Elizabeth3
Moving in
- Joined
- 4/15/21
- Messages
- 7
Hello, I'm new. I previously lived with Amelia, my severe macaw. It's been six years since she has been lost. Recently I decided I was ready to bring a new bird home, applied and was approved, and then was matched with and met a lovely yellow naped Amazon. Here's what I know about him:
1. He's had at least three homes, and is thought to be 38-40 years old.
2. He's been DNA sexed male.
3. He has been cage bound for at least 5 years.
4. He was covered from 6pm-11am for those years.
I brought him home two weeks ago yesterday, and decided the first thing I would do is give him free range to go in and out as he wishes.
Here's what our routine looks like:
1. He's covered from 9pm-9am
2. At 9am, I ask him to target and then open the door (target training is going well, he doesn't seem to like hands)
3. I ask him to target and give him breakfast
4. He's then allowed to go in and out of his cage as he wishes, until bed time.
5. I introduce 1 new item per day-toys, training perch, new foods-he gets to decide what he interacts with and doesn't.
I haven't taken him to the vet yet as I felt he should be given time to acclimate to his new environment. On Sunday (his 10th day here), he started playing "Attack Bird", flying at me, landing on me, and biting. I think I have his body language well-established after a few of these incidents and will not interact with him if he looks "attacky"-eyes pinning, tail fanned, crouched low. I know that building a relationship will take time, and I've read that progress can be very slow. Since he's my first Amazon, I'd love some (supportive) feedback and any guidance more experienced Amazon parents may have.
Thank you, Elizabeth
1. He's had at least three homes, and is thought to be 38-40 years old.
2. He's been DNA sexed male.
3. He has been cage bound for at least 5 years.
4. He was covered from 6pm-11am for those years.
I brought him home two weeks ago yesterday, and decided the first thing I would do is give him free range to go in and out as he wishes.
Here's what our routine looks like:
1. He's covered from 9pm-9am
2. At 9am, I ask him to target and then open the door (target training is going well, he doesn't seem to like hands)
3. I ask him to target and give him breakfast
4. He's then allowed to go in and out of his cage as he wishes, until bed time.
5. I introduce 1 new item per day-toys, training perch, new foods-he gets to decide what he interacts with and doesn't.
I haven't taken him to the vet yet as I felt he should be given time to acclimate to his new environment. On Sunday (his 10th day here), he started playing "Attack Bird", flying at me, landing on me, and biting. I think I have his body language well-established after a few of these incidents and will not interact with him if he looks "attacky"-eyes pinning, tail fanned, crouched low. I know that building a relationship will take time, and I've read that progress can be very slow. Since he's my first Amazon, I'd love some (supportive) feedback and any guidance more experienced Amazon parents may have.
Thank you, Elizabeth