KC-DYH Officially My Girl

[Peachypink]

I thought I would just go ahead and start a thread for KC. Some of you already know the story. It's been a crazy month or so and I am so surprised at the way everything tuned out. I will link the other thread with the whole story at the bottom of this post for those who don't know.

Let me introduce KC....she is a DYH, about 20-25 years old. Her sweet mama got parkinsons and was unable to care for her anymore. She had been at the rescue since November, so thankfully not too long. Long enough for one of the other amazons to pick on her and pull her tail feathers though. Poor Girl. I have had her since Thursday evening(now Sunday) and she is settling in very well. She has been super quiet so far. Just calling a few times, says "Hello" in the mornings, mumbles a little and thats about it for now. She is eating fairly well and takes treats easily from my hand. She does respond to me when I talk to her and makes a little cooing noise. As I sit here and write this, she is in her cage next to me and for the first time I have opened the door and have a play stand for her to come out to and just waiting for her to feel comfortable to come out.

I will admit that I was concerned when the rescue owner told me she didn't like men or kids and that was part of what had me switching focus to Zuni(see attached post). I have 2 boys 15 and 12 and all I could picture was her attacking them when they would come around her. I decided I was being ridiculous and I am embarrassed that I let that into my head. But as you will read in the other thread, it all worked out as it was supposed to! And so far, she is totally fine when my husband or the kids come and talk to her. I am committed to training and working on building her trust and giving her a happy home to live the rest of her life in.

I look forward to learning from all of you!

Here are a few pictures of her coming home and today, along with the link to the other threads(if anyone would like to read them.....

http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/88679-possible-adoption-happening-new-forum.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/88843-welcome-my-zuni-girl.html

 

[Ellie777Australia]

Welcome to your forever home KC. Lovely pics Peachypink.

 

[saxguy64]

YAY! Welcome home pretty girl Excited for her story as it unfolds!

 

[LaManuka]

Lovely pics Peachy, but let's face it, you can't go wrong when the subject is so beautiful. Welcome home KC!

 

[Laurasea]

So you have both now?

 

[Peachypink]

So you have both now?

No. My Dad stole Zuni from me. But it was the perfect fit! I’m sad and going to
Miss her so much but I’m thrilled I get to watch her and visit with her whenever I want.

 

[Ira7]

He’s a beauty!!!

 

[SailBoat]

She is truly a beauty!

And, I'm so very happy that she has settled in so very well!
Clearly your home has provided her with a comfort that a rescue can rarely provide.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Amazons!

 

[Peachypink]

Thought I'd come on and give a little update now that KC has been with me for almost 2 weeks.

She is doing so well!! I have her in my office since I am in here so much and her cage is right next to my desk. I have a play gym that I put next to her cage and have the top drop down door open whenever I'm in here. It took her about a week before she would come out of the cage. Now she comes out and either sits in the opening or gets on top. She frequently comes down the side(my side) to ask for a treat. I had to move the containers because she was asking a little too often. lol. She is vocalizing SO much now and I love it! Some things I can tell what she is saying, sometimes I have no idea what she is trying to say. But i'm loving all of it. We go back and forth with some of her favorite noises like the Amazon purr and a little growl noise she makes and kisses. I have been reading everything I am working on out loud to her. It's working well because she is totally silent in the mornings when the boys are up and making all kinds of noise but, the minute she hears my voice when I get up, she starts calling for me and saying "Hello" and "Hi". So I fix her breakfast and go in the room, as soon as she sees me, she shakes all her feathers and starts talking to me with almost everything she knows.

She is still leery of me touching her or stepping up but she does let me rub her beak with one finger. I'm just being patient with that. Building trust and waiting on her lead. She has no problem taking treats from my hand or getting close, she just backs off when I try anything else.

And today she finally walked out onto the play gym! So we are making progress! Not bad for 2 weeks.

 

[Scott]

Lovely story, thanks for linking your prior threads for complete narrative! Sometimes things work out for the best; your dad has Zuni, you have KC. She's gorgeous, beginning to open up and trust!!

 

[SailBoat]

A whole hearted Congratulations!

DYH Amazons are very intelligent Parrots and consider their actions and activities. As a result, they commonly measure things with Time! Another way of saying it! Everything is at their pace and pushing them beyond it will result in a serious bite. Not because they dislike you, but you pushed a boundary that they had not agreed to open.

Touching is one of those areas that require consent.

With a mire two+ weeks into this relationship, you are doing extremely well. With time, she will allow you ever more touching. Just remember to proceed at her rate.

Again, congratulations!

 

[Peachypink]

Lovely story, thanks for linking your prior threads for complete narrative! Sometimes things work out for the best; your dad has Zuni, you have KC. She's gorgeous, beginning to open up and trust!!

Thank you! It was such a crazy story I wanted people to be able to follow it. It's so funny how much I miss my little Zuni even though I didn't have her very long but I am so glad it worked out the way it did. She and Dad were supposed to be together and he is so cute about her.

 

[Peachypink]

A whole hearted Congratulations!

DYH Amazons are very intelligent Parrots and consider their actions and activities. As a result, they commonly measure things with Time! Another way of saying it! Everything is at their pace and pushing them beyond it will result in a serious bite. Not because they dislike you, but you pushed a boundary that they had not agreed to open.

Touching is one of those areas that require consent.

With a mire two+ weeks into this relationship, you are doing extremely well. With time, she will allow you ever more touching. Just remember to proceed at her rate.

Again, congratulations!

Thank you! I'm really loving how it is all paying out. I'm thankful that I had big bird experience in my past so I have at least a little knowledge to start with. Your pinned threads have been so so valuable too!

I do have a question, if anyone has suggestions, on how I get her to start being ok with the men(my husband and 2 boys) in the house? My husband just opened the door to talk to me for a minute and KC was on the play gym. She definitely showed she was uncomfortable with it as she raised her "shoulders" and stood very cautiously until he left. I am trying to teach them about her body language and not to just burst in the door(they are listening and honoring that). And so far, I am getting them to give her treats when she is in her cage so she sees that they are good to have around too. At some point I will have play gyms throughout the house so when she is comfortable she can start just being where we are if I'm not in the office. I want to be able to get her to the point that she is ok with them walking around her when she is out on them. I mean, they live here too so I don't want them to feel like they can't live or move around the house. What is the best way to do that?

 

[noodles123]

If she is food motivated, you could have your husband say a key phrase, like "coming in" (loudly) and as soon as he does, give the bird the treat (assuming the bird is not afraid of you currently, otherwise, you might just set it in the bowl).


Husband should say something (same thing each time) before entering and then you should reward the parrot for being gentle or something--heck, you could even just say "hi ____ (insert husband's name) and give treat to bird saying, "good girl" or "good gentle" whatever.. Initially, maybe he only pops his head in after saying the phrase-- then maybe he comes in for a second. That time needs to grow longer over time. Have him stay in the room and read or do something benign over time to get your bird more comfortable with him. Then have him start giving the treats once he is no longer viewed as a threat.


Make sure you are still attentive to your bird when he is around or it can start to feel like he is taking attention from your bird, and that can make things more complicated. It's a fact of life that they do have to learn to share, but it's best to take it easy initially. You bird will pick up on it if your husband only comes in to tell you urgent things that stress you out etc, so make it a point to have him come in even if he has nothing to say.


If at all possible, your bird should be in the most social room of your home.

 

[Peachypink]

She's letting me pet her head and neck!!! It started a few days ago with letting me rub her cheek but only while she was in the cage. She would tilt her head and lean on the bars basically giving me her cheek to scritch. And now, as of today, she is letting me full on rub her head and neck while she is out of the cage! This makes me so happy!!!

 

[saxguy64]

Oh WOW! What a wonderful development! Trust from an amazon is a beautiful thing, and certainly there's more to come. Careful, you might have just created a monster- the snuggly kind. Lol! Sounds like we're due for some more pictures. (Hint, hint...)

I'm blessed to share my home with arguably the snuggliest amazon on the planet, in my in own opinion, of course. It's amazing!

 

[Ira7]

The best! That guy is beautiful!

I say 2 weeks more...stepping up!

And boy, will you be thrilled then! And sorry!

 

[SailBoat]

As noted by noodles, it becomes important to create a positive response when the odd person out is around. Whether they get to place a treat, or you place it at first, at the end of the day; Only Good Thing Happen When They Are Around!

Slow and steady and before long everyone has some kind of relationship with her!

 

[Peachypink]

Thank you Noodles and Sailboat for the suggestions! I have been bringing her cage into the living room during the evenings and weekends when I’m not in my office so she can be around everyone. The boys and my husband have been giving her treats and talking to her. I’ve seen some great progress just from doing that. She doesn’t react when they walk by anymore. Yay! And I will be going out of town with the boys next week for a few days so the plan is for my husband to work from the table instead of his “office” space in the garage(he’s been working from home since the beginning of the lockdown last March). That way, she will be listening to him on all of his zoom calls throughout the days I’m gone and start learning his voice too. Slow and steady but we’re getting there!!

 

[Peachypink]

Pictures!!!!

Here she is shimmying up the back of her cage....so funny!

The first time she came out on her play gym....

Messy but cute eater....