JJcotw
01-29-2008, 08:23 PM
Well I have some good news to report. I have been taking a great deal of advice from this community, and it seems to be paying off!
First of all, at the risk of jinxing myself, Kiwi's screetching problems seem to be getting better! He has long periods of quiet throughout the day, and he generally talks in his "indoor voice". Although every once in a while he gets a little loud, we usually know why he is getting all excited, and it doesn't bother us that much.
Next, the "plucking or not plucking" issue seems to be getting better. I'm still not sure if it was plucking or just some over zealous preening, but his feathers are looking healthy, so hopefully he isn't stressed out, and I'll just keep an eye on him.
And last of all, but certainly not least -- I got Peaches to step up! I've been taking a variety of advice on taming, and we're taking it in super small baby steps. What I do right now, is I roll the cage into our bedroom, close the door, sweep the floor, close the closet door, cover our mirror, and clean up anything else that could be a bird hazard. Then I roll the cage up to the bed. I set up a little platform on the bed where there is a little scrap of millet, and toys and sometimes a bathing dish with lukewarm water. Then I open the top of their cage, and prop it open with a perch, then open the front door. Then I just sit back and relax. I talk to them, and sometimes read. Sometimes I just keep back and let them do their own thing.
The first two times they mostly stayed in their cage, except Kiwi flew out, then tried to fly as high as he could, realized he could hardly fly at all -- 1.5 feet off the ground tops -- and then went back into the cage.
The third time Peaches took the initiative. She climbed up the inside of the cage and out onto the top. Kiwi was confused and didn't know how to get up where she was. He screetched and followed her around from inside. Eventually they were both out, and both ended up flying down to the ground. They were stranded! They didn't know how to get back up! So I covered a board with a beach towel (for grip) and then leaned it up against the cage -- Peaches quickly figured it out and climbed up and in the door. It took Kiwi quite a bit longer (Peaches is the smart one, and Kiwi is a bit of a bully and a scaredy cat) but both got back into the cage no problem.
The next few visits were similar and they remembered how to get back up right away! But then tonight I decided to come a bit closer. I took their favourite perch and offered it to Peaches and Kiwi in turn, and kept saying "step up!" in my birdie talk voice. If they looked afraid or backed away I would quickly withdraw so I wouldn't frighten them or make them think that they were cornered. Then Peaches put one foot on the perch! I was like "yeah Peaches!". Then she ran away. But then I gently tried again, and both feet were on it! She sat there for about 5 seconds until she decided she had better things to do, and tried to fly off, at which point she landed on the ground and had to climb back up onto the cage.
But what progress!! I can see that they definately enjoy it when I talk to them and they are always watching me and peaking at me. We sometimes play peek-a-boo, with them hiding behind their toys and then poking their heads around to give me the bird eye.
Thanks for all your help guys! I know there is even better stuff to come!
First of all, at the risk of jinxing myself, Kiwi's screetching problems seem to be getting better! He has long periods of quiet throughout the day, and he generally talks in his "indoor voice". Although every once in a while he gets a little loud, we usually know why he is getting all excited, and it doesn't bother us that much.
Next, the "plucking or not plucking" issue seems to be getting better. I'm still not sure if it was plucking or just some over zealous preening, but his feathers are looking healthy, so hopefully he isn't stressed out, and I'll just keep an eye on him.
And last of all, but certainly not least -- I got Peaches to step up! I've been taking a variety of advice on taming, and we're taking it in super small baby steps. What I do right now, is I roll the cage into our bedroom, close the door, sweep the floor, close the closet door, cover our mirror, and clean up anything else that could be a bird hazard. Then I roll the cage up to the bed. I set up a little platform on the bed where there is a little scrap of millet, and toys and sometimes a bathing dish with lukewarm water. Then I open the top of their cage, and prop it open with a perch, then open the front door. Then I just sit back and relax. I talk to them, and sometimes read. Sometimes I just keep back and let them do their own thing.
The first two times they mostly stayed in their cage, except Kiwi flew out, then tried to fly as high as he could, realized he could hardly fly at all -- 1.5 feet off the ground tops -- and then went back into the cage.
The third time Peaches took the initiative. She climbed up the inside of the cage and out onto the top. Kiwi was confused and didn't know how to get up where she was. He screetched and followed her around from inside. Eventually they were both out, and both ended up flying down to the ground. They were stranded! They didn't know how to get back up! So I covered a board with a beach towel (for grip) and then leaned it up against the cage -- Peaches quickly figured it out and climbed up and in the door. It took Kiwi quite a bit longer (Peaches is the smart one, and Kiwi is a bit of a bully and a scaredy cat) but both got back into the cage no problem.
The next few visits were similar and they remembered how to get back up right away! But then tonight I decided to come a bit closer. I took their favourite perch and offered it to Peaches and Kiwi in turn, and kept saying "step up!" in my birdie talk voice. If they looked afraid or backed away I would quickly withdraw so I wouldn't frighten them or make them think that they were cornered. Then Peaches put one foot on the perch! I was like "yeah Peaches!". Then she ran away. But then I gently tried again, and both feet were on it! She sat there for about 5 seconds until she decided she had better things to do, and tried to fly off, at which point she landed on the ground and had to climb back up onto the cage.
But what progress!! I can see that they definately enjoy it when I talk to them and they are always watching me and peaking at me. We sometimes play peek-a-boo, with them hiding behind their toys and then poking their heads around to give me the bird eye.
Thanks for all your help guys! I know there is even better stuff to come!