Buster is afraid

[flamtastic_jack]

Hi everyone,

I am in desperate need of some advice! Me and my partner bought Buster, a hand reared baby citron crested cockatoo, 7 months ago. He was 15 weeks old when we got him, completely hand tame, hand reared, so friendly and lovable and we got him straight from his breeder. Unfortunately, 5 months ago, me and my partner split up and I was left with the responsiblitly of taking care of Buster but I've been having some problems with him.

For about a month now, he's decided that he is terrified of my hand/the command "step up." I know that it's both because I can get him to step on my hand by offering it, full of sunflower seeds. The odd thing is that he gets on my hand and walks straight past them, up onto my shoulder. If I offer my hand without seeds, he will just fly away and land the other side of the room looking quite scared. If I even whisper the words "step up" he puts his crest up and wont even let me get my hand anywhere near him. I think I know the roots of the problem; because I don't like the thought of clipping wings, his aren't clipped so he can go where he wants, when he wants and this is fine with me, except when I need to get him back into his cage. He knows when I want to put him back and flies away every time so, stupidly, I started to just put my free hand over his back so he couldn't fly away when I put him back in his cage. I think that this, and the fact that most of the time, I only asked him to "step up" before I put him away, has created this phobia of my hand.

He will happily sit on my shoulder, head (currently there now), legs and lap but when it comes to my hand, he just freaks out and flies away. Unless it's full of seeds, then he will stand on it. I can occasionally give him tickles but only after around 3 hours of him being out of his cage and constantly handing him treats.

He will turn around on command for a treat so I don't think it's a case of him being disobedient as such. I just don't know how to break this habbit! I need to be able to handle him so I can get him in and out of his cage safely and when I need to. Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated. I will clip his wings if I need to just so that he learns to trust my hand again but I feel there's always a chance that he will just get even more scared because he wont be able to get away when he wants to.

Regarding my ex, he liked both of us and would do everything either of us asked of him though I did feel that he slightly prefered her company to mine sometimes. It could be the fact that she's no longer around perhaps but there's nothing I can do about that, I have tried

ANY advice at all would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

 

[aliray]

I would suggest getting his wings clipped they will always grow back, but then he would be relying on you to get him from place to place and then work on step up traing and when that is starting you can practice laddering with a treat so he learns that step up doesn't mean just going into his cage

 

[weco]

I think I would be inclined to agree with Aliray about clipping Buster's wings. I agree with you on your assumption that Buster is probably missing your ex also.....

Sometimes young fledglings like Buster may even revert to begging for hand feeding when there have been upsets in their world. Back in June, a new sun conure decided to journey home with us, after 10 years with her previous family. Situations were such that a new home was necessary or Teekee would have had to try her luck with a rescue organization. To make the 700 mile trip, I requested the previous owners clip her wings, and while there have been no transitional problems, her wings have moulted out and if she's not in the mood to socialize, she just turns & goes back into her cage, as do any of the birds having a bad hair...errr...feather day.

Like you, I prefer keeping my birds flighted, though I also feel that a bird that requires on you for most of its day's activities gives you both a chance to smooth off any rough edges, giving both of you a new playing field to start with.....

Given that you'll be working on new beginnings with Buster, it might be wise to limit too many new beginnings for him.....

Good luck

 

[KatherineI]

I agree that clipping, temporarily, is a great place to start. Have you tried getting him to step up on to a dowel instead of your hand? Sometimes our birds develop irrational fears, whether they're temporary or permanent is up to them most of the time. All we can do is our best to figure out what's wrong and attempt to help them through it as best we can.

Have you thought of Clicker Training? I can't get two of my Fids to do it, but I'm going to be attempting it with my new male M2.

 

[terry52449]

There has been a change in the family structure for her. She may be missing your Ex and will act out as she is doing. She needs you to take control. Be her source of food & water, entertainment and attention. This may take some extra time devoted to her that she was not getting. clip her wings unless you intend to use a harness with her. This is for her protection. Indoor birds need there wings clipped. She will come around to you.

 

[SandyBee]

I would use a favorite treat to get him back in her cage, something he only gets at cage time. Give it only in his cage and make it a pleasant experience.
When you start doing this don't always shut the door, let him right back out sometimes. This will show her that the cage is not birdie jail but his home.

On wing clipping it is a personal choice, but it sounds like you can handle him and he likes you it just getting put in the cage that he doesn't like. Keep trying step ups with him, but don't use that method of putting him in the cage for a while till he regains trust for your hands.Also your right in your statement that if you clip his wings it might even make him more scared.

I would try the food thing first, you can always clip if it doesn't work.