An Oscar Update

[vle1170]

Well I showed you all a picture of Oscar that I am trying to retame. he had been found outside.
He has shown some more things that apparently came from his previous life before being outside. He whistles for the dog, I have never done that, so he didnt hear it from me, and he yelps like a puppy (which is kinda annoying LOL)

I left the door to his cage open for about 2 hours today to see if he would come out, but he wouldnt, figured I would open it up every day for a few hours and see if he realizes its ok to come out. But its almost like he feels more secure in the cage, but Im not rushing him.

I still cant get my hand near him, not even a finger to see if he will step up, but you can tell by how he acts that he wants loving real bad, but he's still scared. He blows kisses, and when I am up at his cage, and blow kisses back he bends his head down like a bird that is used to getting kisses on the head, so its obvious he has had kisses before, and he wants them now, but he's too scared still.

Anybody have any other suggestions that I can use on him to work with him? I sit and talk to him a LOT during the day, I cover him at night which he seems to really like having done. I have tried giving him treats, and when he doesnt take it from my hand, I put it in his food bowl, but he still wont take them. I know it will take time but knowing anything else I can do to work with him would be so helpful.

I also plan to get some more pics of him as well. I did notice, well he is a regular gray with the yellow head, but on the back on his head and neck are white speckles, does that mean that he may be mixed with a pied or pearl maybe??

More updates to come.

Vicki

[Ashling]

His old family must have been very dog-orientated!
From what I read, you're doing a terrific job! Just keep doing what you're doing and he'll come round. Do you offer him millet spray? Sunflower seeds? What are you feeding him plz?

[KDK241]

It sounds like you are doing everything just right. When I got Zeke he used to be tame but hadn't been handled by his previous owners in years. He was mean and would not come out of the cage for anything. I did the same thing and it took him a little over a month before he would come out of the cage. Once he came out, I would make it as fun as possible by leaving treats on top of the cage for him to get when he got up there. Who knows what this poor little guy went through before you found him. The best thing I learned with Zeke is to not push and let things happen in their time. What kind of treats are you giving him? It's possible that he doesn't recognize them as food and that's why he isn't eating them. I would try giving him some millet spray if you aren't already. I haven't met a bird yet who won't eat millet sprays. A couple of my tiels didn't even know what they were when I got them but they figured it out really fast. Not only that but since they are longer you can hold them and he can eat without being too close to you, then just start giving shorter and shorter lengths.

The feathers on the back of his neck mean that he is split to pied. Just keep doing what you are doing. I was about to give up on Zeke when he turned into a completely different bird overnight (literally). It's like he just decided that I wasn't so bad after all. Now he is the first one of my birds to chirp when I leave and the first to chirp when I come home. He still bites but we have an understanding (mainly that no matter how hard he bites he will still have to do what I ask) so now he is more bark then bite.

[vle1170]

Oh yes I have definitely given him millet and he went through a whole spray thingy in a day and half. He absolutely LOVES it. He is getting a combination of pellets and seed as regular food, vitamins in his water.
The treats I have tried him with is apple and corner of a cracker, but he didnt touch either one. He is scared of hands it seems, but even when I put those two things in his bowl he ate around them. he gets sunflower seeds in his regular food and he gobbles them up as well.
Im definitely not giving up on him, I will open up his cage door every day for a few hours and see how long it takes for him to realize its ok to come out.
I think its too darn cute how we whistle back and forth, it cracks me up that he whistles for the dog though and she flat ignores him.
Anywho thanks for the tips and such, I'll let ya know how it goes. :)

Vicki

[vle1170]

Took a couple more pictures of Oscar, would love to get some of him out of the cage, just gotta get him to feel comfortable enough to come out...so have to see him through bars for now, but aint he cute??

[Ashling]

He really is a pretty thing. He looks very inquisitive. Pop some natural branches in for him- it's good for their feet. Straight, plastic ones aren't too good for em!

[vle1170]

Yeah Im planning on getting him a couple of them for his cage and getting rid of those nasty plastic things. Since he wont come out of the cage, gotta make it as comfy for him as possible.
Didnt get to sleep until early this morning, forget sleep at night anymore for me, but while I was trying to sleep I so shoulda covered him back up cuz man he was not gonna let me sleep LOL He brought out his yelping puppy and very loud at that LOL Silly bird.