Jenypher
New member
- Nov 5, 2018
- 41
- 2
- Parrots
- 3 'tiels (Sophie, Peter and Melvin), 1 DYH Amazon (Baya), 1 Caique (Twenty), 2 Conures (Spider & Lizard), and 1 foster (Faust)
Peter, my crabby old man rescue Cockatiel, has had a BREAKTHROUGH!
Just for some history, I've had Peter for about a year and a half, and think he might have been cagebound before I got him, although I don't know for sure. He had no step-up, was terrified of hands, and refused to come out of his cage for weeks...when he finally came out, he wouldn't leave the safety of the cage itself, would just kind of hang out on it. He's had a lot of changes since then (girlfriend, much bigger cage, feels safe enough to venture out into the safety of the room he lives in a few times a week). In the past few weeks, we've been working on step-up, mostly when he gets himself stuck on the floor (best time, because fear overrides his treat motivation), and he now steps up (from the floor, at least) when asked without fuss or panic.
He launched himself into another room earlier this week, and when I stepped him up to bring him back, he decided he liked my arm! Then he climbed to my shoulder and hung out there for about a half hour (I tried to put him down in his favorite spot, and he refused to get off). This is such a big step for my cranky little man!! I'm super proud of him.
Just for some history, I've had Peter for about a year and a half, and think he might have been cagebound before I got him, although I don't know for sure. He had no step-up, was terrified of hands, and refused to come out of his cage for weeks...when he finally came out, he wouldn't leave the safety of the cage itself, would just kind of hang out on it. He's had a lot of changes since then (girlfriend, much bigger cage, feels safe enough to venture out into the safety of the room he lives in a few times a week). In the past few weeks, we've been working on step-up, mostly when he gets himself stuck on the floor (best time, because fear overrides his treat motivation), and he now steps up (from the floor, at least) when asked without fuss or panic.
He launched himself into another room earlier this week, and when I stepped him up to bring him back, he decided he liked my arm! Then he climbed to my shoulder and hung out there for about a half hour (I tried to put him down in his favorite spot, and he refused to get off). This is such a big step for my cranky little man!! I'm super proud of him.
