Confidence building!!

[Sterling1113]

So since I got the aviator harnesses in the mail a few days ago, on top of the behavioral/conditioning training involving the harness, I've been having Pascal 'recall' to his cage from various places in the apartment to build his muscles and his self confidence.

For the most part he's completely fine with his harness, but before we put it on him again we're taking a few steps back. I'd like him to be able to sit (almost) completely still while we put it on him instead of trying to step up while we're adjusting the belt. I'll be working on lifting his wings/moving him around a few times daily along with having the harness laying somewhere near by when he is out.

Almost immediately after I started having him fly to his cage I saw a change in his attitude. And a GOOD one!
Now when he sits with Brad instead of only chatting and asking for scratches he will beak wrestle/play! He's figuring out all the awesome things hands are capable of hehe.

Not only that, but for the first time yesterday, he flew from the bathroom(out of sight from his cage) back to the top of his cage! His landings are much less clumsy and he's learning that if he doesn't like where he is, he CAN fly to somewhere he DOES want to be.

Over all I'm very happy to see him continue to come out of his shell. So far I've seen no negative behaviors, no screaming, no biting, nothing. Just a peaceful lovey little pi. And now Brad is totally smitten with the pionus species, even though I've explained pascal isn't your 'typical' pi behavior. So once we get a house later this year he is thinking about another pi as our next addition.
(Still funny to think he HATED birds before we met...)

Hoping to continue to make progress with the harness, so keep an eye out for pictures once we get him outside!!


Edit: here's a picture of him hanging upside down.. Because, well, it's cute!

 

[Dinosrawr]

That's so wonderful! It's funny how those around us change their opinions when they get a chance to experience or see how lovely birds are. Today I visited the pet store and they've had a black capped conure for a loooong time that had been previously abused. Everyone sees him as angry and nippy and "bad". Lo and behold when I was giving him loving scritches THROUGH the cage bar (he's apparently notorious for lunging) for over 10 minutes everyone seemed to think he was perfect. I just recognized he was a little cutie itching for some love on his terms!

I'm thrilled with your progress with Pascal My boyfriend is a huuuuuuuge lover of Pi's... they seem to have this ability to win everyone over

 

[Sterling1113]

Gotta love pet shop birds. As far as I'm concerned they can be as 'mean' as they want, it's just them making sure someone committed ends up taking them home.

Pascal is the first Pi either of us have been around and he's great. He hasn't met somebody he wouldn't take scratches from! Makes me nervous if we get another later in though, I just know their attitudes are gonna be soooo different! Hehe.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

That's fantastic!! I also swear by the flying, harness training and with all of that, i suppose it is the additional time and training we spend with them that helps build their confidence (not only the flying and new experiences, but all of it combined). Can't wait to see more pics. We all are big mushes over cute pics. haha

 

[Birdman666]

Gotta love pet shop birds. As far as I'm concerned they can be as 'mean' as they want, it's just them making sure someone committed ends up taking them home.

Pascal is the first Pi either of us have been around and he's great. He hasn't met somebody he wouldn't take scratches from! Makes me nervous if we get another later in though, I just know their attitudes are gonna be soooo different! Hehe.

Birds have to be worked with by one person, to draw them out of their shell and teach them to trust...

Once you get them over that hump, they are fantastic. Getting them over the hump the first time or two, is the tricky part.

 

[Sterling1113]

That's the funny part, Birdman- he came to us at 6~ years old and he was rarely handled and shared a cage with a sun conure. I thought I would have to really work on his human interaction. But as soon as he came home and got settled in you'd think we spent his whole life socializing him and having him around other people. So I guess we got lucky hehe.

 

[Birdman666]

One of the amazons that got surrendered to the rescue I used to volunteer at was 60 years old, and had been cage bound for as long as anyone could remember. And he was a grumpy, male DYH.

Despite all that, he would come out of his cage and step up without drawing blood in somewhere around a week or two after working with him...

All living things respond to love.

 

[Anansi]

I loved reading your account of how your bird's confidence has grown with his flight skills, Ashley. I know your joy in watching this happen. Watching Bixby's happiness as he gets better and better at maneuvering through the house has been absolutely amazing! Especially that cocky little tail flourish he does when he's particularly proud of a tricky maneuver he's pulled off. Love it!

And that pic of Pascal upside down is priceless!

Oh, and I see that you're going to be getting that house after all? Sweet! Happy for you all around, Ash!

 

[Sterling1113]

Thanks, Stephen! It's my favorite thing about birds, is watching them grow and change, even the 'adult' ones.
And yes, we did move forward on getting a house- we're expecting within the next 6~ months or so. Granted, we'll be in our little studio apartment until then, but that's okay with me. It'll make it easier to save for the deposit/appliances anyways!

My favorite thing is when Pascal fans his tail out. So many pretty colors!