Galah/Rose Breasted Too Behavior Questions

[Songbird177]

Hey all! I was researching on the internet on this topic and found this board.

I am a recent owner of a new galah/rose breasted cockatoo. I got him/her late spring around may as a baby. I had him for a couple weeks or so before I ended up being hospitalized for a long time. Before the hospitalization I would work with him every day on training and exercise and he wasn't the most social bird but there seemed to be improvement.

Now after the hospital he has attached to my husband and wants nothing to do with me. In fact, I think he wants to kill me but I know hormones haven't come into place yet as he is still a baby but it has me worried. The problem with him bonding to my husband is my husband isn't exactly a bird person and doesn't have time to work with him.

I've been working with him training still for the past month or two but he seems uninterested most days and I don't push it. It's so bad that he sees me come up to the play gym to say hello and he quickly walks away to the other side out of arms reach.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. What else can I try to get him to bond or is this normal? My cockatiel loves me and loves scratches but the too doesn't, at least from me. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Welcome to our awesome forum!

SO sorry to hear about your galah, it's really sad when they don't love us in return
Have you been using a clicker with your training? I'd highly recommend touch training with a clicker, has worked out really with my Rosie and Kenji and my friends parrots as well. But never allow your husband to do trick training, this is your special fun time to get your bird to like you again.

Good luck, please keep us updated and continue to ask any questions you may have. Lots of very knowledgeable people here

video on clicker/target training
[ame="http://youtu.be/uqtptXFyb2c"]How to Target Train Your Parrot | Parrot Training - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Songbird177]

Thanks! I hadn't found that video on my searches before. I bought the clicker which came with a stick and book after I put the deposit for my rosie. I am thinking now I should let the bird choose me instead of falling victim to the sales guy and a cute fluffy feathery face Not meaning I'm not happy and don't love my rosie, I definitely do. He/she is teaching me so much but like you said it is heartbreaking.

Before the hospitalization, I taught him/her to kiss on command and to touch and almost turn around. And then she/he did it to my husband without the clicker when he came and said hello lol. Today I tried a shake trick but he/she was not impressed and didn't even want to turn around to touch the stick for the turn around trick. He/she just looked at it and then looked at me. So maybe it will take a bit to get back into it? Also, my husband does the food and wakes them up and puts them to bed at the moment as I am still recovering from surgeries and sleep downstairs in a recliner. I wonder if this may play a part? Perhaps I should go upstairs into the bedroom (which is where their cages are) and read a book if they don't yell at me? (Yelling is another issue with both my birds. My cockatiel thinks I am his mate from too much cuddle time from his previous owners and me. I admit I can't help myself when he puts his head by my fingers wanting a scratch! lol)

Anyhow he (the 'too) also seems quite phobic of touching. Would some training on this help as well? I saw a video called the gotcha game where you touch the bird fast in areas they may not like in order to establish dominance. Would this only be a good idea if the bird is bonded to me?

Sorry for all the questions. My friends are dog/cat people and all the reading I did before didn't prepare me well enough so I figure I'd come to fellow 'too owners.

If I am tech Savvy enough I will add a photo. Skye is the rosie and Squirt is the tiel.

 

[Betrisher]

Don't give up! If you do a search on 'Dominic', you might come across my early posts about how my inherited Galah fell in love with my husband and hated the sight of me. He used to positively gallop across a table in order to bite me! (The Galah, not the husband!)

It's nearly two years down the track now and Dom and I are best mates. We snuggle every day, I can handle him perfectly well and I can't remember the last time he bit me. In fact, he bit my husband's ear the other day for no apparent reason. That was not funny (chortle) and I reprimanded him (the husband, not the Galah)!

I don't know why Dominic hated me at the beginning and I don't know why your bird has gone off you. The thing is, there's probably an underlying reason in there somewhere: in his little birdie brain, your Galah feels you're not to be trusted. No problem. You'll just have to earn his trust back again. It might take a little while, but I feel confident you can win back his affections so long as you're patient and don't take it all personally.

Some points to consider:

1. Don't be jealous of your bird's affection for your husband. Be glad! At least he's got a bond with someone and has a place to retreat when he feels afraid.

2. Most responses, no matter how off the wall they may appear, are from fear. Rather than allowing yourself to be heartbroken, roll up your sleeves and help this bird regain his confidence in you.

3. YOU have to be the Disneyland Mum. No one offers treats or toys except you. Find out what your bird likes best and shovel it into him! (Not really - but always have treats handy and give them often). Dominic liked sunflower seeds, but he's not allowed to have those (he has fatty tumours). Instead, I gave him bits of ramen noodle and pinches of rolled oats in my fingers. Later, I found he has a sweet beak and so he got the very occasional lick of honey or jam from my finger. Peanut butter works well, but is extremely fattening - only give it occasionally.

4. You're lucky in that Galahs love to be scratched. If your husband's holding him, slowly reach out to offer him scratches (the Galah, not the husband). Always, always make contacts with you happy ones. If birdie bites you, wait until he calms down and does something positive (eg. not run away from you) and give him a treat.

5. Always make sure you keep your voice low around your bird (shrieky voices upset them) and move slowly without raising your arms (threatening).

6. My husband is not a bird person and would quickly tire of handling Dom. He would put Dom down on the kitchen table when he got sick of him and there was my chance to do the Disneyland thing. At first, Dom would rush across the table and bite me fiercely. I just sucked that up. Not saying you should, but I did. I learned to ball my hand into a fist so Dom could not get a good hold on my flesh. Pretty soon, he gave up the biting as it had no effect. He still bit on random occasions, but it just went away over time.

7. Another good idea is for you to always be the one who takes birdie out of the cage. Your husband can always be the one who puts him away. Get my drift? Disneyland Mum again!

8. Try to find time to spend alone time with your bird, just talking gently to him and offering him treats. Tell him you understand he's nervous but that you won't ever hurt or scare him. Tell him he's the prettiest bird around and has the sexiest crest ever. Always use a low voice or whisper. Make kissy noises. Scratch him if he'll allow it.

9. Most of all, BE PATIENT. It took me about a year to get Dom's confidence, but I sure got it and I'm so glad I just waited. Dominic was very badly damaged by people and I felt it was my responsibility to win him back. Your birdie isn't so much damaged as - well - maybe dinted in his confidence. Give him time. He will come around!

Best of luck with it and please keep in touch with your progress. Dominic sends a respectful squawk to your Skye and says 'Don't come the raw prawn, mate. Pull your head in and wake up to yourself!'

 

[Allee]

I can't add anything to the excellent advice you've been given. Just wanted to thank you for sharing the photos of Skye and Squirt. I love the photo of Squirt in the tissue box. Sorry to hear about your recent hospital stay, I hope you recover quickly. Please let us know how Skye is coming along.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Don't play dominance games! The fast touching is only going to ruin your bird.

What you should do is hold your hand as close as your bird is comfortable with(aka before she walks away), then click your clicker and reward her. That teaches her that you won't invade her space, but she also gets rewarded for letting you be nearby. If she's acting a little nervous stay there until she calms down then reward. You can use a little bowl for rewards so she doesn't have to be near your hand. Also continue with the target training.

It will take some time, and you can use a variety of methods. Often one step toward can lead to two steps back, but don't be discouraged.