CAG. Thirty days after adoption

[Tierhog]

Hello all... Looking for advice.

I'm thirty days in with my quivering, neurotic, non talking grey. I can hand feed him, he exits his cage for hours and he audibles to everyone but me... The one that sits next to his cage, gives him treats, toys, showers, etc etc. I clean the cage, talk to him daily, had him vet checked, feed him better than my family and nothing to show for it... Well almost, he was a plucker after his male owner of 15 years died. He stopped that and is looking good.

I'm an Eclectus guy and can't perform a resurrection so me and this grey are locked in a lifelong struggle. I guess I'm venting, but if I'm not supposed to force him to do anything, how do I get this psycho back into his cage? Treats? Nope... Sorry doesn't work. I try to perch him and he runs as he figured out biting doesn't work (the ol grey sucker punch). He flies to the floor and only then, willfully jumps on my arm.

He's in a loving environment and all the basics are met... Placement, chewing, interaction, diet, health, etc. I'm just floored by how terrified he is after thirty days.

I know he's not an ekkie, but this is crazy.

Any help is appreciated

 

[Terry57]

My guess is he is still settling in. 30 days is not that long for a bird who is figuring out his new home Every bird is different, and some may adjust quickly, and others take a long time.

It sounds like you have made great progress with him not plucking now, that is a hard problem to overcome. I think the rest will come with patience and time.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Im always amazed at how long rehomes can take [and it can be LONG] . Keep doing what your doing [be positive with him ,and no pressure] It will get better

 

[Tierhog]

I'm at wits end now. I just watched him yank a whole ton of neck feathers out. Apparently cleaning his cage, adding a foraging toy and talking to him was terrifying. When compared to Eclectus, I'm failing to comprehend how I can care for, interact, and strengthen a bird that is afraid of absolutely everything, all the time. Surely his 15 yrs of existence previous to me wasn't that horrendous. Aside from him plucking, the vet said he's fine. In the thirty days I've put a blanket on the back of his cage, fed him the best mix I can find, bought several hundred dollars worth of chew toys, a foraging wheel, a foraging drawer, etc, etc, etc.

Is it plausible I can't give him the specialized home he requires? Is a rehomed CAG truly damaged goods? I'm not knocking the bird, I'm just beginning to realize this guy might be too difficult and to phobic to reverse, and me and this species simply don't click.

Any advice is appreciated as I'm losing my mind...and he's losing feathers.

Thank you.

 

[BillsBirds]

Calm down, and give him time. If you did research, you already know that CAGs can be the most phobic, sensitive and paranoid of the parrots. And the worst pluckers. Yes, at this moment, he IS "damaged goods". And he won't care, or recognize, that you've given him the best toys, cage, care, or other things. You took on a problem bird, and the road to recovery is long and hard. Just give him time. The vet ruled out disease for his plucking, so, it can be helped. But, not quickly, or soon, or easily. Everything with this guy will be baby steps. At his pace, in his time. Thirty days is no time at all. Especially in "Grey time".

 

[Karigan]

It took mine a year to be comfortable enough to climb down from the cage, and about 6-9 months to step up on my hand. They weren't neurotic, but it took a lot of time for them to become comfortable and to trust me. I find it takes at least 18 months before a bird will show it's true colours and become completely at home.

 

[Tierhog]

Thank you both. Calming down is excellent advice, and stories depicting a year and beyond for acclimation was helpful.

Research was confusing. I saw the positive attributes of low key, non screamer, intelligent etc. Negatives seemed fixable. Perhaps I should rename him Enigma..lol.

His food has been placed in a foraging drawer system (four drawer) on advice of the vet, that has behavioral emphasis in her degree. She also had me wrap unshelled almonds in cupcake papers. He is currently scraping the cage bottom foraging for left overs, being suspect of the box (with a drawer open). He is drinking bottled water and his poop thus far appears normal.

I have parrot experience. Almost twenty years in fact. What is a shock to my system (and ego) is that such tenure with a parrot "species" is of so little use with CAGs.

In closing, please accept my thanks. I may have a few follow-up questions I can't solve from research (generally behavioral)

Steve