Inherited Stanley; The family Parrot

[Birdjoy]

Hi all! Thank you first for reading this and hopefully giving excellent feedback.

My best friend and I have just inherited her life long family Parrot, Stanley. He had been housed with their grandmother which neglected him, screamed at him, and threw cups of water on him, for over a 15 year time span.

Stanley is 38 years old and my friends Mother was the original owner. She raised him from 3 months old, reared him up and he was a happy, well adapted bird. However her husband (my friends Father) had become gravely ill, and then passed away. In that time, Stanley was forced out of his home and housed with the grandmother.

4 months ago, we adopted Stanley.

Since he has been abused and neglected for so long, I wonder if he will ever recover from the drama.

Since being here, it has been a very slow progression. But I am seeing improvements. My question is will he ever be able to trust humans again??

And if so, is there anything that I can do to help him along the way?

Stanley is a double yellow headed amazon. He speaks a lot, is saying new words and sings. However he gets nervous to the point where he shakes when anyone walks by his cage.

My GC Conure is a little upset that he has come into the home. What can I do to make this a happy home for both of them?

Thank you again in advance for your time and knowledge!

Birdjoy

 

[Birdman666]

YES!

Amazons are Hardy. They take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

They bounce back with proper care, training, and interaction.

I've done this several times. My red lored amazon was an abused bird, that was one of the worst biters we ever had down at the rescue. This is the same bird that now curls up into a ball on my shoulder and uses my cheek for a pillow. (It took four months of fairly intense behavior mods to get her that way...)

You establish a new routine with them. They get handled regularly, and re-socialized. They get outside the cage time. They get good food and regular baths. They get toys to play with. They get the feeling of being loved...

Life is good again, and they respond to that...

My oldest zon is now 43, and we were the FIFTH home for that bird. She was wild caught. Multiple rehome. Multiple neglect. God only knows what she's been through. Didn't even start working with that one until she was around 35. So, absolutely, the answer is YES!

 

[Birdjoy]

Thank you Birdman666!!!!

That is incredibly great to hear!!

So, we are doing all of the above, except for handling time.

Last time I tried, I thought I was losing my index finger. The scary thing was he gave no warning. He acted like he wanted to step up and without warning, he clamped onto my finger.

We've tried gloves, branches to have him step up on and he hisses and screams at them. Any suggestions?

 

[Birdman666]

1. This is amazon breeding season. And I am assuming he's cage bound. So probably not the best time to start working with him...

2. Wing clipping. With a NOT TAME zon, this is not optional in my opinion. Wings grow out, once he's tame you can keep him flighted. YOU DON'T WANT HIM UNEXPECTEDLY LAUNCHING AT YOUR FACE WITH INTENT TO MAIM... They do that sometimes. Especially this time of year.

3. A closed bent fist gives him less to latch onto... don't expose your fingers.

4. Go to page 7 of the "Excitement" thread. You'll see us working with a cage bound "savage biting" female eckie... SEE HOW THE TOWEL IS WRAPPED AROUND THE STEP UP ARM. GUESS WHAT? IF THE BIRD BITES, HE GETS A BEAK FULL OF TOWEL. IT DOESN'T HURT YOU...

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/53118-excitement.html

Make him step up on the towel arm. Two fingers on the top of the beak keeps the bird from biting, or pushes the beak away before he can latch on.

Do basic step up/step down, and no bite exercises. Make him stay on your forearm.

5. Cage Bound/Cage territorial birds get worked with in a room away from the cage. (Away from the cage there is no "nest" to defend. They become less attacky.)

6. If he will accept stick handling in and around the cage, that is also a handy thing to have with an aggressive DYH.

 

[Birdjoy]

Thank you again! You are amazing!

 

[Birdman666]

My GC Conure is a little upset that he has come into the home. What can I do to make this a happy home for both of them?

I missed this part in my earlier answer.

1. The GCC needs to be reassured that he is not being "displaced" by the new bird. His position in the flock, his person, and his home is secure. Continue paying attention to him, and always handle him first.

2. The GCC also has to learn that the DYH even though he is a big, aggressive territorial species who now appears to be claiming the GCC's territory, and has the ability to maim him rather effortlessly... (LOOKING AT IT FROM THE SMALLER BIRD'S PERSPECTIVE.) New bird comes in and takes over... in the wild that's how it works. Move out, learn to put up with me, or die. It's my nest now... (STRESSED?! YEAH, SLIGHTLY...)

This is essentially done by making sure that any time they are out together, one is not permitted to attack the other, physically demonstrating to BOTH birds that BIG BIRD (i.e. YOU!) isn't going to permit arguments, or physical aggression. LISTEN UP BIRDS! ACTUALLY, THIS IS MY TERRITORY... AND I DICTATE FLOCK ETTIQUITE AROUND HERE...

 

[Birdjoy]

I have printed out your responses and put them on my desk (as to see them daily) for a quick reference to both subjects! Again, I can not thank you enough!

 

[Mariar]

My yellow nape was abused before we got him and I'm serious when I say this it took less than 3 months to earn his trust..just have faith in him show him love and attention. I let mine just do his own thing at 22 he wasn't fond of a human arm step up but did great with a stick and next thing we knew he was climbing on the couch and sitting on our laps...what awesome birds....good luck