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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
 Posted - 02/08/2007 : 15:28:56
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It took a long time for us to make that decision. Toughguy was my uncles bird...he got him from a rescue and most know when you get a bird from a rescue ( about 60% of the time) they come with baggage.
When ToughGuy was still in the pet store and about 7 months old he was getting his first wing clip, nails and beak trim. I am guessing this was at the front of the store because a customer came in and startled the bird and out the door he flew. Well you can imagine it took some time for the bird to get rounded back up and back in the store. By this time the store owner was beyond mad as he took it out on the bird (nnnnmj <~~ toughguy helping me type) and whacked off his wings. OF course the owner was turned in and he lost his store among other things. The rescue said he would never grow his wings back but he defied all the odds and did just that. My uncle did great things for him but then lost the time and I would supopse the inclination to work with him because he wasnt really all ther receptive to men...even my husband he has issues with ...when I am around.
We picked up toughguy about a month ago and hes made lots of leaps and bounds. he gets fresh fruits and veggies now...gets lots of love and attention. he still has his issues with every so often not wanting me to pick him up ( which he let me do within 2 weeks of us getting him) and he screams when hes not getting what he precieves as enough attention. He also is talkign alot more because of the extra attention.
I ordered a training video one that looked to be good for both the bird and I think it shoudl be here this week sometime. I am sure I am leaving stuff out but thats the crux of our story.
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Rebecca
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 21:27:05
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Becca:
What species of bird is ToughGuy? Do you know how old he is?
All second hand parrots come with baggage. However with the proper suggestions you can turn them into wonderful companions.
Is he your only parrot or do you have others?
My B&G was 2 years old when I got her. She had been abused/neglected & I turned her into a super silly wonderful companion. She's now 8 years old & just keeps getting better all the time :).
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 00:59:04
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Tough Guy is a Yellow Nape/Collared Macaw and is 7 years old getting close to 8. As of right now he is our only parrot but when HE is in a good mood I do look forward to getting others because they are soo fun and enjoyable to have around. Hes even taking to cuddling his head against either the side of my head or my cheek when hes super content. Few and far moments in between but definatly ones ya go ..awwwww.
* sorry for the breaking up of sentences there in my first post....toughguy was hopping on and off the keyboard making it very hard to type and make sence. lol
Rebecca |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 11:11:04
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So he's reached sexual maturity age. 2 times a year he may get a tad nasty/biting/screaming/etc. During this time, most call it a hormone phase, usually spring & again in the fall, if he gets like this & not all do, it's best to only handle him when necesary to prevent bites. Takes a good month or two for it to pass. Males tend to be worse during this time than females.
Also even tho he's a small macaw it's not a good idea to allow him on your shoulder or near your face. In the blink of an eye can can remove your ear or your eye, take a nice chunk out of your lip or face requiring sticches, causing nerve damage, etc. I've seen pics of those who've had it done to them by their birds, whom they never thought would do this. Anything can scare him & his reaction will be to warn you. Parrots ways of warning are 1.) screaming out a warning call or 2.) biting.
Most parrots will chose one person as their mate. They tend to try to chase other people away by threatening to bite, putting up their wings to look big, etc. Some get to the point they will attack, so use caution.
I find that explaining things to them, the same way you would a small child, does help allot. Show them things & touch them so they know it's safe. In the wild their parrents would do this. Since he was born in captivity he has you to show/teach him.
Make his world FUN. All it takes is a few minutes each day to play with him, do something he finds fun. Include him in daily chores. If he feels included he'll be so much better. Simple things like let him set on the bed while you change your clothes. Let him on the counter while you load the dishes, etc. As you look thru your mail let him rip up the junk.
Right now JaJaBinks is setting on the back of my computer chair yanking on the back of my shirt. It has so many holes chewed in it it looks like I was attacked by a massive flock of moths, LOL. To her this is FUN. Picking on me is FUN to her, LOL.
Learn his sounds. Watch him & note his movements with those sounds. Then use then to help teach him things. Each scream or growl sound he makes means something. Be consistant in using cues (words or sentences) as you train him. Always phrase him for any positive thing he does & ignore all negative actions. He will ALWAYS test you, so you need to be constantly teaching. Parrots also refuse to accept the word/meaning 'NO". To a parrot "NO" means keep trying, LOL.
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 12:59:50
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I do believe that He's just gone through some sort of hormonal phase as he acted like you described above. He is getting better, but then he could have just been testing us as you said as well. The only reason I think it was more of a hormonal phase is because of his head bobbing and regugitation simulation. He doesnt sit on my shoulder all that long usually as a catalyst to get elsewhere....crawling up and down my arm to get to the back of the couch, my chair and my desk where he LOVES to attack the keys on the keyboard ( which I do try to discourage him from doing ) The attack mode he seems to be in twards my husband is als explained on several different levels. First he trusts NO MAN even my unlce had a hard time and thus why I really think he gave him to me. Then on the "mate" side I do believe hes chosen me as his ...and or leader. he does tolerate my children....no lunging ect. Although when I am not home he does tolerate my husband alot more. Which I assume he does it when I am home because hes in protection mode of his chosen mate.
And yes....hes VERY jumpy wich I have come to understand about the species as a whole. Although most of the time he does do it to himself but even just turning on a light in a dark room can cause him to jump a bit.
I already do take him whenever I can when I go to do something he loves to roam the counter in the bathroom while I put on my makeup , hes given free reign over the counters in the kitchen while I put away groceries and of course getting treats while I do so.., I have brought him in the bathroom while I shower and he had great fun trying to figure out what in the world I would want with water.
I am starting to understand some of his 'birdie sounds'. He makes a cooing/growly noise while I pet the top of his head occasionally. Which is similar to the sound he makes when hes eating something he truely enjoys. He loves to feed the dogs....I was thikning ok he doesnt want a 'grape' today but then realized after a time that hes feeding the dogs... because he would drop a few then take the next and eat it without sharing..LOL.
Oh yes....his new sound...ROFL is to mimic my laugh. I dont know why but every bird we have ever had that 'talked' has done this. Either its a catchy sound or pretty easy to mimic which causes me to laugh all the harder. I'm not sure I am too enamorate of his choice in calling each adult male that comes into the house a @$$h*le sometimes its at such fitting times its almost as if he understands exactly what the word means.
I do appreciate all your help as this is a learning experience for both him and I. We've had a Conure before but he was rather a easy bird as he was totaly handfed and was never abused in anyway. We regret the day we had to surrender him because of a move and my parent didnt think he would travel well at all. We find out years later that birds do indeed travel well and mine actually loves going bye bye.
Rebecca |
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kaperc
Top Gold Member
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2007 : 22:40:59
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Ah, yes, the potty mouth. Our Julie came to us with, shall we say, a colorful vocabulary? We ignored those words and she hardly says them now, except when she's really vexed with me for some reason.
Our Amazon picked up my cough when I had a cold once and I told my husband if I die he will be haunted by that cough! He calls me Julie's "infinitely variable toy" because of our vocalizing. We play games with laughing and making noises - I've always done this with the other birds; our 'tiel whistles and the Amazon...well, she's an Amazon. :-)
Kathleen
Owned by Sunny ('tiel), Princess (BFA), and Julie (BGM)
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2007 : 00:04:58
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I wish it worked that way, with ignoring it but the more we 'ignore' the more he says it. I think it all started really because he was being ignored at my uncles house and thus he started screaming and they told him to shut up and called him a @$$h*le thus started that cycle...luckily with his vocab growing he doesnt say it near as much...thank goodness.
Rebecca |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2007 : 00:19:32
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Becca:
Just keep ignoring those bad words & eventually he'll stop using them. It may take months or longer.
>>He loves to feed the dogs....I was thikning ok he doesnt want a 'grape' today but then realized after a time that hes feeding the dogs... because he would drop a few then take the next and eat it without sharing..LOL.<<
Yeah...well JaJaBinks tossed a dish full of mashed sweet potatoes right down on top of my poodles. They're in show clip so you can imagine how hard that was to get out!! It's in their genes to toss food to the jungle floor. This is natures way of regrowth of the jungle, feeding the "floor creatures" (creatures living on the jungle floor).
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2007 : 00:21:52
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Kathleen:
My Macaw does my cough & the CAG does my sneezes...UGHHH!!! Nothing liek heaaring yourself being sick in stereo, LOL.
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2007 : 11:43:36
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Oh My I can just imagine how hard that was to get out.... TG loves oatmeal and tossed it down on the floor just narrowly missing the cocker spaniels head but did get it all in her ears....YUK!
Rebecca |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
 Posted - 03/13/2007 : 14:22:19
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this is toughguy after trying to take a bath in his water dish on his cage. As you can see he REALLY got into it, still not too fond of the shower thought but is getting used to the idea...and LOVES the cuddle ( in a towel) afterwards.
Rebecca |
Edited by - Becca on 03/13/2007 14:24:46 |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2007 : 10:37:09
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* new news*
Toughguy is starting to bond with hubby! awww. Since i am working and hubby can be home alot more than I can...he is starting to go on his desk when hes sitting there and wander around. Of course this also means that he has to keep his desk clean ( I knew there was a plus side to this!)
Of course when I get home its still ONLY mama that he wants. Which is just fine with me.But I am glad that he and hubby are finally starting to bond.
Rebecca |
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Dayhiker
Silver Member
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2007 : 13:36:12
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That's great, Rebecca! Scooter would have nothing to do with my husband for almost a year. Then I started leading a WW meeting one evening a week and she was stuck home with my dh. He let her get on the table while he would eat his dinner and let her get (good) things off his plate. That broke the ice. And though she still prefers me she will let him get her off a perch now without trying to kill him. lol! 
Cindy
Scooter, 6 y/o female military velcro lap macaw
Squawky, 8 y/o industrious weaving male Quaker parrot
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Esther
Top Gold Member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2007 : 06:41:30
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lol, same here. Tequila is a Mommy's boy but will now beg hubby to hold him although he'll chomp down right away. Not hard but still. Hubby has a low pain tolerance....
I was working late at the store so Tequila had to either accept hubby or stay in his cage until I got home...
To this day, my now 4 year old Blue Crown Conure, hates hubby. He has to be bribed out of his cage when I am not home. Several nights, he was in his cage until I got home since he wouldn't come out for hubby. Gotta love it.
Esther |
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Adding a ToughGuy to our family
