First Day With Shy Baby GCC!

[Zazu123]

First Days With Shy Baby GCC! [UPDATED]

DAY 1:
So this I got to pick up my baby green cheek! This handsome little fella was all over the place in the carrier when I picked him up from the breeder, but settled down once we were on the way home. Once we got home I quietly tried to coax him out of his carrier, but he had a different idea. He made a break for it and jumped right over my hand to freedom. Don’t worry, I quickly was able to get him into his cage. For the first two hours the poor baby stood in the corner of the cage sleeping and perching quietly. I hung out with him that whole time just talking quietly and playing some classical music for him as he napped. After a few hours I started to get worried that he wasnt moving around, or eating and drinking. So I decided to leave the room for a while to see what he would do. I watched from my iphone through the camera I set up to watch him, and after 5 minutes of me being gone the little critter decided to explore his cage. What a relief! So for the past few hours I have been going to visit him every half hour, and everytime I step in the room he freezes . The poor thing is soo shy! But there has been some progress! The last two times I have gone to visit he has let me pet his little head. So I guess so far so good.
I also brought in my other green cheek for a quick second to say hi to his new little brother and he seemed quite excited to get to him! But hes gonna have to wait 30 days to officially meet his little brother.

Any tips would be great when dealing with a shy baby! My first one was the complete opposite the first day I got him.

DAY 2: UPDATE
When I went to uncover his cage this morning he was on top of his food bowl munching on leftover pellets from yesterday. He was a little startled and quickly retreated to higher up on the cage. I switches his food and water and put a added another bowl with the morning chop that I feed my other green cheek. Unfortunately, he had no interest in trying chop today . But he definitely had an appetite for his pellets. I spent the morning in the room with him, sitting nearby his cage and doing some work. At some point in the morning he was comfortable enough to play around and eat with me sitting near him! That was definitely the highlight of today. I tried to approach his cage and lean my hand against it to try to slowly approach him to pet him from outside the cage. But today he wasnt happy with me trying that so I stopped. He spent most of the day playing with his toys, eating. and NAPPING. He does spend a good amount of time napping, and Im not sure if thats okay or not. Another problem Im facing is that he is not very food motivated. I try to lure him closer to my hand by holding up his favorite treat (according to the breeder), apple, but he shows absolutely no interest in it. I was thinking of maybe leaving only a little but of pellets, instead of a full bowl, in his cage overnight so that tomorrow morning he might be more motivated to eat out of my hand. I was hoping someone could tell me if that is okay or if thats a bad idea? Thanks!

 

[Laurasea]

Look at that gorgeous baby! And look at those gorge shredders, you know what makes a GCC happy!

It really sounds like you are doing it right. Lots if little visits, repeat.

Hope by tomorrow he us begging to come out!!

 

[lollipoppy]

Aww! What room is he in?

I’d keep him on the edge of the activity, but if he’s in another room for quarantine then I’d bring the activity carefully to him.

Make sure when you sit with him, you’re lower than him. This makes you less threatening. Talk quietly about whatever you want, sing gently. Each time you come, slip a treat into his bowl using the food door not the front door. Try to avoid putting your hands in there until he warms up.

Do this for at least a week, but work on his time. With shy birdies, always go a little slower than you think you need to. That way you don’t accidentally break the trust and bond you’re building.

Once he starts comfortably moving around in his cage when you’re nearby, start checkpoint training inside of the cage. So, show him a treat and let him have a bite. Then, lure him to a different part of the cage with the treat. Do this for 5-10 minutes if he’s really shy, then 10-15 minutes.

Once he’s confidently following you around, use your treats to lure him to the door, then eventually out of it. Then back in. Once he can comfortably go in and out with checkpoint training, move on to step up training.

Congrats on the baby! He’s ADORABLE!


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[lollipoppy]

With all that being said - If in 24-48 hrs he seems eager to come out - work at a quicker pace! As [mention]Laurasea [/mention]says - maybe tomorrow he’ll be perkier and more excited! If he shows he wants out, go at his pace [emoji16]


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[Zazu123]

Thanks for the tips! Hopefully he will start accepting treats from my hand soon, I still have to find out what his favorite treats are.

 

[Laurasea]

Also, some babies won't eat, if they aren't get attention and contact.
So if you don't seem him eating and he wants attention, give him the attention thstvspurs their apatite, or play with food, and est your food infront if them. A flock eats together so some can watch out. Also babies expect parents to guide. First hours home are a but of a shock

 

[Zazu123]

Also, some babies won't eat, if they aren't get attention and contact.
So if you don't seem him eating and he wants attention, give him the attention thstvspurs their apatite, or play with food, and est your food infront if them. A flock eats together so some can watch out. Also babies expect parents to guide. First hours home are a but of a shock

Well actually he only eats when I leave the room :/ . When I go visit him he stops whatever he was up to and just sits there and stares at me haha.

 

[Cagzo]

Hes a lovely looking baby. Good advice given,they are such characters these little parrots!

 

[Zazu123]

Posted an update of today! Had a few questions hoped someone could answer! Thanks!

 

[Laurasea]

Babies do nap a lot that's ok! I would not short his food to try and motivate him, these are early days! Give him time to settle. You can try eating a piece if apple in front if him then stick a wedge in his cage abd just sit back and hang out.
More time just hanging out by the cage.
No rush these first few days.n

When Neptune was a new baby at my house, he would sit with me, but didn't want me touching him. it took weeks if not months before he wanted head scratches. Now he can't get enough lol

 

[Zazu123]

Okay sounds good! Also how do I get to bathe if he is scared of me? I know that its important for birds to that every day so I dont want to deprive him of that.

 

[lollipoppy]

Okay sounds good! Also how do I get to bathe if he is scared of me? I know that its important for birds to that every day so I dont want to deprive him of that.

I’ve heard every other day is enough and I wouldn’t push it or rush it early on. Leave a bathing dish or bird bath in his cage for a half hour to an hour or so and leave the room, then come back, if he isn’t feeling comfortable doing things around you. This way he has privacy and possibly a little more confidence in bathing.

Once he settles in he’ll get into the routine of bathing. Don’t force it, though.


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[lollipoppy]

Re: First Days With Shy Baby GCC! [UPDATED]

As for putting hands on the cage/treat offerings, I’d back off from that for a couple days. The playing with you in the room is AWESOME!

If you want to use food to bond, keep some food for you nearby and whenever he goes to eat when you’re in the room, eat at the same time. He might begin to associate this as you wanting to be a part of his flock.

If you want to do treat offerings, I’d put a matchstick size piece of apple in his cage every time you come in, say “hello! How are you doing?” In a sweet voice and then sit down for a while. (Just a small piece so you can do this a few times a day without loading him up on too much fruit.)

You really want to make sure he feels comfortable and safe in his cage, so it’s important to keep your hands away anytime he feels unsafe so that he realizes you’re not a threat and that you respect his space. The more he feels respected and safe, the more he’s going to trust you.

As I write this, I want to acknowledge that going slow with a shy pet can be SO STINKIN HARD lol. I’m such an excited let’s gooooo I want cuddles type of person. So I know this probably feels hard, but it will be well worth it in the end


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