MysticRealm
12-12-2010, 03:39 AM
Hello. I just thought I would give you guys an update on Disco. If you dont remember who he is, here is a link to a past post with some pics.
http://www.lovebirdsplus.com/community/showthread.php?t=18498
So I have had Disco (who I generally call by his nickname 'Turkey') for just under 2 months now and he is adjusting to life with me well I think. I generally spend about 5 hours with him a day. At first he really didn't want much of anything to do with me. He would come out of his cage on his own, but I would have to 'chase' him to get him to get on to my finger so I could put him back into his cage or work with him. He would generally want to immediately leap off my finger or shoulder and go to his safe place (initially was the door step leading to my porch, then it was 'his chair'.) He also wouldn't really eat from my hands)
About a month ago I started to sit down by 'his' chair so my shoulder would rest against it and he would start hopping onto my shoulder and have fun playing with the buttons on my short or nibbling my hair.
About 2 weeks ago, when he wanted to go into his cage he would walk up to me and hop on my finger on his own so I could put him back, I think that was a pretty big breakthrough. He learned that my finger can help give him what he wants sometimes.
Then about 4 day ago when he would come out of his cage he would walk over to me and look like he wanted to come up (while I was sitting/lying on the couch), but when I put my hand he would scurry away. So instead I put my leg down and he slowly crept back up then used my pant leg to crawl up. One time I had fallen asleep on the couch with my arm hanging down off of it and was jolted awake by Disco clawing his way up my arm. He now was spending 75% of the time out of his cage hanging out on my shoulder. He is also enjoying some popcorn and bread and such from my hand.
Then, just today, he got out of his cage and walked up to me and I could tell he wanted up, so I reached my hand down and viola! He hopped right on!
He still wants to jump off my shoulder or whatever when I bring my hand up to ask him to step onto it, but I immediately pick him back up again. I put him back on my shoulder and get him to step up onto my finger again a few more times. Each time I do I praise him and put him back on my shoulder as a reward. Usually after the first jump off he allows me to pick him up pretty good from my shoulder.
I want to work on him more and more with finger work but I thought if I could build his trust/relationship in me first that he would be more willing. I mean I have been working with him most everyday on finger work but I want to continue incorporating more and more.
So all in all I think he is getting comfortable here in his new home and we are bonding closer and closer. I love my little Turkey!
http://www.lovebirdsplus.com/community/showthread.php?t=18498
So I have had Disco (who I generally call by his nickname 'Turkey') for just under 2 months now and he is adjusting to life with me well I think. I generally spend about 5 hours with him a day. At first he really didn't want much of anything to do with me. He would come out of his cage on his own, but I would have to 'chase' him to get him to get on to my finger so I could put him back into his cage or work with him. He would generally want to immediately leap off my finger or shoulder and go to his safe place (initially was the door step leading to my porch, then it was 'his chair'.) He also wouldn't really eat from my hands)
About a month ago I started to sit down by 'his' chair so my shoulder would rest against it and he would start hopping onto my shoulder and have fun playing with the buttons on my short or nibbling my hair.
About 2 weeks ago, when he wanted to go into his cage he would walk up to me and hop on my finger on his own so I could put him back, I think that was a pretty big breakthrough. He learned that my finger can help give him what he wants sometimes.
Then about 4 day ago when he would come out of his cage he would walk over to me and look like he wanted to come up (while I was sitting/lying on the couch), but when I put my hand he would scurry away. So instead I put my leg down and he slowly crept back up then used my pant leg to crawl up. One time I had fallen asleep on the couch with my arm hanging down off of it and was jolted awake by Disco clawing his way up my arm. He now was spending 75% of the time out of his cage hanging out on my shoulder. He is also enjoying some popcorn and bread and such from my hand.
Then, just today, he got out of his cage and walked up to me and I could tell he wanted up, so I reached my hand down and viola! He hopped right on!
He still wants to jump off my shoulder or whatever when I bring my hand up to ask him to step onto it, but I immediately pick him back up again. I put him back on my shoulder and get him to step up onto my finger again a few more times. Each time I do I praise him and put him back on my shoulder as a reward. Usually after the first jump off he allows me to pick him up pretty good from my shoulder.
I want to work on him more and more with finger work but I thought if I could build his trust/relationship in me first that he would be more willing. I mean I have been working with him most everyday on finger work but I want to continue incorporating more and more.
So all in all I think he is getting comfortable here in his new home and we are bonding closer and closer. I love my little Turkey!