Giggleagain
New member
A week ago yesterday I made a long drive to pick up the one African Grey that would complete my family. Coca was born in Africa, caught wild as a baby, sold to someone in Peru, where he lived for 20 years. His family moved to the US in 1985. Coca wears a US quarantine band.
Coca's owner died some 15 years ago and I've been told that he has not had any human interaction other than food and water since then. He was described as a pretty dangerous biter who dislikes women and hates hands. He's old, he bites, he doesn't like to be touched by women, prefers men, and doesn't ever leave his "home". I share all those traits with him, so we're a match made in heaven.
He was given to me in a rather small cage and I was told that's what he is used to. I shouldn't give him a larger cage because the change from the shelter to my home was already big enough, why add stress by giving him a larger cage. He only eats colored Zupreem pellets (do the makers of Zupreem own all shelters?) Hmmmm. So we drove for 4+ hours while sharing apples, pears, and a Micky D's cheeseburger. The closer I got to home, the smaller the cage in my car looked, and by the time I got to 2 miles of my house I just couldn't think of him living in it.
I'm blessed in that I have the greatest bird store very, very close to my house. 20 minutes later we arrived, at home, with small cage left at bird store and large cage in the car. Backing up into the driveway I let out a loud, relieved whistle. Coca copied it exactly. There was absolutely NO bad reaction to the larger cage. A very positive acceptance of the food change, he came out of his cage and went on top of it to his play area, proceeded to make sure I would never again know whether the beeping was the microwave or him, and the only problem we've had is that he won't step up, but fly off the cage to the floor, where I have to towel him to put him back in.
It doesn't matter to me if he never steps up. What matters is that he'll never have to move again. He loves my food, he loves verbal interaction, what more could I want? It's all good!! A BIG THANK YOU to (you know who you are) for encouraging me to adopt Coca. He thanks you too
Coca's owner died some 15 years ago and I've been told that he has not had any human interaction other than food and water since then. He was described as a pretty dangerous biter who dislikes women and hates hands. He's old, he bites, he doesn't like to be touched by women, prefers men, and doesn't ever leave his "home". I share all those traits with him, so we're a match made in heaven.
He was given to me in a rather small cage and I was told that's what he is used to. I shouldn't give him a larger cage because the change from the shelter to my home was already big enough, why add stress by giving him a larger cage. He only eats colored Zupreem pellets (do the makers of Zupreem own all shelters?) Hmmmm. So we drove for 4+ hours while sharing apples, pears, and a Micky D's cheeseburger. The closer I got to home, the smaller the cage in my car looked, and by the time I got to 2 miles of my house I just couldn't think of him living in it.
I'm blessed in that I have the greatest bird store very, very close to my house. 20 minutes later we arrived, at home, with small cage left at bird store and large cage in the car. Backing up into the driveway I let out a loud, relieved whistle. Coca copied it exactly. There was absolutely NO bad reaction to the larger cage. A very positive acceptance of the food change, he came out of his cage and went on top of it to his play area, proceeded to make sure I would never again know whether the beeping was the microwave or him, and the only problem we've had is that he won't step up, but fly off the cage to the floor, where I have to towel him to put him back in.
It doesn't matter to me if he never steps up. What matters is that he'll never have to move again. He loves my food, he loves verbal interaction, what more could I want? It's all good!! A BIG THANK YOU to (you know who you are) for encouraging me to adopt Coca. He thanks you too
- Cinnamon Cockatiel (1 y.o)
(17 y.o)
