galah with lots of issues please help!!

[melinda]

Yes chasing him will make him distrust you even more. Is he fully flighted? When he was on the table would have been a great time to reward him when he came to see you.

Maybe he might enjoy training on the table. You could try that a couple of days. When he is on the floor if you start walking to him can you walk him back to his cage? I think if you can do that in a easy manner and not make him feel pushed that might help teach him the floor is off limits. Are you trying to leave him on his stand with out you being next to him?

I am very happy to hear he is eatting better. I love birdy bread. A lot of my foster birds are afraid of fresh food as well but are willing to try the bread. It makes a great starting point for other food besides pellets. You are doing great with this keep it up.

 

[ceejay]

no he is not flighted at all when i went to the vet i had him trim his wings nice because the man i got him from had them all hacked up. yes if i slowly walk behind him he will go back to his cage or perch. and yes i have just left him on his perch and not been in the room and he will stay there. but i guess when he gets tired of it he flys to the floor and starts forging. i gave him his bath and brought him back in he came out of the cage and went right to his perch i gave him a treat for that. i know i missed my opertunity to treat him when he came over to me i could kick myself for that. at the moment hes having a nap on his training perch i have been taking the cage out during the day because he will just sit on top of it and i cant interact with him so when i remove the cage he uses the training perch as long as i leave him alone he will stay there for a good while but if i try to do any training he will do some then fly off. it has made it easier for me at night as soon as i bring the cage out he goes right to it and inside i also treat him for that. my plan is that when hes fully tame and trained i will let him be flighted but for now i dont want him to be because its a bit eaiser to train him. hope this helps in some possible ideas you may have cheers ceejay

 

[melinda]

Does he have any toys he can play with on his perch? A parrot is to smart for their own good most of the time. If he is setting on a perch by his self with nothing to do it would be like setting a two year old child down in the middle of a room full of toys and tell them not to move. Of course as soon as you turned your back the child would move to get the toys.

He might not be interested in "bird" toys but i am sure you have seen things he enjoys messing with on the floor. If you can offer something like that on the stand he will be happier to stay on it.

When you are training do you do "work" for a min the give him a min to have fun? Sometimes it works better if you give them breaks. From the sound of your day he is settleing into a routine very well. He may enjoy having everything done at the same time everyday.

You are doing great. We all miss a great reward time every now and then. You just have to move on. Can you see any difference in him yet? Your post have a more relaxed feel to them. (hard to explain how i get that feeling lol).

 

[ceejay]

the only thing he plays with is the bowl i have the sunflower seeds in which would be a bit difficult for him to play with on the stand. he has no intrest in any toys that i have got for him.yes when i work with him i give him breaks but here lately he wont do any training at all he just flys off the perch not sure why he was doing really well im thinking that maybe its because he has food bowls on his perch i i have pellets in them and hes not hungary enough to care about the treats could that be? because before he would stay there and train for about 10 min and id leave him be for a while and go back later now he automatically flys off when i try to do training. so maybe thats it. he is much better than a month ago hes not biting and he seems relaxed more hes not hiding or trying to get up the stairs or in the window ledge like he was he allows me to touch him like give him a little scratch which he would never let me do so he has made progress. im unsure what steps i need to take next to get him to remain on my hand because he wont stay i have tried alot of things nothing seems to work for that. if you have any ideas let me know cheers ceejay

 

[lene1949]

I let Max fully fledge, and he's getting better every day... He can sometimes be difficult to get back into his cage, but food will get him every time... I just sit down with something to put in my mouth by hand, and he's over there within seconds, checking it out... I have him on my hand, before he gets a taste, and just leave my other hand just above him, so he doesn't fly away...

My galah and corella are outside, and everytime I go into the aviary, I need to give them a special treat to get off me...

 

[ceejay]

HEY LENE wow i wish food worked like that for sheldon. he gets a little better everyday but the hand thing is a big issue i just keep working on it and hope one day he will surprise me and stay there lol. he did learn some thing new today i was happy when i ask him if he wants a scratch he will lower his head yayyyyy a new step!!!

 

[melinda]

Each step you take with him is big. he is already doing much better. The biggest thing will be taking your time with him. Birds don't just drop things over night. He will only keep improving with you taking your time and working with him at his pace.

A head scritch is a sure sign you are gaining his trust.Toys that he can hold in his foot might be a great place to start with. Pop sickle sticks. Tolit papaer rolls. A wad of paper with a few seeds in the middle of it. Anything that is easy for him to hold and is easy to see being tore up. As with the food change over it will take time before he gets happy about being offered toys. Set a example for him by playing with it before handing it to him or placing it in his cage.

You are doing great work with him. Just take your time try not to push him but also be working toward a goal. It is easier to work on the things that the most important first. Such as steping up. But keep in mind everytime you interact with him you are teaching much more than what you are asking for. Such as you ask him to step up- you are also working on trust, good behavoir (no biteing) Healthy foods (treats or taking food from your hand). If you think about it that way you can understand the many small steps you are working on just for a step up.

Each is just as important as the next. Thats why it takes a little longer than we would like to train a bird. Sheldon might not be the bird you was promised but with you not giving up he will be better than promised.

Just keep offering different foods to him. If you want to offer seeds only offer it for a trainig reward.It is completly up to you how you train and reward. If he responds to seed when training and he is learning what you are asking seed is fine just don't let him eat a meal out of them.

The love bird has give me fits for the past two days. She learned how to remove her food or water bowl to get out. So i got a largder water bowl she couldn't move and placed a rock on one side of the food bowl. That worked for about two hours then she decided to come through the bars. I have never seen a bird that can do what she does. So today is cage shopping day. But each time she comes out she flies across the floor and wants to find my U2 to tease. She is playing with fire with that bird and her life. So i have been forced to chase her down and make her step up. I use those times as training times. She is very friendly once out of the cage on my hand as long as she thinks i am not going to touch her. She will step up hand to hand and now stay perched on my finger for 10 mins before flying off. I know it is just easier to put her back up before she decides she has had enough. That way she is not deciding when to leave me. I will work on making the time longer by 30 seconds then a min then a min and a half etc.

I just keep a eye on her and when she starts showing signs of wanting off i put her up or do something different with her. She will still bite the blood out of me if she feels like i push her. So i try to do simple thing that she knows and not over do it with her as we still have to make a bond. You are already futher than me in your work. I am looking forward to the day she ask for a head petting. But i will not rush her.

Just continue taking your time with your little man and work on small steps. You have done great with him so far to see so many changes already.

 

[ceejay]

thanks melinda i was so hopeing that him lowering his head for a scratch was a sign that he is begining to trust me. no he isnt the bird i was promised but i wouldnt trade him for nothing even though it will take alot longer its ok i will wait even if it takes a year thats fine to because he has made so much progress since he has been here. i will try the toys you suggested lol funny thing i gave him a toliet paper roll about a week ago and he did his full open crest up squaking wing dance at it even though i was playing with it first lol but i will definatly try the other things you mentioned. also i wanted to ask you this i was told that since taming and trust take a while that i should start trick training him? what are your thoughts on that? another thing the vet said to me was that out of alot of birds that owners get at an older age the galah will be the choice for a new bird owner to work with. (no to sure about that) lol he had his bath yesterday and while he was drying off and preening in the warm sun a wild sulphur crested cockatoo came down for a visit lol as we have a feeding stand set up for them he or she saw sheldon in his cage outside and flew under the porch onto a clothes line to get a better look at him he must have stayed there i know 15 min watching sheldon and making little soft noises was cute.

wow sounds like you are having a time with the lovebird so how long have you had her? i think you said she was a rescue i could be wrong though so can love birds be taught tricks and to talk? was just curious. they are such pretty birds sounds like shes testing how far she can push you. and wow what gumption messing with your u2 she is a bold one id say lol i was cleaning yesterday and caught this on video he did this a few times and i had to get it on video the picture is of my 20 year old daughter who lives in south carolina i added caption to it to poke fun of her have a look at it. [ame=http://youtu.be/hIGWEar0qn4]YOU KNOW YOUR KID IS SCARY WHEN......... - YouTube[/ame] cheers ceejay

 

[melinda]

The video is too cutie! Trick training can be a fun way to train. My birds know how to wave big eagle turn around we are working on basket ball and playing dead. Some birds realy enjoy this kind of stuff. I think target training is great to start on. My fav book is Birds Off The Perch and Parrot Tricks. Both give you step by step guides for teaching a trick. They also touch on the basics that everybird owner should know.

Just remember make training time a fun time. Keep them short and have a great time your self.

The love bird Rosie is a rescue. Yes they can learn to talk and they enjoy doing tricks too. She is a little stuborn but she will come around in time. She is here as a foster but she will not leave until she eats healthy and we work out the behavoir problems the last owner caused. How long she is here is up to her as i will not rush her. I just hope she lets my fingers heal soon lol.

 

[ceejay]

wow playing dead? how do you go about getting them to do that i bet thats a hard trick i think im gonna start with waveing i tried to touch train but he just attacks the stick how do i get him not to do that? there is no telling how the seller treated him i would hate to think how he did treat him because of some of the things he does. yesterday he did play with his ball a little on the top of his cage and i was also wondering this i got him a different size pellet they are lower in fat which the vet suggested they are not as light in weight as the ones i was giving him he took 1 or 2 that was it and he wsent able to rake them out of the bowl on the floor like he does the other ones im guessing because they are not as light as the others is any type of parrot pellet ok or is there ones that are better than others?

so when you finish getting the love bird all better with handleing and such your going to put him up for adoption?

also which do you think is bettewr cooked veggies or just raw ive tried both ways and he still dosent like them but i was wondering if its not better to cook them? cheers ceejay

 

[NatWatson]

Because you can't be certain, I would forget all that you were told about his past and just go with Sheldon as he is thank goodness he is with you, who obviously cares so much about raising him to the highest standard, and not some twit who 'wants a pretty pink talking bird' lol. Sounds like you are doing very well! Just relax with him and have some fun. I play with my boys before every training session and I find it loosens them up a bit

Good luck!! Can't wait for some stories as he breaks out of his shell!!!

 

[ceejay]

thanks nat i am trying my best and im always willing to try anything new to see if it may work right now im a bit frustrated because he was sitting fine on his training perch now hes got it in his little head if he flys off thats it he dosent have to do anything he runs like the breeze and i do not chase him as i know thats bad. but i cant even do training with him in the past few days he will not sit on the perch for nothing toys treats ect,,, so im not sure what to do in this case because he was doing fine im not sure whats going on cheers ceejay

 

[melinda]

Playing dead is a trick that requires the bird to trust you very much as you lay them on the back and leave them laying.

Most pellets are better than straight seed and if your vet suggested it thats what i would go with. You might have to mix them with the pellets you have been feeding. Mine loves veggys raw or cooked. Offer him what you enjoy eatting. That way you can eat it the same time you offer it. It will take time before he eats them just don't give up.

How do you get him to the stand? Does he step up from the cage? When i start training a new bird on a stand i do in in my bathroom. Of course make sure he can not fall in any water. I have a small t stand that i put on to of my washer and i stand beside it. That way i can close the door and no one can bother us when we are working. After the bird masters a couple of things i will bring them out and start again. I spent 3 weeks in the bathroom with my U2 as she didn't want to work and only wanted to snuggle. The love bird has been doing this for the past three days. So far she is doing ok she still jumps of every min or so trying to get the treats

It will all come together for you and sheldon it will just take time and trying to do different things..

 

[ceejay]

thanks melinda well when he comes out of his cage(on his own) because he wont come out to my hand i been trying this for a month now. he goes to the yop of the cage then after he gets done with his morning rounds around the living room about 15 min he then goes to his training stand. i then remove his cage from the room completley because if i dont he will stay on it or in it. once hes out hes fine i started doing what you said about rewarding for the length of time hes on the stand so he dosent think the floor is acceptable hes doin a bit better. BUT today we made PROGRESS!!!!!!!! he let me train him on the short table stand that sets on my coffee table that i have been trying to train him on for a month lol he finally did it today and guess what!!! he now with just a finger motion no telling him i point down he lowers his head i was so excited!!!! also when i hold my finger straight no words he gently with the end of his beak touches the tip of my finger so awesome!!!!!! i was so proud of him today i just wanted to swoop him up and give him a big hug and a kiss lol it seems he does training when hes ready so because i dont want to push him when he gets on the stand i try to start training if he dosent want to he will jump off i think because he sees me pick up the clicker and knows what it is. or is he just saying hmmm i jump off i dont have to do anything? could it be possible i am being out smarted by my sheldon? in any case he did make progress today in my eyes whats your opnion? OMG MELINDA YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS HE ACTUALLY WENT FROM THE COFFE TABLE TO MY LEG STAYED THERE LET ME SCRATCH HIM AND TOOK TREATS YAYYYYYYYY SUCH A HUGE STEP FOR HIM AND ME JUST HAD TO SHARE IM SO PROUD OF HIM!also i wanted to ask you 2 days ago sheldon was on top of his cage and for about 5 minutes straight he kept opening and closing his beak just like when they yawn but it worried me because ive never seen him do this before i panicked a little i thought maybe he had something stuck in his mouth or throat but i knew he couldnt have got into anything as i am so careful i have (bird proofed) my house and i am with him all day he wasent in any distress at all it was almost like he was enjoying it so i got up and gave him a treat and he was fine after that and hasent done it since does this mean anything? is it normal? i am probably over protective but i was so scared something was wrong? cheers ceejay

 

[melinda]

Sounds like he was yawning. It is normal for him to do it. My conure seems to love doing the same thing.

Congrates! It is always so rewarding when all your hard work starts paying off. I would say he has started trusting you and your bond will get stronger. You will still have bad days but don't let it bother you, Sheldon is just like us. We don't feel like doing things everyday either.

Just so that you keep building his trust and bond with you don't force him into training. If he doesn't feel like it try again later or put it off until the next day. You have plenty of time with him. I think taking your time with him is the best that you can do with him. He is enjoying scritches that may become a training reward soon.

I wish i could have seen your face when he got on your leg as i am sure you had one of those proud mommy looks on your face. I am looking forward to more post with small steps you have reached with him.

Once he starts stepping up good for you then you can work more on training him to stay on the stand to do training. That will take time but you have come a long way already!You have found a way to work with him and gain his trust nothing can beat that.

 

[ceejay]

i was just a bit worried because it was like every 2 secs he was doing it for about 5 min straight so i got concerend. but hes been fine and when he was doing it there was no distress. i am happy hes progressing little by little i have lots of time. im just happy we ended in a positive yesterday makes things so much better im sure he will have bad days as i always wait and see how his mood is usually when hes all chirppy in the morning i feel it will be a good day but sometimes hes like not so chirppy and im like oh boy hes gonna be moody lol but thats ok i roll with his moods after all hes a bird and they can be unpredictable right? i wanted to ask 2 questions this time first i have noticed a few feathers like his under coat feathers around more than usual how often do they molt and could this be a sign hes getting ready to molt how will i know? 2nd when he went to get on my leg yesterday he like put his head down and slid it across my leg first before he stepped onto it is this like a checking to see if its safe and sturdy? for him to step on never seen him do it so i was just wondering. im so new to all this i hope im not bothering you too much but there is things i dont know and the net isnt always specific like you are im thankful for all your help cheers ceejay

 

[melinda]

You are getting great at reading his moods! That is one of the hardest things to learn with birds. But once you do you can look at him across the room and tell if he is happy or not.

Birds have a big molt once a year. And another smaller molt. Most do it is spring and fall. My guy have the big one in fall. It is spring where you are right? It last about 6 weeks with the most feathers lost the first 3 or 4 weeks. As the are in molt the new feathers can be sore. Just becareful how you scritch his head when they start growing in. He may want you to preen his head for him. My U2 loves when i do it and will nap as long as i am preening. They sometimes get in bad moods when they are molting too. Don't worry this too will pass.

He could have been testing just to make sure you wasn't going to move on him. I am so proud that you two have came so far so fast. You have already made a good bond with him. Just keep giving him 100% and he will give you 150% once he understands what you want.

How is training time going? Have you found he prefers one place over the other?

Sorry it too so long to get back to you but i got sick and my meds kept me knocked out lol. I am better and ready to help again.

 

[ceejay]

hey melinda i was wondering where you had been sorry to hear you have been sick im glad your doing better. i have such good news sheldon has made more progress but i would rather you see it for yourself it will amaze you it sure did me. i dont want to spoil it by telling you so im going to try and get it on video tomarrow i tried tonight when my husband got home but by then he had a full crop and wasent hungary enough for treats lol. so ill try tomarrow im so proud of my baby boy!!! the bond is getting better and the trust is definatly gettin better!!! because of all the great advice you have given me i have relaxed which in turn has made sheldon relax. even my husband was like wow!!! lol so hows the lovebird doing? any progress there? i know how it is with meds i dont know your situation but i do know how my meds do me sometimes. well be looking for the new video i think i will start a new thread titled sheldons new progress something along that line cheers ceejay

 

[melinda]

I am so glad you didn't give up. All i did was give the little push you needed. You already had it in you! I can't wait to see your video. You and Sheldon are well on your way to becoming a team.

Yesturday for the love birds safety i had to put her in another foster home. After getting her a new cage with bars spaced for finches she was still getting out. She would either climb on the U2 cage or the conure's cage. It was getting to the point i could not leave my house for fear she would take a toe off or meet the U2's beak. She went to a lady that fosters small birds only. But i had got her to eatting a healthy diet of pellets and fresh fruit and veggys. Got her stepping up from the top of the cage or floor with no biteing. She had came a long way but i felt like i failed her because i had to put her in another home. I will be getting updates until she is adopted out.

 

[ceejay]

hey melinda i made the video but sheldon had his first bad birdie moment today he nipped the usb to the camera when i was in the kitchen(my fault) my husband will fix it (hopefully tonight) and ill have it on a new thread sorry to hear about the love bird but i think you did what you thought was best for her i dont think you failed her at all you got her on a healthy road. its better for her to be in a good place before adoption than to injure one of your other birds. i think you did the best thing for all involved. and you are going to get updates on her until shes adopted out that shows how much you care for her. i hope to have the video on by in the morning sheldon has come such a long way from 5 weeks ago im so proud of him i look forward to more special moments. cheers ceejay