Stanley, no longer cage bound!! 😊

[Birdjoy]

After 15 long years of being cage bound, Stanley has found freedom!!
He is progressing every day and is becoming the great Zon he once was!

 

[Birdman666]

And that's really the key, right there.

Getting them out. Getting them handled.

Step up/no bite practice with a towel around your arm is next.

 

[Birdjoy]

And that's really the key, right there.

Getting them out. Getting them handled.

Step up/no bite practice with a towel around your arm is next.

I tried that this morning. He hisses at my arm and then walks backwards slowly.

 

[Birdman666]

Plan B -

Once he gets used to being out. (1-2 days) Use a loose fitting long sleeved shirt. (Sweat shirt works) Get two of those soft microfibre towels, and two ace bandages. (I got the ones I used at the 99 cents only store!) Wrap them around both forearms all the way to the wrist. Then put the shirt on over it. The bird won't know it's there.

When he's out on the door like that, you put your body between him, and going back in. Place your arm on top of the door and invite him to step up onto your wrist. Keep your hand in a fist, and your wrist bent, so the skin is tight and there is nothing to latch onto.

He either tries to run away, and runs over your arm. (At which point you lift your arm up, and you have him.)

Or he goes the other way, and ends up on the floor. (in which case he's gonna wanna step up to get off the floor, and you have him.)

Or he just steps up. Then carry him from room to room around the house. Do some step up practice. and reward him with treats and praise.

 

[Allee]

Fantastic progress with Stanly! Love the photo, he's a beautiful bird!

 

[RavensGryf]

Great to hear. Stanley is such a gorgeous bird!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Re: Stanley, no longer cage bound!! ��

YIPPEE!!! Way to go, Stanley! He must feel on top of the world!

That's rather good progress in a short amount of time. I'm so happy for both of you!

 

[Birdman666]

Once he really starts remembering what it was like being a happy bird, I think you'll find the old ways will come back to him.

Once the new routine gets establish, he'll bounce back fairly quickly. This is a 6-8 week job from start to finish... That's my guesstimate.

And it may be half that time...

 

[Scott]

What a handsome bird, and I am sure his "rebirth" will enrich both of your lives!

 

[Birdjoy]

Plan B -

Once he gets used to being out. (1-2 days) Use a loose fitting long sleeved shirt. (Sweat shirt works) Get two of those soft microfibre towels, and two ace bandages. (I got the ones I used at the 99 cents only store!) Wrap them around both forearms all the way to the wrist. Then put the shirt on over it. The bird won't know it's there.

When he's out on the door like that, you put your body between him, and going back in. Place your arm on top of the door and invite him to step up onto your wrist. Keep your hand in a fist, and your wrist bent, so the skin is tight and there is nothing to latch onto.

He either tries to run away, and runs over your arm. (At which point you lift your arm up, and you have him.)

Or he goes the other way, and ends up on the floor. (in which case he's gonna wanna step up to get off the floor, and you have him.)

Or he just steps up. Then carry him from room to room around the house. Do some step up practice. and reward him with treats and praise.

OK, I suited up with said gear (If I had a protective face mask I would have worn that too ... hehe) and started the step up process. Stanley wasn't to excited, but we forged on. After about 5 minutes of him trying to convince me that I was wasting my time, we had success!!! He stepped onto my arm and around the house we went. He seemed interested in the surroundings thus making him stay put on my forearm.

I then placed him on the couch to roam around and he did. Once away from his cage he became "softer" if you will in his behavior. He seemed more loving.

I can't thank you enough for all of the encouragement and guidance. We are extremely grateful!!

 

[Kiwibird]

How wonderful for Stanley! I bet in the coming weeks he is really going to start coming out of his shell as he enjoys more freedom and sees that you are a human worthy of his trust and affection A bird like him, who has been locked up for so long, is going to make a wonderful companion in time. He is going to be eternally grateful to you for ending his confinement and allowing him to explore, have fun and have positive interactions with his human family.

 

[Birdman666]

Fantastic progress!!! I am so happy for both of you.

Keep this routine up for about two weeks. Step up practice, wander around the house, interaction. Then we'll start working on touching.

The reason he softens up in the other room is related to amazon territorialism, especially now as we enter the high point of breeding season. The cage is his nest, and his instinct is to protect and defend it.

In another room, there is nothing to defend therefore he can relax.

Its a base survival instinct.

 

[Birdman666]

How wonderful for Stanley! I bet in the coming weeks he is really going to start coming out of his shell as he enjoys more freedom and sees that you are a human worthy of his trust and affection A bird like him, who has been locked up for so long, is going to make a wonderful companion in time. He is going to be eternally grateful to you for ending his confinement and allowing him to explore, have fun and have positive interactions with his human family.

Its true.

Forget that birds with baggage nonsense. All but one of my most bonded birds EVER have been throwaways...

And I've rehabbed plenty of zone in y day. They do bounce back, then when they start feeling good again, that pair bond thing kicks in, and you're golden...

Keep it up!

 

[Birdjoy]

Fantastic progress!!! I am so happy for both of you.

Keep this routine up for about two weeks. Step up practice, wander around the house, interaction. Then we'll start working on touching.

The reason he softens up in the other room is related to amazon territorialism, especially now as we enter the high point of breeding season. The cage is his nest, and his instinct is to protect and defend it.

In another room, there is nothing to defend therefore he can relax.

Its a base survival instinct.

Yes please help me with the touch issue!
As of right now, he steps up beautifully, eats from my hand, plays and flaps his wings in a playful manner. He also loves to sing! He has been singing lately. Its adorable!

However, when I try to touch his head or any part of him, he lets me know (kindly) that he does NOT want that. I understand but it still makes me sad.

When he is sitting with me, he does come over and snuggles against my hip. But if I even think about touching him, he scoots away.

 

[Birdman666]

I use those bamboo BBQ skewers for touch training. Simple touching all over exercises. He's not going to like it at first. He'll bark and growl. Grab it and chew it up. It's okay. The idea here is to de-sensitize him to being touched.

Do that for a week or two.

Once you get him to that point where he accepts it, you gradually use it to gently scratch his head.

Do that for a few days.

Then, as he gradually learns to accept it, you slowly work your fingers down the BBQ skewers until, without realizing it, you are scratching him with your fingers, instead of the stick...

Yeah, done this one lots of times.

They don't all accept it, but most do if you are consistent with it.

 

[Birdjoy]

I use those bamboo BBQ skewers for touch training. Simple touching all over exercises. He's not going to like it at first. He'll bark and growl. Grab it and chew it up. It's okay. The idea here is to de-sensitize him to being touched.

Do that for a week or two.

Once you get him to that point where he accepts it, you gradually use it to gently scratch his head.

Do that for a few days.

Then, as he gradually learns to accept it, you slowly work your fingers down the BBQ skewers until, without realizing it, you are scratching him with your fingers, instead of the stick...

Yeah, done this one lots of times.

They don't all accept it, but most do if you are consistent with it.

As usual, you are awesome! Thank you so much!!

 

[Birdman666]

Well, like I said, I've done this "once or twice..."

Hey, I said 6-8 weeks total to retrain this bird and get him out of his shell...

You've done the ground work in TWO!!! So, yeah, great job!!!

 

[GreatBlue320]

Very excited for you and Stanley!

 

[Birdjoy]

Well, like I said, I've done this "once or twice..."

Hey, I said 6-8 weeks total to retrain this bird and get him out of his shell...

You've done the ground work in TWO!!! So, yeah, great job!!!

Awwe Thank you!

 

[kika95]

Re: Stanley, no longer cage bound!! ��

Omg so awesome my conjure just started coming out of his cage he's still a little nippy so we don't grab him we let his come to us. At first he would only come out once for a bit and now he's in and out of his cage all day. He even comes out earlier and stays out later. It feels great to watch them make progress