Roo coming home today

[plumsmum2005]

Hey PM,

More my concern is that everyone is being a bit "hands off" right now as we did not want to trigger aggressive mating behaviours.

Meanwhile, we may have a very afraid bird who is looking for affection and contact, and who was raised with (originally) and needs this contact to make her feel safe and reassured. In fact, we could possibly have been providing her with more love and assurance to make her feel safe in her new home, but have instead been withholding it, making her transition more difficult.

Makes sense wouldnt you be in her shoes??
Key is to use Nurturing Guidance Principles and not build bad behaviours.
She's prob a fair bit confused.

I have kinda swept up a friends too in my arms as not sure re hands would be ok and she reacted great. She could be a bit temperamental at times.

Would love to give Roo a cuddle she's lovely.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Well, things have slid downhill rather rapidly this evening, and it is very unfortunate.

Everything started good - apparently Roo was a pleasant companion to my wife and girls today; not overly needy but also very "neutral".

So then I come home and she scrambles down the cage to see me, making sweet noises, and wanting scritches (and to pull my buttons off my dress shirt, lol). I then stop patting her and she scrambles back to the top of her cage, and she begins screaming, and I mean full-throated gut-wrenching screams. She also is stomping her little foot on her cage - comical if it wasn't so angry.

I leave to get changed out of my work clothes (her screaming and stomping all the time), though she finally settles down. Then she silently lurches across her cage to try and attack daughter #1 who was just standing there.

Oooh, not good.

Then she climbs to the side of the cage, scales down, and attempts to bite daughter #2 sitting on a nearby chair. Then she hisses at me in anger, as if I am supposed to help her bite the girls.

Oooh, also not good.

This was followed by an attack on a light switch, a trip to the floor and attack on a baseboard, some random hissing at dogs, followed by one full hour of stomping around on top of her cage, crest flaring up and down, and looking generally pissed off. She also destroyed some straps holding a toy to her cage, and when the toy fell down, she got mad at it too.

And of course she had to lunge and hiss at my wife who was offering her a treat at one point, even though they had been in pleasant cohabitation all day. Pretty much I was the only person who get near her this evening without being attacked, and finally bribed her into her cage with almonds.

This was a scary day, as you could see she had intent to attack, with (in my eyes) no provocation whatsoever. It was as if once I came home she hated everyone else, and was intent on delivering damage to anyone other than me.

It was also scary in that her mood swings were violent and unpredictable. "Please, please scritch me" turned rather rapidly into "I hate you! Bite!" "I love your company" turned into "Daddy's home! You should all die!"

What was finally scary was that once she decided that she wanted to attack the baseboard, or stay on her cage, or do whatever she wanted, we had zero control over the situation. As someone who used to breed and show dogs I've seen the look of powerlessness on an owner's face once they realized they did not have control of their dog, and something bad was going to happen.

I'm pretty sure I had that look on my face this evening.

Not a good evening.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Well, things have slid downhill rather rapidly this evening, and it is very unfortunate.

Everything started good - apparently Roo was a pleasant companion to my wife and girls today; not overly needy but also very "neutral".

So then I come home and she scrambles down the cage to see me, making sweet noises, and wanting scritches (and to pull my buttons off my dress shirt, lol). I then stop patting her and she scrambles back to the top of her cage, and she begins screaming, and I mean full-throated gut-wrenching screams. She also is stomping her little foot on her cage - comical if it wasn't so angry.

I leave to get changed out of my work clothes (her screaming and stomping all the time), though she finally settles down. Then she silently lurches across her cage to try and attack daughter #1 who was just standing there.

Oooh, not good.

Then she climbs to the side of the cage, scales down, and attempts to bite daughter #2 sitting on a nearby chair. Then she hisses at me in anger, as if I am supposed to help her bite the girls.

Oooh, also not good.

This was followed by an attack on a light switch, a trip to the floor and attack on a baseboard, some random hissing at dogs, followed by one full hour of stomping around on top of her cage, crest flaring up and down, and looking generally pissed off. She also destroyed some straps holding a toy to her cage, and when the toy fell down, she got mad at it too.

And of course she had to lunge and hiss at my wife who was offering her a treat at one point, even though they had been in pleasant cohabitation all day. Pretty much I was the only person who get near her this evening without being attacked, and finally bribed her into her cage with almonds.

This was a scary day, as you could see she had intent to attack, with (in my eyes) no provocation whatsoever. It was as if once I came home she hated everyone else, and was intent on delivering damage to anyone other than me.

It was also scary in that her mood swings were violent and unpredictable. "Please, please scritch me" turned rather rapidly into "I hate you! Bite!" "I love your company" turned into "Daddy's home! You should all die!"

What was finally scary was that once she decided that she wanted to attack the baseboard, or stay on her cage, or do whatever she wanted, we had zero control over the situation. As someone who used to breed and show dogs I've seen the look of powerlessness on an owner's face once they realized they did not have control of their dog, and something bad was going to happen.

I'm pretty sure I had that look on my face this evening.

Not a good evening.

Oh dear! Well Roo's chosen you by the looks of things. Are you aware that you reinforced the bad behaviour with the almonds? I know desperate measures but just to say. It is important not to show anger and punish through drama. Each step taken has to be a trust building step. I would make her stay in her cage til you get home and with an empty room or family right up other end see how she behaves. Talk to her ask her to be nice, all soothing tones, no fear, no panic and have a thick towel to hand as this can save an injury to her and you. If you have to use this talk to her calmly whilst carrying her back to her cage.

This may have been her vent so to speak time will tell.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks PM,

We're having a difficult time identifying the whole "choice" thing here, as I've spent the least time with her, we've generally let everyone but me feed her (almonds notwithstanding), and she displayed no dominant male preference at the rescue. As per her foster Mom, Roo was fairly ambivalent between her and the male in the house, and did not ever (yes, ever) show aggression.

Well, today is another day, and as much as it pains me (Roo is nervous/terrified) the towel may have to come into play if we have a repeat of last night's behaviour.

 

[plumsmum2005]

A lot of it is how its used. A bird will freeze when put into the dark, how you react when you have her like that will be a big part of it. If it saves harm to anyone then its necessary. Vets have to use them. BTW I have on occasions worn a towel round my neck as a necessary item from flying beak attacks from both my RB2 and the young (holiday) RB2. Neither do it to me now. The RBs's hol mummy said he was still not keen on towels but he was fine with me picking him up like that calm as you like and wanting a kiss ha ha.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh wow, Scott! What a terrible evening that had to have been - for ALL of you! :11:

I don't know, but I feel Roo is still settling in, trying to figure out how to fit in.

She certainly had a lengthy temper tantrum.

Here's to hoping that today will be MUCH better!!

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

You know, if only they could tell us what their life was like before they came to us. There is a reason (s) she is acting how she is (maybe the bird hoarder would visit her then leave her for days at a time causing anxiety) but we'll never know.

Oh well, let's hope today is a better day.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Stay in the here and now, it's easy to get bogged down with all that before stuff.

You'll figure it I'm sure, just dont reinforce negatives and that's a good start.

A lady has the option of changing her mind re the choice thing, and she may get better in time.

 

[Scott]

You know, if only they could tell us what their life was like before they came to us. There is a reason (s) she is acting how she is (maybe the bird hoarder would visit her then leave her for days at a time causing anxiety) but we'll never know.

Oh well, let's hope today is a better day.

Sorry you experienced a full dosage of Too venom delivered in dramatic fashion. Your insight into her background is prescient as whatever horrors Roo suffered are likely being reprocessed in the face of a radically new (and better) environment. We just don't know enough about the avian mind to fully understand how their keen powers of observation and rampant emotions can be successfully harnessed. But we do know they react much like small children, so a mix of steady and consistent love and discipline will hopefully mellow her worst tendencies. Good luck, and know similar events have been experienced by many here!! You can be sure the honeymoon has ended and the fun times have arrived!!

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Well, report from my wife has been positive today, though she's made a point of minimizing Roo/dog contact.

Apparently Roo's been a good girl today, and wanted everyone to scritch her. When daughter #2 came home from school, she left her cage to visit her on a chair for some pats. Apparently no pinching or biting going on right now. When she went to chew a casing and was told no, she went to the top of her cage where she is presently sleeping. So it seems the day has been much calmer.

Hopefully my presence at home does not set poor Ms. Roo off again.....

Oh yes, and her blood work was all normal, no diseases, and her fecal was good, no parasites. So despite everything, at least we have a healthy bird right now.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

So we're trying to isolate what is driving Roo to be aggressive so far, and it certainly isn't being out of her cage. Spending time out of her cage appears to be her favorite thing to do right now.

However, it's been an instructive evening. When I came home, my wife deliberately left her in her cage, and we waited for her to settle down before we let her out. Well did we have pogo-stick-head, and screaming! Mind you, only about 5 minutes worth of screaming, but wow, she can be loud! Interestingly enough, my wife had noted all day that she had a calm, non-screaming, non-excited bird.

After she had settled down about 10 minutes after screaming, I opened the cage for her, and Miss lovey-dovey came charging out. She received her requisite scritch, then proceeded to go after my wife, who she was sweet to all day before I got home.

To get her to settle down, we had her join me on my armchair, where she proceeded to give me the stink eye while attacking a towel on the arm. Yup, we went from 2 minutes of lovey-scritchy followed by "I can't tolerate anyone". Also opened her beak to daughter #2 who was sitting three feet away from her, and hissed at wife when she moved within three feet as well.

She was moving in a slow, deliberate manner, and it gave me the distinct impression she was looking for a reason to get angry. She clearly was communicating that she had no interest in being interacted with at this time.

When she started to try and chew the leather on the chair, I said her name loudly, and "No!". Well this totally spooked her and she flew to our ottoman, and proceeded to walk around for about 10 minutes, crest fully flared, and hissing non-stop. Yikes! I could not get within two feet of the ottoman without entering "The Chomp Zone". Apparently I was not going to get the opportunity to move the ottoman to her cage, and stood there scratching my head wondering what I was going to do about our obviously stressing bird.

So, I moved the chair out of the way, and was able to wheel her cage over to the ottoman, and she climbed up on it.

My daughter and I then had to tag team from either side of the cage to move it back to its spot, as when she touched the cage, she was stalked, and when I touched it I was stalked. And of course, we still had a lot of hissing going on. Finally got the cage back to its spot, and after about another 15 minutes of agitation, Roo has settled down to just ornery. I'm feeding her dry rotini right now, just to give her something to vent her aggression on.

So we seem to have something very interesting going on. It seems that for whatever reason, she gets very excited to see me. However, after she's had a few minutes of love, she apparently doesn't like me very much anymore. As per my wife, when I am at work, she is calm, levelheaded and easy to tend to. As soon as I come home, even if I deliberately keep my energy low and use a soothing voice (no excited "Hey Roo! or anything like that) she gets wound.

Well, our weekend starts tomorrow, and I will be around, so we'll see what a regular presence does versus a work/home presence.

One final note as I'm at the end of this post, I went over to her cage and said "Bed time Roo! Time to go in your cage!" She made some sweet sounds, bobbed her head five times, then proceeded to flare her crest, then bang her face violently against the bars about 10 times in a row. She then made as if she wanted to head to the floor, and I asked her to go in again, so she flared her crest and smashed her face a few more times.

Then she went back to the top, raised her wings, flared her crest, and started hissing again. But the lure of an almond finally got her into her cage. So she grabbed the almond, ate it, the came back to the top of her cage, flared her crest and hissed some more. She's now saying "sweetie" and bobbing her head for me to let her out, then raising her crest and hissing, then bobbing her head again. I have zero clue what is going on, only that these wild and unpredictable swings in mood are starting to make me very nervous, especially when it seems to just be my presence that sets her off.

Edit: And now she's on her javawood perch, snapping her head and stomping her foot. And now she's on the front of the cage making "sweetie" noises. Ahhhh!

 

[itchyfeet]

It might just stop one day...it's those 'too mood things
My inlaws SC2 let me handle him forwards/backwards/upside down - and then one day decided he had it in for me. He lost floor privileges when I had to wear gumboots to protect my feet - he could corner me in a room no worries at all. He'd call me to his cage 'common, common, oh darling, common' - only to lunge. It went on for about a week.

And then it stopped.

No idea how I pissed him off! Just those too moods.... I think the best thing I did was stay calm. I treated him the same, regardless. I responded to his unacceptable behaviour they way I always did, and eventually, when he was been sweet and not lunging, I invited him up the way I usually did....he wasn't getting reactions from my responses.

Good luck!

 

[Just-Passn-Thru]

Good morning Cockatoo folks (and my Amazon friends who hang out here too).

Our newest fid, a 23 year old GSC2 named Roo is coming home today. For those who haven't read the bit I've posted about her in the Amazon forum, she was rescued from a bird hoarder, where she was found in a dog kennel in a garage with a dead mate and her dead babies.

Despite this, she was a gentle, social, loveable bird who immediately took to my family. So despite us considering adding a Timneh to our family, we're now getting an enormous white dog-bird.

Speaking with the rescue, they were actually able to track back to the original owner's family. Apparently she was the mother's bird, loved and doted on until Mom died. Since no one in the family took her, she flowed through an unknown number of temporary homes until finally landing at the hoarders.

Apparently the original owner's daughter said she'd take Roo back if they couldn't find a home for her. Wow, just wow.

Anyways, I may be spending a little more time in this part of the forum, and will certainly be looking for advice as we move forward with Roo. After spending lots of time on mytoos.com back when we were researching getting a parrot, we are certainly going into this with eyes wide open. Here's hoping for the best, but being prepared for any bumps on the road.

Here's a pic of our new girl:

Scott

She's' beautiful, she looks like a gentle soul, and needs a second chance. Btw I just noticed your cage, it looks like the classic kings cage I had one. you don't see those any more.

 

[Just-Passn-Thru]

Good morning Cockatoo folks (and my Amazon friends who hang out here too).

Our newest fid, a 23 year old GSC2 named Roo is coming home today. For those who haven't read the bit I've posted about her in the Amazon forum, she was rescued from a bird hoarder, where she was found in a dog kennel in a garage with a dead mate and her dead babies.

Despite this, she was a gentle, social, loveable bird who immediately took to my family. So despite us considering adding a Timneh to our family, we're now getting an enormous white dog-bird.

Speaking with the rescue, they were actually able to track back to the original owner's family. Apparently she was the mother's bird, loved and doted on until Mom died. Since no one in the family took her, she flowed through an unknown number of temporary homes until finally landing at the hoarders.

Apparently the original owner's daughter said she'd take Roo back if they couldn't find a home for her. Wow, just wow.

Anyways, I may be spending a little more time in this part of the forum, and will certainly be looking for advice as we move forward with Roo. After spending lots of time on mytoos.com back when we were researching getting a parrot, we are certainly going into this with eyes wide open. Here's hoping for the best, but being prepared for any bumps on the road.

Here's a pic of our new girl:

Scott

She's' beautiful, she looks like a gentle soul, and needs a second chance. Btw I just noticed your cage, it looks like the classic kings cage I had one. you don't see those any more.

Is Roo flighted or clipped

 

[plumsmum2005]

Well I'm sure you'll work it out eventually, good luck.

Interesting reading another episode in the Roo book.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Another adventurous evening, Scott. Thank you for the updates!!

Can't wait to hear what today will bring.

She's' beautiful, she looks like a gentle soul, and needs a second chance. Btw I just noticed your cage, it looks like the classic kings cage I had one. you don't see those any more.

That's the cage Roo was in at the rescue. Scott has her in a BRAND new cage.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Roo is flighted - we discussed clipping her at the Vets, but though she needs to feel comfortable to escape until she's settled in.

This morning, she was excited to come out and everyone gave her the scratch she demanded, followed by a 5 minute screaming bout. Apparently she only screams when I'm here, and I think she thinks I left for work (I'm hiding) so she stopped screaming.

My wife is keeping her busy right now by giving her food and having it thrown back at her.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Well I'm sure you'll work it out eventually, good luck.

Interesting reading another episode in the Roo book.

Appreciate your optimism PM. I wish I shared your positivity right now - half joking with Mrs. Scooter this AM, I figured all I need to do is move out and Roo will be good.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

It might just stop one day...it's those 'too mood things...

...Good luck!

Thanks itchy, that's what we're hoping too. Today is only day 5, so I'm hoping she'll just "get over it" with a few more days. My only concern is that she seems to be emotionally getting more (not less) wired.

 

[Just-Passn-Thru]

Roo is flighted - we discussed clipping her at the Vets, but though she needs to feel comfortable to escape until she's settled in.

This morning, she was excited to come out and everyone gave her the scratch she demanded, followed by a 5 minute screaming bout. Apparently she only screams when I'm here, and I think she thinks I left for work (I'm hiding) so she stopped screaming.

My wife is keeping her busy right now by giving her food and having it thrown back at her.

Vet is correct, I know a lot of people may disagree but it does help in some situations.