Need advice

[africandreams]

I recently adopted a CAG who is 12 yrs old, sex unknown but assuming a male. The lady I got him from said she had him the whole 12 yrs and was going through a divorce and unable to keep him. I do have parrot experince, hand fed CAG from 4 wks and experience with a B&G. I am looking for advice on how to better bond with him and switch from seeds to pellets. I believe he has had some recent stress and dont want to worsen it. The lady I got him from said that her husband left 4 months ago and she just moved into that apartment 3 months ago. She feed him a seed diet and smoked heavily in the home. He was in a cage that was ok, but not my idea of big enough. She said he was a very loving bird and had only bitten her 2 times in 12 years and that it was since the move. She did seem a little scared to pick him up and get him in the carrier but she did, wich he did not like at all but did not bite her. He has been with me since last Tuesday and seems to be doing ok. He does tell me hello since the day I brought him home and a few other sounds. He has been taking treats from my hand since the day he came. He let me scratch his head 2 days ago then lifted his foot like he wanted to step up. I was very excited and held my hand down thinking he was ready but when I did he grabed my hand with his foot and bit me, not too hard but enough to break the skin. Any advice on why you think he did this? To trick me? Or just got scared? I have been covering his cage at night, dont think she did. I noticed Saturday that it looked like he had plucked out some of his feathers on his stomach. Sunday morning when I uncovered his cage his water bowl was full of feathers and his stomach is nothing but the down feathers. I did not notice him doing it during the day so thought maybe he didnt like his cage being covered. I did not cover his cage last night and there was not any plucked feathers this morning. Not sure if it was because I didnt cover or if it is because he only has the under feathers left. Any advice on what to do here? I have a vet appt this afternoon but I know I will have to towel him to get him in the carrier and wonder if it is too much stress to soon and I should wait to take him? Every time I reach in the cage and lightly scratch his head he lifts his foot like he wants to step up.....I must admit im a little concerned that he is just trying to trick me again. Its not that the bite he gave me hurt, its just I know his beak is pretty long (maybe needs a file) and he could do a lot worse if he wanted. I want to bond with him and he seems like he is doing well...just these few things worry me. Any advice??

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Definitely the vet check is important - they will likely have good input. But a few thoughts:

I highly doubt he is trying to 'trick' you by putting his foot up. He's probably not doing it to step up, maybe he's halfway reaching up to scratch himself (Auggie does this a lot when I'm scratching the 'right spot'). He could just be lifting his foot, birds do this quite often for many different reasons.

He's already on one foot, this is not a good time to ask him to step up - work on that when he is stable.


For changing the food there really isn't any magic to it: you just have to take away the seeds and offer the pellets. Generally it's good to transition over several days, mainly because most parrots will not eat something new until they have gotten used to seeing it around, then they'll just nibble a bit, then if they don't get sick they'll start eating it.

So mix his current seed with the new pellets so as to gradually transition (ie 25% pellet 75% seed for a day or two, then 50-50, then 75-25 ....)

You should try to make it gradual over several days (maybe a week) but at some point you just need to take the seeds away. It boggles my mind when I hear someone say they've been doing this sort of transition for a month or two and the bird still eats the seed. There should be no seed left to eat by that point.

I don't have experience with plucking, but with any luck it may have been a one time thing. There generally isn't much need for covering them at night. Some parrots like to be covered, but it seems he doesn't, so don't bother with it.


The biggest part of earning a parrots trust is time. Let him warm up to you on his terms. Get him on healthy food, in a healthy (smoke free) environment, with fresh water, etc.... Just providing these things and waiting often leads to a complete change in a birds temperament.

 

[Riley's mom]

Congratulations on your new arrival. It's going to take time for him to settle in and get used to his new surroundings and to you. He is going through the "honeymoon" time. Seeing how he can push your buttons and what you will allow. Like I said, time and lots of patience. He'll come around in time. Not to worry. You can always leave the cage door open and let him do his thing. As for covering the cage at night, he may be one of those birds that doesn't like to be covered and gets stressed over it. I don't cover any of mine at night. If I even try too, in the morning the covers are on the ground. Since you are going to the vet today, you probably will have to towel him. He will probably get mad, but will get over it. It is still a good idea to get him checked out. There is a fine line between "stressed out" and "mad". The two get mixed up quite a bit. I wouldn't take away seeds altogether. They do need some seed. Keep his seed like it is and add pellets to the mix. Did the previous owner give fresh fruits and veggies? If not, you can start introducing new fun foods for him. Have fun and Good luck.

 

[Spiritbird]

If your CAG was not used to a cover at night there is no reason to give him one now unless you have a drafty situation. It is a wonder he was not plucking feathers before coming from a smoking home. It sounds like you know what do and we are here to help you. Many of us grey people have gone through the same things. AD and RM gave very good suggestions. Send us some pics.

 

[Chaos_1.0]

The easiest way I found to covert a bird to pellets is to not remove the seed husks. It makes it so that when the bird goes to get a seed it may actually be a piece of pellet inside the part of a seed husk. After a time they get used to the taste of pellets and you can just put straight pellets in.

 

[antoinette]

AD and Riley's mom have given great advise, really nothing to add.
Give the bird time, lots of love and attention, and things will fall into place.
Be patient and preserver.
Keep us posted
Take care, and that of our feathered friends !!!!