Percys Thread!

[HannahandSunny]

Hello everyone!
So I bought Percy home just over a week ago and all is going well. He is still quite fearful of me but I haven’t bothered him too much yet apart from to feed and water him. I practice going up to the cage and saying hello and if he stays put I say ‘good boy Percy’ and do a certain whistle and step back, if he fly’s about I just wait until he stops and then I talk and step back so he learns that staying calm is the easiest thing to do. Hopefully it will catch on! Sometimes he’s not too bothered by my presence and just watches what I’m doing. He hisses when I come to close. But he’ll slowly get there! Looks like Victoria is shutting down this week, meaning I won’t be going to work for sometime. So the upside to that is I can take the time on getting to know Percy

Percy won’t eat ANY fruit or veg. I’ve tried, Apple, Banana, Kiwi, strawberries cucumber, celery, carrot, broccoli, kale and capsicum and he won’t touch any of it. I’ve also tried soaked oats which he didn’t try. Any tips or advice?
Also he gets quite upset when I put the blanket over his cage at night and when I take it off. Shall I just carry on and he will get use to it soon enough?

I’d love him to eat some fruit and veg more than anything at the moment!

Here he is looking very alert but very cute

 

[fiddlejen]

Aaaaww! He looks like he’s planning to be in charge of Everything, once He has You properly trained.

(I don’t think a nighttime cover is required if your bird doesn’t want it. My Sunny Conure demands complete darkness to sleep. But my Jefferson refuses to be covered. So I just lay a folded blanket barely atop the Budgies’ cage. Just an edge hangs over so they can avoid the light if they want to. Calliope usually sleeps under the overhang. But Jefferson insists on sleeping UnCovered, with full view of the whole room.)

 

[Flboy]

Hi! Cage cover? Meh! Not needed, follow his lead!
My thoughts on when he is in panic mode because you are near his cage. Remember, panic is an emotion that is overwhelming and causes strong imprinting! Under those times, you may want to respect his desire for social distancing!

 

[SailBoat]

Hi! Cage cover? Meh! Not needed, follow his lead!
My thoughts on when he is in panic mode because you are near his cage. Remember, panic is an emotion that is overwhelming and causes strong imprinting! Under those times, you may want to respect his desire for social distancing!

What a great use of this 'NEW' term (social distancing)!!! Thank You for the moment!!!


More importantly, your going to have to create a comfort level regarding the Mobile Phone Camera. Consider rewarding your Tiel with each photo taken! Also, it will increase the likelihood you will have a photo hog more quickly...

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Percy's "hat" is high! On alert!



Jim

 

[Scott]

Simply gorgeous bird!!

As for food, have you tried making 2 bowls of "chop," one each for Percy and you? Give him one, begin eating from yours. Make "Mmmmm" sounds, bob your head to show excitement. You are one of his flock!

 

[wrench13]

Distance from cage. You can try sitting in a chair as close as you can until he hisses or gets nervous; move the chair back 1 foot. Next day try a foot closer, maybe 2 days. THe thing is to gradually move in closer. Helps if your calm, and talking gently to him. You can read the "I love Amazons" thread to him ( and yourself) tons of great info applicable to all speciesof parrots.

Food- keep trying. Mix with his regular food so he has to root around in the veggies. Try different styles of presentation - chunky, big, finely chopped. And the aforesaid eating them yourself. Patience duckie, patience. He aint gonna be like Sunny, Percy''s his own bird.

But if anyone can do this its you Hannah.

 

[Inger]

OMG he is the cutest i *love* him!

He’ll eat good stuff eventually. You’ve already received good advice above. I’ll second the ear it with them thing. Bumble came to me a superb eater, but when she tries something new I often have to take a bite first.

This also works with toys haha! She stares at it. I say GRRRR and pretend to bite it. She bites it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

Hello everyone!
So I bought Percy home just over a week ago and all is going well. He is still quite fearful of me but I haven’t bothered him too much yet apart from to feed and water him. I practice going up to the cage and saying hello and if he stays put I say ‘good boy Percy’ and do a certain whistle and step back, if he fly’s about I just wait until he stops and then I talk and step back so he learns that staying calm is the easiest thing to do. Hopefully it will catch on! Sometimes he’s not too bothered by my presence and just watches what I’m doing. He hisses when I come to close. But he’ll slowly get there! Looks like Victoria is shutting down this week, meaning I won’t be going to work for sometime. So the upside to that is I can take the time on getting to know Percy

Percy won’t eat ANY fruit or veg. I’ve tried, Apple, Banana, Kiwi, strawberries cucumber, celery, carrot, broccoli, kale and capsicum and he won’t touch any of it. I’ve also tried soaked oats which he didn’t try. Any tips or advice?
Also he gets quite upset when I put the blanket over his cage at night and when I take it off. Shall I just carry on and he will get use to it soon enough?

I’d love him to eat some fruit and veg more than anything at the moment!

Here he is looking very alert but very cute

You take the most amazing photographs! You always let your subjects personality shine through.

Also his right nostril is red, and looks like he has been scratching it. Something to keep an eye on.

Veggs in a shallow dish spread out. Play with in front if him, sbdvest them in front if him, sprinkle a few seed around the vegg.

 

[HannahandSunny]

Thank you for all the advice everyone.

I rushed my post last night as I was getting sleepy. He doesn’t get too panicky when I approach, most of the time He just stays on his perch. It’s just every now and then like when I haven’t been in the room for a while or first thing in the morning that it worries him the most. I often have to go in the cupboard below his cage which he doesn’t mind, he just watches me. And he’s pretty good about me putting my hand in and changing his food.

So do you think it’s okay not to cover at night? My only worry is that he is in our main room so the TV is opposite so it can be bright and noisy (my partner likes it on quite loud..if we’re up to me I wouldn’t even have a TV lol!).
Also my partner gets up at 5am for work and has to turn the lights on so Without a cover on Percy will it not disturb his sleep?

 

[Laurasea]

I don't cover any of my cages, we are in one great room, but I do keep tvband light low. Once it's bed time I don't btskk to them or visit cage.

 

[HannahandSunny]

Hi! Cage cover? Meh! Not needed, follow his lead!
My thoughts on when he is in panic mode because you are near his cage. Remember, panic is an emotion that is overwhelming and causes strong imprinting! Under those times, you may want to respect his desire for social distancing!

What a great use of this 'NEW' term (social distancing)!!! Thank You for the moment!!!


More importantly, your going to have to create a comfort level regarding the Mobile Phone Camera. Consider rewarding your Tiel with each photo taken! Also, it will increase the likelihood you will have a photo hog more quickly...

Don’t worry I haven’t been in his face taking lots of photos, I’ve only got a total of about 8 photos of him. I used my camera with a long lense yesterday. I Always tell him good boy and do ‘the whistle‘ once I’ve taken it and then I move away. There isn’t much else I can reward him with yet unfortunately as he hates everything haha!

 

[HannahandSunny]

I don't cover any of my cages, we are in one great room, but I do keep tvband light low. Once it's bed time I don't btskk to them or visit cage.

Good to know! Thank you I may consider not covering him from now on as I hate to upset him putting the blanket over every night

 

[HannahandSunny]

Hi everyone!
Percy is still petrified of me, each day I practice going up to his cage and telling him good and whistling the same tune and then leaving him alone. And a few times a day I rest my arm inside his cage for a minute and then take it out.

Today I decided that everytime I want to do mindless scrolling or doing anything on my phone I’m going to go and do it next to Percy, talking to him every minute or so. Just to get him more comfortable with my presence.

I’ve also made a batch of chop up.. so far he only will eat the sprouted beans/seeds none of the veggies. But I will give it him everyday until he finally gives it a go!

 

[T00tsyd]

Syd was on a seed diet when I got him and for several weeks I despaired of getting him to change. I used to watch in concern while he determinedly threw food at me. Then one day I walked out of the room but watched through a crack in the door. Lo and behold he looked for me, saw I was gone and launched into the veg. I'm certain he simply didn't want me to know. LOL.

 

[Flboy]

That is great progress! He’s staying on the same side of the cage where you are!
The hanging out reading is a great strategy!

 

[Scott]

I cannot imagine Percy being afraid of you! Your aura has got to be one of "bird lover."

Keep doing what you're doing and be patient. Reward every baby step with a special treat.

 

[ParrotGenie]

My male u2 was stubborn eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as previous owner had him mostly on sunflower seeds and people food, so when I made chop I grinded it it down and mix it with some white rice as is his favorite, so he couldn't pick at it and toss the rest out and he started eating it, next day he eat it without having to grind it down whole and now he demands it pretty much. I even got him to eat the good brown pellets he use to toss everywhere.

I don't use cage covers anymore, they just end up pulling the cover in the cage and shredding the cover anyways. Millet works best when bribing a cockatiel, plus would leave the cage door open, so he can come out and explore, he be more willing to step up when away from his cage.

 

[HannahandSunny]

My male u2 was stubborn eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as previous owner had him mostly on sunflower seeds and people food, so when I made chop I grinded it it down and mix it with some white rice as is his favorite, so he couldn't pick at it and toss the rest out and he started eating it, next day he eat it without having to grind it down whole and now he demands it pretty much. I even got him to eat the good brown pellets he use to toss everywhere.

I don't use cage covers anymore, they just end up pulling the cover in the cage and shredding the cover anyways. Millet works best when bribing a cockatiel, plus would leave the cage door open, so he can come out and explore, he be more willing to step up when away from his cage.

Thanks for your advice.
I’m thinking that it would be unsafe to let him out his cage at this stage, while he still won’t go anywhere near me? I recon he’d panic fly into the walls and everything. He is nowhere near teaching to step up.
And unfortunately he isn’t that fussed about millet either! Fussy little birdy!

 

[T00tsyd]

There must be something that floats his boat. Instead of a separate dish of food you would like him to try, have you thought of putting a very little bit chopped really small mixed in with what he will accept so he tries it by mistake? It might be the look of it in a separate container that is strange putting him off. I would also sit as near as possible with a similar bowl and eat in front of him making really stupid noises of enjoyment as you do. I am a horrible mum too so I would have my bowl while he doesn't have one! There's nothing quite like a bit of envy/curiosity to prompt acceptable behaviour!
My daughter is weening her baby (the human kind) at present and she is just like her mum. She hides a new flavour in something he already knows and so far it works, but then he hasn't learned to say no, run or throw it at her yet! LOL