Adopting my First Parrot

[Bonnietalcott]

I will be getting him? Saturday with all the trimmings. My friends
have had him around 6 months if that and he was a wonderful bird. She is
quite attached to him. But, they work all day and are gone most
evenings and weekends and now she's pregnant. She says she doesn't
understand why her sweet bird is squaking and biting all the time. I'm
a stay at home mom and am here almost all the time so I hoping he will
be happier here.

I'm just not sure what to do when he comes home/here. I'm sure it's
smart to leave him alone and let him get used to us. But how long?
He's going in the living room next to MY :) recliner where I sit at
night and anytime I need a break. (I have fibromyalgia so I can't do
alot in one shot)

What should I do with him first to get him to like me? Ashely did say
though that I had to show him who's boss.

Bonnie

[jimleasure]

first what kind of parrot is it?

[Jean]

Hi Bonnie! :wavey:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/jeanaskins/Welcome1-Elvie-Peta.jpg?t=1166117585
I'm glad to see you are searching for proper information about parrots before taking in your new companion parrot. :clap: You didn't mention what species he/she is. That can make a difference in the physical and psychological needs of your parrot. As I read your questions I have concerns.



I'm just not sure what to do when he comes home/here. I'm sure it's
smart to leave him alone and let him get used to us. But how long?
He's going in the living room next to MY :) recliner where I sit at
night and anytime I need a break. (I have fibromyalgia so I can't do
alot in one shot)

What should I do with him first to get him to like me? Ashely did say
though that I had to show him who's boss.

Bonnie

I'm not sure how old your parrot is, how long your friends have had it, or what species it is. I also have concerns that your friend did not fully understand what a companion parrot is. (Parrots do not sceream and bite all the time without good reason) They are not a robot you can show who is the boss. Parrots are (intelligent companions) that require your respect, devotion, understanding, love and good care and adequate companionship. A parrot is genetically programmed to be a member of the flock therefore, it's normal for them to be with their human family. If this is what you are truly looking for in a companion and are ready to make the commitment of taking on a companion parrot as your companion then a parrot would be a wonderful addition to share your life with.

It is very important you must win their trust by teaching them they can trust you not by showing them who is the boss. There may be times you have to teach them what you expect from them, I'm not saying that is always easy or simple task. It very often can be mind boggling. You may not be talking on a simple task however, the life long companionship can be much more rewarding then what you put into it.:wub:

A companion parrot can be a wonderful companion to people that are medically challenged or handicapped. Mine spent a good portion of the day with me when I was laid up in bed after a severe spinal surgery and recovery. I like may other members still suffer with health conditions. Their love and companionship can be a blessing to us.

I hope you continue to read and get to know our members. We have so many that are dedicated to sharing our life with our parrot companions.:heart:

I hope all works out for you and your new to be companion parrot.

[vmtwriter]

Welcome to the bird forum. Having a parrot in your life is the best thing that could happen to you. Remember, you must be committed to your bird, because he/she will be committed to you. You've come to the right place to ask your questions. We have a lot of great people here who can help. Jean gave you some great advice.

[parrotgirl]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/parrotgirl/parrotgirlgifs/WBBlinkie1.gif

What species if he/she. The most important thing is gaining their trust. Once you have that, then the rest will come relatively easy.

[Islandzoo]

Hi Bonnie and Welcome to BoF :)

You got some great advice from Jean there :agree:

What kind of parrot are you getting Bonnie?

[Shirley]

Welcome! So glad you found us!

Jean gave you excellent advice, especially: It is very important you must win their trust by teaching them they can trust you not by showing them who is the boss.

We cannot be the "boss" of a wild animal, and if you don't earn their trust, you won't have a happy parrot, or one who feels secure and safe giving his unconditional love.

I have to be out all night and all day ... but will be back much later tonight and also Friday after 5:00... I'd love to hear what species it is, how old is it? and what has it been eating/doing/ etc for the past 6 mos.

You must have patience, and unconditional love for this parrot... and how old are your children? Many times, parrots choose to be with and trust one person, and have no need for anyone else in your family. You cannot "force" a bird to treat all family members the same. Best to avoid bites, and never ever punish a parrot... it will backfire 100-fold. No shouting or yelling at him, no beak-flipping, no covered-cage-time-outs, none of that or you'll lose. And the bird will be very frustrated, and a horde of problems can come from their frustration.

I'm SO glad you joined! :agree:

~ Shirley :wub:

[gary&chloe]

I didn't read the other post, but a parrot is totally different than any pet you can have. You scold a dog, and he knows he has done bad. You scold a parrot and he thinks he has done good. He wants attention. Your scolding him gives him attention. So when he does something bad, speak quietly to him and put him back in his cage and ignore him. He will learn very quickly that what he did isn't acceptable and he won't do it again.

Also, he needs 10-12 hours of quiet time at night. Preferably covered. If a parrot doesn't get his beauty sleep, he will NOT be a beauty the next day. Trust me on that one.

But for all the negative, the unconditional love, the loyalty, the fun you get back is worth the small things. Buy books on your type bird. Ask questions on here. There are some real experts on here AND we have a licensed vet who knows birds.

OH... the first thing you want to do is find a real avian vet. Not one that says he is but one that is. They are hard to find but get your bird to the vet right away so you can get a baseline set for him. Also, get a scale that measures in grams, Bed, Bath and Beyond and get his weigh once a week.

In the wild, birds are the preyed upon one's. So they can't look or act sick or they get eaten. So by the time your bird looks or acts sick, it may be too late to do anything. Watching his weight and how good he is eating is very important.

I'm babbling along here like I just know it all, aren't I. You will be surprised how quick you learn about him and his habits.

Thank you for taking him into your home. You sound very nice and are going to make a great mom.

[tropiclegirl]

Hi Bonnie, welcome to the group :wavey:

Congratulations on your new family member. Jean, Shirley and Gary gave you excellent advice. Looking forward to getting to know you and your new parrot. Oh and we love photos here :D

[gary&chloe]

Show Me The Pictures !!!

[Bonnietalcott]

Hi all,
Yeah, I forgot to say what kind of parrot he is didn't I? Duh. Anyway,
Last Saturday we picked him up. The pet store told the he's a boy anyway. He's banded. They purchased him last July so I'm not sure how old he is.....
How old are they when you get them. They said he was a hand fed baby when they got him so what's that 7 mos? He seems fine other than biting me a couple of times :) Kinda expected that. I just point at him and tell him no very firmly and put him back in his cage. He seems to be getting the point. No he threatens every once in a while but it doesn't hurt. He will only eat the seed she gave me. I got some pellets but he won't eat them. I have tried vegetables, fruits and nutraberrys but he won't eat them. He just smiles and drops them on the floor. He DID eat some bread pudding with me. I only gave him a piece the size of a raisen or smaller.
He will get on my finger and say "up up" and he gets up. Some times he says "Don't Bite Me" then LAUGHS! Ha ha ha ha ha he says. He also laughs when he bites.
Anyway, ANY advice would be wonderfull. One other thing his clipped wings are growing back and he can fly clear accross the room. Can I do it or should I have the vet do it? I think the vet because while he will let me pet his back he will never tolerate me doing that yet.

Thanks,
Bonnie Talcott

[Shirley]

What kind of parrot is he?

Do *not* clip his wings yourself... first get hands-on training under the watchful eye of an *Avian* vet. And then, I'd recommend that your vet do this -- it's not worth it to do it incorrectly. Please don't ask a non-avian vet to do this for you.

And he won't trust you if you yell at him. You can quietly say "no bite", but be sure to give him something to do that is behavior you like... redirect his behavior... praise him for everything he does that is acceptable behavior.

It will be very helpful if you'll let us know what species of parrot he is.

:thanx:

[tropiclegirl]

The suspence is killing me :funny:

[Bonnietalcott]

Oh my gosh...! I did it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

He's a quaker parrot!!!!
Sorry, Guys, its been a long day....
Bonnie

[tropiclegirl]

:rofl:I'm happy im not the only one who does that kind of stuff!!:rofl:

Quakers are little cuties with huge personalities, great birds.

[Flock Mom]

Welcome to BoF :D Glad you found us and we're looking forward to hearing more about your new family member. Have you given him a name yet?
Questions are more than welcome around here so don't be shy :)

[Shirley]

A Quaker is a very independent bird... usually chooses one person to trust and share with... and can be nippy - especially inside and near their cages. I suggest all training/sharing time take place in a room other than where his cage is. By training, I mean positive reinforcement, clicker training, etc. You will enjoy the Behavior forum ... lots of discussion there to look through.

A little bit of very positive interaction every day will be very beneficial to building a relationship with him. And avoid bites for sure. You don't want a "bank account" of negative behavior. Just don't put yourself in a position to get bit. :)

[Bonnietalcott]

I named him Otis. Quaker Otis. It sounded cute.

He is a cutie. What I've been doing with him is when he tries to bite I say "no" in a firm but gentle voice and ignore him like I did with my kids when they were small. He seems to realize what's going on although like my 2 yr old grandson...he never stops trying to get away with it. ;)

[Flock Mom]

Otis....I like that too, sweet name for a sweet birdie ;)

[Jim]

Hello Bonnie

First, Welcome to the board. Nice to have you join in and congrats on adopting Otis.

There is no doubt in my mind that being the "boss" of Otis will work, at what cost is the question/concern. Lets look at it in a positive reinforcement light - OK. When Otis bites he is told "no bite" and put in his cage. Call it what we may but it is a pure and simple punishment or consequence (Otis does not like it) that happens after he bites. Sure it works, if he doesn't want punished - don't bite. He may also learn that when he wants to go in his cage biting will get him there or get you to preform for him. Like ringing a bell, if he bites/nips he hears the sound and may like it. We don't know, well we do if we watch and see the behavior increase we know he likes it. In this situation biting gets what he wants.

Rewarding the behaviors we want and ignoring the behaviors we don't want works wonders without using aversive consequences. This builds trust!

I get long winded so I'll stop here. Feel free to ask anything you want. We have a lot of knowledgable and nice people here with different opinions or ways to modify behavior. Most important - imo - is finding what you're comfortable with and works for you and Otis.

[Bonnietalcott]

Hello Again,
Otis will only eat seeds, and all I've found he likes is the inside of french fries, chicken and hamburger. He wont eat the pellets or any fruit or vegetables. I know this isn't healthy. Do you think it's because we are new to him? What do I do to get him to eat better?

Also, when he is in his cage he is very territorial but once he's fine more or less. You can say "up up" and he will say "up up" and climb right on my finger (or anyone elses). Yet when he sits on you he bites...hard. I still have bruises on my arm from when he bit me and turned his little head around, looked me square in the eye and bit harder!

What to do next? When he bites I don't scold him anymore and I just put him in the cage and ignore him.
Bonnie

I also set up an appointment after New Years for wing clipping and a checkup.

[Bonnietalcott]

Hi AGAIN,
Sorry for being such a pest. About candles. My friend said I can burn them in a separate room. But all I have read is that it is bad. I'd like to burn my candles during a bath once in a while. My bathroom is upstairs. Otis is downstairs. Will it bother him? Also, if there is a smell that I can't detect will he...uh....just drop dead or will get sick and me not know it? I know it's morbid but I'm curious.
Bonnie

[Shirley]

You're never ever a pest! :)

Read the article posted here by Dr. Cook on Biting... in the Articles forum.

Avoid bites! If he bites, then sit him on a playstand and work with the clicker training... there are links to clicker training videos and an article by Dr. Cook on "targeting" and clicker training, with links to demonstrate how to do this. This will build trust with your bird, and give you a fun thing to do together.

He's eating seeds b/c that's likely all he had. Just put a little veggies in there, or sprouted seed/grains from a bird sprout place (check out Practical Links forum and Elements of Bird Care forums for photos and links for sprouting.)
China Prairie, where I get sprout seed, is transferring to new ownership, and will not be taking orders until after Jan 2, when they get their seller's license.

Focus more on veggies, a nut now and then, and grains, not so much on fruit. He might like a piece of apple. Also, try various pellets until you find one he likes. Ours liked Roudybush pellets best. Zupreem makes good pellets, too. You want to keep a Quaker's diet low-fat.

If he bites, then use a stick for him to step up on to get him out of his cage or to move him from playstand to elsewhere. Avoid bites - you don't want this behavior reinforced.

Candles and non-stick coated pans: The toxins in the fumes can rapidly kill the birds regardless of odor. It's a situation where the respiratory system "crashes" and rather suddenly. You won't have "warning" or a "sick bird". I can't answer if burning candles in the upstairs bathroom will affect him downstairs. I would use unscented soy candles - they are supposedly bird-safe. They are readily available both in stores and on the 'net, and come in colors if you like colors.

I'd suggest you read through the topics in Elements of Bird Care and Practical Links - you'll find answers to questions you haven't thought of yet. Go to the drop-down box and set it to show posts "from the beginning" so you see them all. There aren't that many.

Keep asking questions - :wub:

[Bonnietalcott]

Ok, here's what's happening with Otis. He is looking for me when ever I leave the room. He is loose most of the day climbing on his cage and play gym and has a pan of water to play in. (The cage is front of my baywindow so he has the whole window sill. And my daughter says I spoil my animals :) )..Anyway, When there is food around what ever we are eating...he wants some. I found out he will eat baby food almost anything. And he is eating the pellets. The seeds are treats.
The problem. My recliner is next to his cage and he is always walking down it onto me. That's great but he still trys to bite me. He also likes to chew on my hair but it's next to my ear so I'm afraid. Will, he ever stop biting altogether?

Bonnie

[Shirley]

Until he stops biting, I wouldn't let him on your shoulder, near your face, or ears. I don't allow our birds there as it's just not the safest place if they choose to bite for some reason. He may stop... and he may not... and I'd keep him on your hand or arm or a little T-stand on the coffee table and interact with him there until you have a large bank of trust built with him.

Sounds like you're coming along nicely!:dance:

[Sue]

Some great advice already Bonnie. I love his name too!

With the veggies and any food you want him to eat, if he refuses to eat it don't give up. Toto used to hate brocolli, I couldn't get him to eat it for ages (I mean years) then on day he tried it and now loves it. Try lots of variety too.
Sounds like you're doing a great job so far:emot-danc