Independent Play?

[KalJ]

I need some tips for helping teach a young parrot independent play. When I walk away Flash screams a lot and loses focus on whatever she was doing/playing. How do you teach them to keep playing even though you are out of the room? I switch out toys, I have increased foraging. I took her to my work yesterday and the vet thinks she's even starting to feather pick. What's going on?!?? Can she just be higher maintenance, am I doing something wrong?? Ahhhhhhh. Please help :'(

 

[KalJ]

The breeder clipped her wings before shipping her which i did NOT want done, can this still be linked to some frustration of not being able to fly? She's barbering her flight feathers that are growing back, she's pulled her tail feathers out. She's only 8 months old!!!!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

What type of bird is she? Also I would be angry and talking to that breeder! If they clipped the wings when you specifically said not to, and they agreed, I would be very unhappy.

It sounds like your bird may be over bonding to you. Do you work at a vet or did you actually take her to a certified avian vet? With self destruction it's very important to make sure it's not a health issue.

Are you able to post a a photo of the cage? And another of your bird?

 

[KalJ]

She's a white fronted amazon. Yes I talked to her extensively about the wings being clipped, very unhappy. I did a full blood panel exam on her when we first got her. It looked like she had picked at her vent a little when I first got her, but the other feathers looked great. I do work for an avian vet, I am a technician for her. She's great. She did a mouth swab this week to look for bacteria since one of the areas she's picking is over her crop. She also lent me the captive foraging DVD which I watched last night. I have been doing everything they recommend in it. Do I just need to be patient and give it more time? I will post pics. I was looking at getting a bigger cage, thinking maybe more room would help

 

[KalJ]

She also has an islandwood tree she plays on. She seems to get nervous easily with new situations. she will shake/tremble and yawn when overstimulated. She didn't know anything when I first got her. I have taught her to step up successfully. It took awhile because she was very fearful of my hand..

 

[BillsBirds]

I have had to teach a few of my rescues to play. One thing that I noticed about learning to play is that if a toy doesn't move, they'll lose interest faster. So, try hanging things with a length of cord, rope, or rawhide, so they will swing when the bird lets them go. The continued movement will stimulate them to continue playing. Also, balls with bells inside of them make noise that keeps their interest. Just keep trying with all kinds of toys. Since she might be picking herself, try preening toys like things with rope that can be unravelled and chewed on, as a possible distraction.

 

[KalJ]

Here's her in the cage. It has a play top as well that she will go on. You can see on the front where she's starting to over preen in one area

 

[BillsBirds]

Obviously, there are many swinging toys here! Nice set-up! Another idea is to use something simple, like a bead or big knot on a string. Drag it along the floor, and let her catch it. Hold it up and let her peck at it. She'll get the idea eventually.

 

[KalJ]

That's a great idea. I've tried showing her how to roll balls along the floor bc she LOVES wiffle balls and the balls with bells in them. Want to teach her basketball too lol.

 

[ivysaur]

I had some overbonding problems too. Basically i Just had to teach her to do her own thing and that she can't sit on me 24/7. I've been putting her on her cage and praising her when she plays or eats or sits quietly rather than screaming to be picked up. She's improved a lot

 

[Featheredsamurai]

You seem like a wonderful dedicated parront Also, hopefully you get a employee discount at the vet, I know we all wish we did lol.

Her picking doesn't look to bad, good thing you caught it early! A very good toy for feather destructing birds are different types of preening toys(avoid cotton preening toys). Planet pleasure toys like spiked piñata can be great at this, I love their toys. At the web site MySafeBirdStore - DISCOUNTED Bird Products - Safe & Healthy from a Bird Free Environment. they have a over pluckers/preeners toy section that is worth going through.

 

[jbail1026]

Beautiful cage! Beautiful Amazon!

 

[oled]

Normaly toy you can put food in and the perrot need to "work on the problem" use to be werry stimulating and they lear to have fun when we are not around

 

[KalJ]

It's not bad at all yet fortunetly. I hate that she started pulling all her tail feathers out and started barbering her flight feathers coming in. Why not cotton? Do you think she should be in a slightly bigger cage? Yes I get a discount thankfully. I just love working there so I get to see so many different species. It's great!!

 

[henpecked]

I love WFAs . Socialize,socialize,socialize, that's what you need. Take her every where and do everything you can with her. Sounds like you live alone , she needs to meet others. Set a goal for her to meet 2/3 new people per week. Get her a travel cage, put her in the car with you, take her out to check the mail box, the larger her world becomes the less needy she'll be. I bet she only plays with toys when you're right there, you'll always be the center of her universe, expand her horizons. With a baby amazon you have the rare chance to "get it right" and have the companion of a lifetime. You might not realize how dedicated that WFA could become to you, if you show the same and include her in all you do, the pay off is amazing.

 

[KalJ]

I have my boyfriend and my son who both live at home. She doesn't like it very much when people come over, but now she will step up for anyone who asks. I will work on taking her more places, she has a travel cage. It just has been so cold here... I hate taking her out bc of that..