Scared CAG

[Sue13]

I'm looking for some advice with our CAG (Xavier's Freddie).

Some background:

About 8 months ago we adopted 2 male CAGs who were supposed to be bonded - Freddie (12) and Palmer (2). Shortly after their arrival at our house, we realized that the two were far from bonded . The aggression got so bad that Palmer was biting and drawing blood . It became obvious that the two could not remain together. Since we do not have enough space for another Grey sized cage, we had to find a new home for one of the two CAGs. Palmer was the more outgoing and talkative one and Freddie a shy introvert (with issues and multiple prior owners), so we decided to do the "right" thing and find a new home for Palmer.

The Problem:

From the beginning, Freddie has had a severe fright or flight syndrome, which has almost dissapeared now. He is a sweet and gentle parrot who steps up readily and gives kisses. However, he prefers the confines of his cage to any other place, be it playgym, playtop, chairs, floors, downstairs, etc. If removed from his cage for any length of time starts to shiver and shake and get back to his old flight or fright syndrome . He is also deathly afraid of strangers and visitors.

We are Freddie's 4th owners and, aparently, he was treated badly by the first owner.

I am wondering if anyone has advice on how to get Freddie over his fears? I suspect that it will take time and patience ...

Thanks in advance,

Susanne (Xavier's Mom)

P.S. Palmer has done wonderful at his new home . Looks like the bond was best broken for both CAGs.

[ltaylor]

Hi Sue,

Long ago I had taken in 2 Greys that were once Breeders. 1 was wild and 1 was the sweetest bird and just loved humans. The bird that was wild was litterly...Wild!. I made the decision before I even took them to give them the life of Pethood.

It took 2 yrs of intense patience and training for the Male we called "JoJo". Because JoJo had exactly the same fear and reaction regarding his cage, this is what I did.

I had them in the living room where we spend all our time. I had moved a specific small couch beside the cage...close enough that if JoJo WANTED, he could step onto the couch himself and back onto his cage. I'd leave treats on the couch ....stuffed in the side, in a toy, on the back of the couch...it was food haven really for him.

Well, it took months and I do mean months before he would even get close to that darn couch LOL. But you could his interest growing daily. There was no forcing, nothing. The best thing you can ever do, especially for a grey is allow them the time to "feel" safe, and give them opportunity to make choices. Greys are notorious for the Need to have trust earned in almost all situations, especially scared, unsure and unstable Greys.

Jojo DID climb onto that couch. Of coarse when I wasn't sitting on it, but he did after months of staring at it. It would take another year, before I could even "touch" him with a step up. The trick is not to force but to step back and give them time and come up with various ways to give something nice, something that will create that trust and let them know it is okay.

I just basically kept Jojo's cage door open all day <when home> and when i needed him in his cage all i needed to do was walk close to it and he scrambled <into> it LOL. But I did so slowly, and I had to actually make myself smaller and lower then him. The work paid off, but it sure took along long time. :-)

Do keep us informed. I'd love to hear how things work out for your new little buddy!

[Sue13]

Thank you for your advice. My thoughts have been exactly in line with your experience: that he needs time, patience and gentleness. Since we have decided to give him his forever home, there will certainly be endless amount of time

When we are home, we frequently ask Freddie to step up and take him out of his cage for very short excursions. As soon as he starts getting too agitated (within a minute or two) we take him back and he scrambles into his cage into "safety".

We've made a lot of progress since he first arrived: he allows me to give him showers ... I don't think he particularly enjoys it, but he does not seem to mind either AND, low and behold: ... he does not pluck his feathers!!!

Susanne

[ltaylor]

awe. You're such a sweetie for taking in this wonderful bird. If I could, I'd have a housefull of Greys!. I know exactly what you are going through and the good news for you is that you're one step ahead of where I was with JoJo. All I wanted to to hug that bird so badly and it really did break my heart that he felt so afraid, and rightfully so. You'll get there and probablly alot sooner. Another Grey I worked with (simon pictured in my siggy, he screamed at the sight of a human..soon as you walked into the room in which he was kept, I mean litterly scream and back into a corner). now he only took about 5 months to learn to trust me. The first 3 months was me going to visit him daily <same time every day without fail> and all I did was sit across the room from him, stare at the walll <not him or he'd scream LOL>, and talk and talk and talk for 3 hrs straight. The day came where I started to move closer to his cage, bring food, treats then eventually got him to step up all the while he gave me a bite so hard I needed stitches!. That very same day he just gave in..and cuddled under my neck. That was it. It was like he magically just gave in LOL.?? strange. But he turned out to be a valcro strip to me, which was perfectly fine by me.

Just know, you're not alone on this one, and you will get through < you already know that though :-). The fact you can give him showers is really incredible!

Keep us updated, I look forward to hearing more about your progression together!! Give him a hug for me too :-)

[Sue13]

Odd thing. Freddie sort of belongs to my husband and I I wish!

In any event, Freddie seems to tolerate me fine ... I'm the cleaner, feeder, groomer, toweler, nail trimmer, feather clipper ... one bite in 8 months ... several evil looks and that was it. My husband has never been bitten and Freddie seem quite comfortable and content with him .... for a several minutes rather than one or two with me ...

Then there is Hayley (aham ... Xavier) ... Freddie seems even more content with her ... the chosen one ... the one he poofs up for ... yet, she has had the most wicked bite of us all.

What does that mean???