Advice please

[LouM]

Hi everyone, after a bit of advice with my blue and gold. I’ve had him nearly a year and I love him! He’s approx 14 and came with a huge double cage. I live in a log cabin so it’s long and open plan, we have the cage in the living room (as it’s so big and takes up the whole space! ) and with the layout of the room the sofa that me and my partner sit on is about 2ft away from him. Before I got him he hadn’t left his cage in 5 years so he’s quite attached to his cage and loves it. When I am in the door is always open and he now comes out for walks most days and in the car etc. I’ve a perch made for him in the garden for nice days but he doesn’t really seem to keen on it, sometimes he will sit out there happily for a while but then will start screaming to come back in. I’m going to make an aviary for him outside so he feels more comfortable and entertained and hopefully will get used to it overtime. My problem is as he is very attached to me he HATES it when my partner comes near me indoors, also when I give the dogs too much attention sometimes too and he starts screaming. I am trying to get him and my partner on friendlier terms but it’s a long process. I was thinking about moving his cage to our spare room which is the next room off the end of the living room so he has his own ‘space’ and putting a Java tree where his cage is in the living room. I feel like sometimes we or the dogs disturb his sleeping time and also make him jealous when anyone but him gets attention or affection. The door to the spare room is always open but he won’t be able to see us, I’m worried he will feel left out even though I plan for him to be with us on the tree but perhaps enforce a bed time that he goes back to his own space. Any tips or recommendations would be great. But feel it’s unfair on him for being provoked and for my partner who can’t come near me without screaming in his ear!!

Also, has anyone made a play tree similar to a Java tree using other trees? I plan on getting a Java tree when I find one the right size and shape for the area it will go but what other wood could I use until then? We have our own woodland (uk) but in getting conflicting answers on what trees are safe to use!

sorry for the long ramble!

 

[LokisMomma]

Hi! I am new to this forum but noticed you had not gotten any responses yet so figured I would chime in. I personally have my macaws cage in a separate room that does not get much traffic, as he only will go in it at bedtime and if no one is home. Otherwise he will be out on stands or on me. So I think having his cage in the separate room would be good for him to have his own quiet time and also give you and your partner a bit of privacy when your bird is in his cage. I do however think this only works well if you have the bird out with you for plenty of time each day so that he does not feel neglected.
You probably have done some of this already, but do you give your partner time alone with your bird? If they get time to do some bonding, even if it’s hands-off bonding, that may help as well with your birds rejection of your partner.
As far as the wood goes, I am not sure but hopefully someone else will respond with some knowledge of other safe wood alternatives. Of course you can do a google search for woods safe for parrots, but sometimes hearing from others is more reassuring ��

 

[1oldparroter]

Google parrot safe tree's, http://beaknwings.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=298&Itemid=432 , comes up. or; https://mdvaden.com/bird_page.shtml (extra space on either end of references) jh

 

[tfw]

We have the same situation with our youngest -- he loves our B&G Kass, but Kass doesn't respond in kind. She loves everyone else in the house though. The big difference is our youngest's demeanor around her. We've had to train HIM to be around HER before he could even begin to work on making her like him. We basically corrected his jumpiness (to be fair, she had nipped him a couple of times and drew blood so yes he is skittish). We explained that she reacts to him in sudden jerky movements because she knows he will pull his hand away so she doesn't trust him.

Fast forward to a year later -- she is more receptive to him. He learned to respect the beak but at the same time not let it intimidate him. He doesn't pull back his hand suddenly as much, and he spends plenty of time sitting with her and doing nothing more than run her through all her trick and giving her treats everytime he walks in the room. She now tolerates him LOL. She's still jumpy when he walks in the room but when he goes near, he gives her treats. It is still a work in progress on his part.

 

[1oldparroter]

have your youngster do the target training as part of their daily routine (in the morning before the birds meal) and then other tricks. They will come around. jh

 

[macawpower58]

Do you have room for two cages? The big one in the spare room, and a smaller one for when he's out with you?

IMO lone birds in rooms by themselves often are lonely, frustrated, and feel abandoned. Especially if it's not feasible to allow freedom in the main room on a regular long time basis. I know my GW could not be out alone without supervision for hours at a time, which is why his cage is in my living room (takes up so much space!). Mine would be into everything he's not supposed to be. He's good for a time, then off to find mischief and dismantle my home. If I ever want peace, he needs some time in his home. Since it's next to me, he's fine. Quiet and happy.

Some birds will happily stay on a stand, and if yours will, that's awesome. Mine will sit for a short time, but stay? Nope.

 

[LokisMomma]

The two cages thing may be a good idea, if your bird can’t be left out on a stand for long periods of time. That way you have your choice of where you need him to be at any given time.