Galah Cockatoo, very shy, won't leave her cage, scared of me

[PrincessSarah]

Hello!
I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. Please forgive me if there are typos. I'm using my phone. So, we've had Rose for about a month. She was brought to us by a couple that could no longer give her the attention she needs. She came to us with her own cage. Since being here, she hasn't left her cage on her own. She talks to us from the cage, and gives kisses through the bars. As soon as I open the door, she backs up and begins pacing. For the first couple of weeks, I just let her be. Talking to her through the cage with the door open. Occasionally, she would get scared if a dog bumped the cage or something. I would hold her and comfort her and she would kiss and sit in my shoulder. About a week and a half ago, I had a friend inform me that I needed to Madge her get out of the cage. So, I bought her a beautiful perch, and started taking her out of her cage. It was always a fight, however it got easier and easier every time. I put her on her perch, and let her be. She stopped talking. No plucking or anything. She paces all day on the perch. I didn't like the stress she seemed to be exhibiting. So, I put her back in the her cage. She'll come to give kisses again. She also started talking again. However, when I approach the to cage to her, she backs up and starts panting and pacing. She's terrified of me now. It's breaking my heart. I just don't know what to do. I'm sure I have to start over, gaining her trust. I need to figure out how to get her to come out of her cage and trust me. Any help?

 

[Bandespresso]

Exactly what you said: start from square one. Just sit next to her cage with the door open and let her come out on her own accord. Give her lots of treats and love don't force anything yet. Let her know that she has some freedom and that you are not going to hurt her ever. It sounds like she might be afraid of the perch itself...try to set it on the other side of the room and gradually move it closer and closer to her cage (like an inch a day). For the first week Espresso was home, i spent hoouuuuurrrs a day just sitting with her and even took naps on the floor next to her cage. If she is nervous about coming out of her cage, there is no need to force it. Interacting with her and building a strong relationship is way more important than outside of the cage time.

Welcome to the forum! We loooove birdie pictures!!!

 

[gracebowen]

When you want her out you could open her door and move back a bit. I have an untame budgie who wants out but won't step up. I just open her door. Of course the drawback is you mayalso have to wait till she goes back on her own.

 

[gracebowen]

Oh and I think birdman 666 has a post for cagebound birds are how you help them

 

[PrincessSarah]

I leave the door open all the time...She still won't come out. It's part of the morning routine. Wake up. Uncover her cage. Tell her good morning, which she says now. Open the door. Turn on music for scream time while I get kids ready for school. I'll check out that post as well.

 

[PrincessSarah]

When we do get her out, she seeks out her cage immediately and goes right back in. I had someone else tell me to get her a new cage. I'm sacred them she'll either do the same thing or just be perpetually stressed without her cage. She's had the save cage dune she was a baby. I'm her third owner.

 

[Puck]

When we do get her out, she seeks out her cage immediately and goes right back in. I had someone else tell me to get her a new cage. I'm sacred them she'll either do the same thing or just be perpetually stressed without her cage. She's had the save cage dune she was a baby. I'm her third owner.

I would give it more time before resorting to new cages. A month seems like forever but birds can be super sensitive, particularly Toos. Give her a little more time to decide on her own that she wants to come out. Perhaps offer her a treat right at the cage door and praise her for coming to get it, if she will do that. She may simply have been quite bonded to her old owner or completely overwhelmed by her new surroundings. She simply may need more time to settle in. It sounds like you have kids and dogs, which is great (I have two dogs), but if she came from a home without them she may not even know what they ARE, something that could increase adjustment time. No need to make it more frightening by getting rid of the only thing she knows (her cage). It seems like you are doing the right thing, giving her space and allowing her out on her own terms. Just give it a little more time--you have years and years ahead of you together once she adjusts to her new surroundings!

 

[PrincessSarah]

She's frightened of people food. She's frightened of sticks, like alternative perches placed near her at all. The previous owners had kids, dogs and cats, like us. But they were tweakers. I think there was a lot of very negative activity in that house. Ugh. She says things like "somebody's coming" and "b*tch". In and of itself, not bad. But put it together with the owners....

 

[Bandespresso]

Poor little miss I'm so glad she is with you now. She'll come around but it will probably take a long time and a lot of patience.

 

[PrincessSarah]

I've been working with her today. She's kisses through the bars. I can open the cage and touch her head and scratch. She lets me do it for a few minutes. Then nips, not hard. So then I close the door and walk away. Then she screams until I come back. This has been going on all day. Good thing I have nothing but time. Lol