My taming/trust gaining diary.

[lalalittlelovebird]

I came to the conclusion today that I wanted to start over with Echo, and really work on becoming connected with him. Gaining his trust.

For those who don't know I had gotten Echo over a year ago, and he was/is practically wild in the way he acts. He's also over 10 years old now. But, I don't think he is too old to start this taming/trusting process.

I've had some progress in the year I've had him, but he's still extremely skittish. He does enjoy talking to me, but I feel like he and I would both be a lot better off if he became more trusting of me.

Basically from what I've read a very good description of Echo would be if you looked up "cage-bound" birds. I want this to change.

So yes, over a year since I first got him and I'm officially starting over in the taming/ trust gaining experience.

Today was the beginning of this restart and it went beautifully. I have a perch connected to the inside of Echo's cage door, and I'm leaving the door closed for now. And it will stay closed until Echo is completely comfortable with it and going to that perch whenever I approach the cage. But I have been holding the end of millet spray and putting the other end through the cage bars above that perch. The first time I did that today it took him about a half an hour if not a little longer to approach it, and now it is only taking him about five minutes to approach.

My plan for now is as follows:

Like I said I will continue just doing this until he's completely comfortable with that, and then I'll move my hands closer towards the end of the millet that he is eating. Eventually I will work on opening the cage while he's on the perch and after that hand feeding him. Just overall getting him more comfortable with me and my hands is the goal.

There are several steps in between and after that, and I'm planning on using this thread as my journal of the entire process.

[michael]

Thanks for sharing. .. There's a lot to be said in regards to taming and training, and i'm sure many members will look forward to reading yours and Echo's diary. Because each fid has their own personality, many times no two programs are alike, which should really add towards the interest. .. Starting over is nothing new, and makes perfect sense when you feel everything is a bit too much at a standstill. .. Most of all though, as i'm sure you'll agree, its love and patience that plays the largest role in the strive to bring our parrot human relationships to their fullest extent. .. Best wishes for you and Echo! ...........:)

[lalalittlelovebird]

Thankyou for the lovely comment! I have to say I agree, every bird is different and meaning every program is different. I have been shocked at the lack of examples online of actual skittish birds and how to handle them. Mainly in the sense that they are completely non-aggressive and in choosing between fight or flight it is always flight.

Echo never bites, even when you are forcing him to be held he doesn't bite, he does struggle to be free but never bites. Which is also a good thing, meaning he never got that reward of if he bites things work in his way.

I'm hoping that this thread will help others that are in my position, where they have a flighty cage-bound bird. And, to prove that it doesn't matter how old a bird is to start taming.

I feel the need to mention that Echo is also fully flighted, and six months after his stroke he is flying again. I'm feel that his being fully flighted and his newfound ability in his flying has given him a small boost in his confidence.

Now I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I got him a year ago, but I've already seen improvement from 8 yesterday morning until 9 this evening (the last time I did the millet).

I don't have a set time that I go over to his cage for millet I've just been doing it multiple times a day, sadly today (because I was at my college) I only got to do it about three or four times. But, the last time he went to the perch and chirped at me, like come on I want some millet. He still goes back to the back of the cage when I approach but does not take nearly as long to approach.

I have also come to find that sweet talking and singing helps the entire process, it definitely seems comforts him.:whistle::)

And I do agree with you completely. Patience is key. Never force a bird to do anything it doesn't want to, it will completely ruin his trust in you. I've learned that the hard way it is what first set me back in the whole taming process.

[michael]

Besides your making some very good points already, its especially good to hear Echo has recovered quite well after suffering a stroke. .. As with my own Goofy Lovebird having suffered two of the spinal variety, he is, after plenty of hope and physical manipulation, at least able to walk on his own. His flight, although still fairly limited, is never beyond his perserverance to keep trying. Amazing the willpower of a small lovebird! .............:)

[lalalittlelovebird]

Honestly I was amazed when he flew. I just figured he was going to be my crooked little bird for the rest of his life. I'm very proud of him and his recovery!

So this morning I decided to change it up and get rid of the millet spray and just breaking off small peices of it and holding it through the bars of the cage. My fingers are on the outside of the cage (right against the bars) holding on to the end of it and the peice of millet is inside the cage through the bars. So far he does come up to it after a while but he's a big complainer. He chatters and carries on like I don't like this, this makes me nervous, but I really want the millet so I guess I'll do it anyway.

I've only done it twice so far.

I need some suggestions though. Should I go ahead and approach the cage when he's sitting on the perch and begging for it, or should I wait until he goes elsewhere in the cage to approach? Also should I just continue doing this at the same perch or should I attempt doing this other places in the cage?

He still backs off when I bring the millet up to the side of the cage and then waits to approach. But, If it is just my face that goes up next to the cage he neither approaches nor runs away so I take that as a good sign.

I'm also impressed with his big step of coming to eat the millet with my fingers so close, even if he complains the whole time. I'd really like to get to the point where he doesn't hesitate to come towards it before I move the process inside of the cage.

[Enko_chan]

I look forward to reading about Echo. I've seen older birds, even ones with troubled pasts make huge strides when met with patience, understanding and empathy. Echo's a tough little lovie that's fought hard and has even been able to fly again, contrary to prognoses. You've been great with Echo and it sounds like he's responding well to your socialzation program already. That isn't surprising, though. You aren't a new person, you are a person he trusts, it'll take time to learn how to interact in ways he's not used to. This is wonderful and I look forward to following the progress of Echo over time. How fortunate he is to have such a dedicated person!

[lalalittlelovebird]

Seriously your comment warmed my heart. Thankyou so much.

Sadly, the past few days have been at a standstill. He's taken up to pretty much every time just ignoring me when I'm over there and won't come over. I'm not sure what to do. I don't know if I should just keep trying to do this or if I should go ahead and start doing stuff inside of the cage.

[lalalittlelovebird]

Since things were beginning to get at a standstill I took a different approach. For now I'm just working on building Echo's confidence. I'm mainly leaving the cage door open almost all the time and cheering him on whenever he's out and/or whenever he's flying. It seems to have improved his mood lately he's been out a lot and seems to enjoy flying in circles around my room.