improvement towards the kids... She used to squawk real loudly at my son and growl... now she only sometimes growls real low at him. Since he's mildly autistic, I supervise him like a hawk...so I caution him "move slow around Jewel, talk softly to her... tell her 'I want to be your friend... don't touch her.. you can whistle to her.." things like that. He's a pretty obedient boy. My little girl is intrigued by her, but a little afraid too (which given she's fearless... tha'ts not necessarily a bad thing!)
I wish I could get a picture of it, but I'm now permitted to do neck scritches and cuddles.. she loves having her head rubbed..and when I preened her neck with my fingernails, she inclined her head forward and let out a soft "ooooooh". Too cute!
Congratulations. Jewel is really pretty I think you are doing the right thing by respecting her boundaries and not pushing her. She will let you know when she is ready for the next stepWell I've decided to let Jewel sleep in her big cage covered at night for now, because clearly she feels secure there. She doesn't yet trust us enough to step up and I don't want to force her. Not when everyone is usually in bed by 9 or so (well, except me, but I play on the computer in the basement)... so we cover her cage and turn off all the lights so she gets her beauty sleep.
Guess who let me stick my pointer finger in thru the bars and give her a very brief scritch on the head? (before I had to go to work)
She was at the food bowl, but she saw what I was doing and clearly tilted her head toward me so I could. It was quick and very brief, but she let me do it! I praised her and said what a beautiful and good girl she was, and how I only wanted to be her friend and love her.
Tracy
foster mom to Jewel (3yr old CAG)
Since she just came to us on 10/17 (and it feels like she's been in the family forever, really)... I think she's done quite well..and us too. The kids are learning how to move gentle around her and whistle to her (well, the 8yr old can..the 3.5yr old just says "Hi Jewel")...Aww, she is so pretty.
You are doing great with her, it takes SO long for birds to warm up after being moved around. She has emotional issues, it will take some time. But she WILL come around and love you so much. Every little step will be well worth the time it took to get there.
Have you tried spoon feeding her some warm foods? It can be a way of bonding.
I would like to add some red palm to her diet..and maybe some rescue remedy to her water... I also want to get a full spectrum light to have near her cage.Would her state of undress help by having some red palm oil added to her diet? She might possibly benefit from it, like mine did.
Thanks! yeah, I'm sure she's gonna do that eventually.. lol..and I'll know she feels comfortable enough to do that.Greys are the most intelligent birds and once the honeymoon period is over she is going to push the bounderies like a 2-3yr old would to see how far she can go! Look on that as progress and you will go far together. good luck.