@ henpecked - I understand, I just didn't know what you are asking for
(sorry if I seemed abrupt, I was typing on my cell phone). And you know, that may be right, he is kinda stubborn as far as his veggies! haha. His favorite is peanut butter and nutiberries. As for a perch, yes we have one that we try for him to step up, but he freaks him out, and he usually flies around the room rather than try to step up, or if he does step up he will get off quickly. I have taken him away from his cage, but he will not act calm in another room. He will sit on my shoulder when away from his cage, but I don't trust him quite yet, even though he seems to be a very sweet guy. in view of his cage he flies toward it every time. I have looked through the forums, and that is helped a lot also.
@654timtams - he loves eating peanut butter from my finger, and will take just about any food from me, but if I move a hand that doesn't have food he runs (or flies) away. He comes to the cage door (from the top of his cage) and comes close to me when I call, and I think that is good progress. I just have to get it in his head that he doesn't have to fear my hands.
@Flboy - thanks! I sure hope so
@Notdumasilook - yes I have tried taking him into another room, he just seems like it makes him fearful, so I have stopped that for now. His cage is the only place he is calm so I am working around his calm space. No, his eyes are normal, not pinpointed and his tail feathers are normal. I know the behavior you are talking about, and when he does that I leave him alone. This is more like he wants to play or cuddle (and after he will cuddle up to his cage cover or rope perch, and preen his head with his foot). He makes a noise when he does this,( I tell him he sounds like a softly clucking chicken) and I believe it is a happy content noise, so making it when he is close to me I think is a good thing. I know full well how cockatoos bite! I still have scars from Popcorn, a umbrella I loved for about 5 years while his family adjusted to a new baby and the wife passing.
Davy seems to respond to me very well, my voice will calm him if he is agitated and the fact that he willing comes near me with or without a treat I hope is a good sign. I also hope that he and I will bond and he will be my bird.
A little more history about me, I have loved cockatiels, Indian ring neck, umbrella, blue and gold and a Muluccan. All my birds where hand raised and *mostly* tame, and I have helped hand feed babies. Davy is my first 'Zon and my first not so tame bird. My blue and gold and first umbrella was killed by my condo HOA sprayed for termites without telling me or getting my permission. My Muluccan I adopted when she was young, and when she hit about a year and a half suddenly couldn't stand me (as in knocking her head on the cage when I even came close). It seemed to happen overnight. I thought it might have been my pregnancy? I spent 9 months trying to re-tame her to me, but she never would willingly come to me and I ended up having to find her another home. To this day she hates women and will only let men hold her. So I am trying not to push Davy to hard, but I so want to have that human birdy connection again.
