Bringing home baby...well, sort of

[ssbwd]

Hi,
I posted this in the expert section on accident (I don't think it requires an expert). But, I don't seem to be getting very far there, and it's kind of time sensitive, so I thought I'd ask in here. Oh, and if it's against the rules or something..sorry...but I didn't see anything about it. Here's what I wrote (updated):

We recently (Sunday) rescued a 24 year old Congo African Grey who, unfortuanetly for me, does NOT like women. She's in an even worse mood because we are her THIRD (but final ) home in about four days. So, she's quite a lil pistol. I ended up taking her yesterday to the vet to get her wings and nails done, it could have been too soon, but it needed to be done badly! So, after the wings are done clipping, I need to somehow help her overcome her dislike of women. She's already kind of starting to come around. She's not scared of me, and will (most times) step up out of or off of her cage with no huge problems. She's REALLY smart, so I think she'll learn quickly that I'm the one taking care of her. She's just never been around women, all her former owners were men. So, what can I do to help her get used to being around women? Or even me for that matter! I read on another site about cuddling with the bird, like wrapping it in a towel and just holding it close to your chest, and I think that might work well, but I don't know for sure. And I don't know how to go about getting the towel around the bird without completely scaring her for life. On a happier note, she's been confusing my dogs like crazy. They can't seem to figure out why the bird is barking, or where the other dog is at hehe :D:D She's also plucked clean on her belly, and they said it's been that way for about 8 years, so I'm thinking that might not grow back, but maybe with a better diet (all she was fed was seeds, very very occasionally some friut or veggie) and regular baths, it could help a bit. Of course, my avian vet is on maternity leave until the first of august, so we'll have to wait to get her checked out. I had to take her to another vet who I'd heard was good too, turned out she's not the greatest. But any suggestions about her little sexism issue, haha, would be much appreciated!!!!

Thanks!
Erin

[Mylo's Mama]

Sounds to me like this is a perfect opportunity to show her that a woman is going to be the constant in her life! I wouldn't suggest the towel becuase I agree with you, that may scare the poops out of her! Lots of patience, patience, and even more patience (seeing as how she is an older bird) We have a conure (we think about 12 years old) and he loves men only. My mom has taken him in and shown him that she is the caregiver, play time person, etc, and he absolutely loves her!

[Lisa B]

Patience is the key here....she might take a while to come around, but she will.....let her settle in, and relize us girls arent that bad....one never knows what a woman has done to her in the past, and you will never know...so just slow things down, and enjoy her.

[TooLover]

Exactly - patience is the key! It took a year for Buck to figure out that my dh wasn't a threat, and now hubby gets more cuddle time than I do..
Good luck and keep us posted!

[ssbwd]

Thanks for the replies! She's been doing better and better everyday! I'm trying to leave her alone for the most part and just talk to her while she's on her cage. But we do a little bit of work too, so that she doesn't get too clingy to her cage. Today I was working with her, and just cuddling her (without the towel, cuz I don't know how much I like the idea of that much force) and she had let me scratch the top of her head like maybe twice since she's been here. Well, she decided she wanted more! She took my finger in her beak, really gently, and put my finger on the back of her neck! So I pet her a little thinking, well, SHE put my finger there. Then I stopped and started doing something else, just letting her hang out with me, and she came over and did it again! So, I guess that means that she's starting to like me , and she's not nearly as afraid of hands as she was on Sunday. It seems like she's making a lot of progress very quickly, I just hope she doesn't revert back to hating me! The guy who had her before us said that she was hormonal and had tried to mate with him on Sat, so I'm wondering if maybe when she's done being hormonal (if that's even how it works with birds), she might go back to being a little goober again.

She does seem to like my fiance a lot though but, knowing him as I do, he won't want much to do with her in about a month, so I'm trying to limit contact with him, since I don't want her to start freaking out when he doesn't give her attention anymore. Is that what I should be doing? Or should I just let her go to him until he stops being interested?

Other than that, she's a hoot. She says tons of stuff and makes some of the weirdest noises I've ever heard. She loves barking at the dogs and telling them to go get the ball. The funny thing is, they listen! And tonite...she said goodnight (like I've been telling her everynight) instead of goodbye (like she's been saying) I can't wait to see what she's gonna do next! LOL

[TooLover]

Sounds like you are making wonderful progress - keep up the good work!

[debraw]

I just got a CAG that was 8 years old and bonded with men. Echo really perks up when a tall man comes into the room. I am the primary caregiver now and have told my husband that I want the bird to like him, but love me so I have asked him not to have as much to do with him as me...please. He still steps up and we coo and talk to him together and then I take over. I put him in and out of his travel cage and Echo goes to work with me only, for now. We just had out first Dr's appt and had all the tests done and even another DNA test just so we can be 100% sure of the bird and give him all the care he needs. For now I work with him every day, have taken a few good bites on my hand with his beak, and just stay calm and patient. I allow him as much space as he needs without backing completely down all the time. Everything I have read all points to time and patience. That's ok, time is all I have, with a bird that will probably outlive me! Good luck and hang in there sounds like you are on the right track.

[AmandaB]

She sounds like a great bird Erin. Keep up the good work!