Willy doing Great!

[beekersmom]

I have been taking care of a 45 year old bfa, who was mistreated by his first owner (male) and since that time refused to have anything to do with men. Well, when we brought Willy home, he was a mess, couldn't believe the condition he was in. Long story short, the entire time we have had Willy (July 19th) I asked my husband Bob to feed him so that he would associate him with good things. He has improved healthwise to the point that he is now in the bigger cage we got for him.He will step up for me and allows me head scratches but so far doesn't want to come out so I let him have his way for now. Got him toy yesterday, one with soft wood as he still has some beak issues, and he started playing with it before I finished hanging it. And the best news of all....Yesterday he took a peanut from Bobs hand as gentle as you please. This is a tremendous breakthrough! This bird is awsome. I think having him around other birds and seeing us handle them daily, and keeping a routine has helped a lot.

 

[paulhanlon]

I'm glad you took Willy in I really don't know how anyone can miss treat a animal with such beauty and class I have a BFA myself he is only 14 weeks old and i would never even think of miss treating him I don't get why people find it hard to look after one pet we have 5 dogs a rabbit and the 2 parrots to look after and we manage just fine with no problems what so ever it breaks my heart to see any animal miss treated or abused its sick it really is.

 

[wenz2712]

I am really pleased for you that Willy is settling in so well

 

[henpecked]

Yeah Willy

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a heartwarming story! Hats off to you and your husband!

 

[beekersmom]

Thank you but I say hats off to Willy! For having such a rough go of things, I think it amazing that he has given us his trust at such an early stage of our relationship. To my knowlege he has not been in a "flock" environment since he was brought to the states. From what we can determine from his band he was a young adult caught in the wild and brought to the states in or around 1991. The owner I took him from said he is 45, so that is the age we stand on. The holding station he was at is no longer used so we cannot get complete info on him. Personally, I never thought I would be able to handle such a bird, and even though we have not as yet had that certain "run in" that we all dred(hehe) if and when it happens I am sure it will be because we did not "read" his signals or misread them. In any case, he now has a forever home, and I will continue to ask advice as I am still a novice bird owner (7years ).

 

[Adinafloyd]

I am so glad that your family and Willy have found each other. Sounds like this guy really needed a wonderful family to love him. I am so glad he will finally have the life and love that every bird deserves. Thank you for giving him the time, patience and care he needs. Hugs to you and scritches to willy.

 

[beekersmom]

Thank you for all your comments and suggestions. To date I have been trying to push him a little more as far as allowing me to touch him. He now readliy allows me to give head scratches, and I can run my entire hand down his back without protest. He allows me to run my hand down his chest with only a small protest, will sometimes take one of my fingers in his mouth but to this point has not tried to actually bite. It is more of a please stop thing. I think if i got brave I could grab him behind the neck and take him out of the cage, but I am trying to get him to step up which he hasn't wanted to do since I put him in his bigger cage. I am trying to encourage him to step up with a peanut but so far he only raises one foot and will allow me to place my finger under it. Sometimes I think he is just testing me to see how much of his attitude I will take. He definately doesn't like it when I try to make him step up by touching his under belly. He acts like he is going to Gater Roll on me but at the same time is not agressive just grabs a finger like he lost his balance. and suggestions on how to get a stubborn zon to do what I ask?

 

[oled]

Good work!! Makes me happy reading this

 

[sarafigal]

I rescued an older female BFA about a month ago who is 30+ years old. She will take treats from everyone, but she does NOT want to be touched. Since I have the bite marks to prove that she really means that, we have worked out a deal: she will step up onto a wooden dowel (for a treat). She'll do it for me and for the kids. I can then even move her from the cage top to a perch somewhere else in the room (within sight). That has done a lot for trust, and it also lets me expand her world a little, which at the moment is self-restricted to the cage-top and a java tree right next to it.

 

[beekersmom]

patience is key with our fids, and their trust is worth the time and effort. I was able to get Willy to step up the other day, although there was a moderate temper tantrum. I have nearly got him to offer his left foot whenever I touch the foot and ask "up?" "foot?". He is now stationing himself whenever I ask for head scritches. I wonder if someone taught him or if he has a slight issue with ballance? I have put him on a light dose of antibiotics as when I was able to get him out I noticed a slight discharge from his right nostril. Since I know he definately has had issues in the past, I am being careful but proactive at the same time. In fact, since Tia has just arrived, we heard a slight noise when she breaths. Took a day or two to hear it as we let her get used to the flock a few days before handling her. So all the flock are getting a mild dose for 30 days....they aren't showing any visable signs of sickness, but don't know for sure if she is contagous to the rest of the flock. Since we have air condioning it is very hard to quarantine any new bird. Trust is earned with all parrots, and I am glad that Willy still allows Bob to reach into the cage and offer treats and takes them nicely.