Good day until evening

[sherylb]

Ok so Kiwi is doing so good....I take him to work with me every morning in my home office and he comes out of his cage and he gets close to me today he’s been kissing me and getting on my head and on my lunch break I took him into another room away from his cage and he tried to fly away but I kept putting him on my shoulder and eventually he just stayed there .
He is starting to play with his toys take food for me and just be more comfortable but for some reason when I’m finished working and I move his cage back out into the living area where the kitchen and living room are and I let him out or I open his cage so he can get out he tries to fly off his cage and he does it a few times and then he’ll stop but tonight he did that and he was looking for something I’m not sure what but he would get behind furniture or behind something and he would stay there he just wanted to be behind something and he would usually come to me and get on me and I would put them on his cage and he would do it again not sure what’s going on with him ..,,Do they remember their breeder and the other birds that they were raised with?? Just so weird because all day long in the office he’s fine, no flying around....but when I’m the living area he does???

 

[noodles123]

It sounds like he is flying (in general) when frightened/nervous/overwhelmed. That seems to be the pattern (even looking back at past posts).


Just a guess- but the office is small and all activity is easily monitored---he can see the door probably and he can see you, plus, he has lots of walls making him feel safe. When in the open (and less-safe feeling) living room, he is likely seeking security (hiding)...Birds can be overwhelmed very easily when surrounded by new things or if they are too vulnerable/exposed.

Do you have at least one side of the cage by a wall?
Does he fly off whether or not he can see you?


Respectfully, moving the cage may not be the best idea. In order for him to get secure in a location and in that cage, it is probably best to leave the cage in the living room, and put a large play-stand in the office. That way, he can keep everything straight during this adjustment period. He probably feels confused because he is comfortable in the office, only to be uprooted to a new and "scary" place. Parrots need routine (especially in new settings) and many characteristics that apply to children with Autism also apply to parrots. I love both, so that is not meant to be insulting...it is just a fact.


Although moving the cage makes sense to you, it likely is very unsettling and confusing to him...Imagine if (seemingly without warning) someone physically picked up your house and moved it to a different place (furniture rocking around, loud noises etc) and you had no idea what was happening, where they were taking it or why. Suddenly, you have to "live" in a totally new place and that place is much less secure than the first. I know that some birds handle this type of thing, and Kiwi may be one of them given the appropriate adjustment period, but while he is new, consider what I said above.

He is still so new to you and your home and he has only ever lived at the store before, correct?

 

[sherylb]

He is 9 weeks. I've had him 5 days. I am looking for a playstand to put in my office so I can keep his cage in the living area.... I have been taking him into my office at the same time daily too. I hope that he will like the play stand that I get, I am thinking about the kind on wheels so I can move it around. Oh and yes he flies off cage even with me in the room and he usually comes right back to me until tonight when he wanted to get behind stuff. I put his cage against the wall when he is ready to be sleeping for the night. All of what you said makes sense.

 

[noodles123]

My bird hated her play-stand at first, so don't give up. Make sure you keep it nearby before trying to get him to step on. Maybe a few days beforehand. When you do introduce it, I would introduce it in a place where he is very comfortable and do so within a familiar routine.

 

[wrench13]

5 days - he is prolly scared sh*tless still. Dont push things. Learn to expect things at his rate of acceptance or it will be 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. Relax - Buddy will be around 20-30 years with luck.

 

[sherylb]

He was singing today! Almost screaming when a song came on that he apparently liked. He’s starting to play with his toys and comes out of his cage and is getting closer to me while I work....he even stepped up on my finger on his own... well I held my finger up to him and said step up and he did....he wanted right back on the cage but it’s a start!!

 

[PetoftheDay]

Yes, patience, patience and more patience, and it will all be worth it in the years ahead!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Good for you for reaching out.
GREAT input above.
I'm glad youre here.
Indeed, 5 days is just a short moment... hang in there!

 

[sherylb]

He was doing great. He likes my office. I don't work today so he is out in living room and it's a lot bigger and he's being really quiet and cranky. Guess he has to get used to this room too. I see other new quakers that people bring home and they are ok to be in the shoulder of their person so I wonder if this one I have was not handled properly at the pet store . I also found out he's 12 weeks not 9. Breeder told me 9!and then later said the hatch date of may 9. Breeds also told me things not true about Quakers.... just wonder what she didn't tell me