Avicalm ?

[Steve A]

My male Cockatiel has had a hard life. I adopted him last June 2008. He is scared of hands and has not shown much improvement. Would a product like avicalm help. I don't want him dopey or falling around the cage I just think it would improve his quality of life not to be so afraid of hands. Is it possible to use short term to get him use to people and the discontinue usage.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Steve A

[kellywess]

I just started using Avicalm about three weeks ago with my Yellow Collared Macaw. She started to become a screamer and pluck herself. I am starting to see signs that it is working. She has lots of pin feathers and the screaming has cut back tremendously.

In your situation, it might help, however I feel that you are going to have to be patient in working with your little guy to earn his trust. Favorite treats from a "scary hand" can help.

[Sue195350]

Scooter also does not like hands. She comes from a pet store and I have had her for almost 2 years now. took her about a year to fly to my shoulder and now that is where she always is. She still odes not let me touch her with my hands but I can rub her head with my cheek and kiss her beak.I first taught her to step up on a perch. The more she is out of her cage the better she becomes. She eats with us because we are her "flock". she is a one and only. She now runs up and down my arm trying to see what I am doing but stll won't go on my hands. So patient is key and you may never get to touch. Does it really matter to me ? no ..got a sweet baby that loves her mama

[tielfan]

Food bribery is a great way to make friends, and millet spray is excellent for working with hand-shy birds. First you make sure the tiel knows how delicious millet spray is by hanging one up in the cage and waiting until it's been devoured. Then you start offering the bird some millet spray that you're holding in your hand. Use a long piece and hold it so the bird can nibble on it while staying away from your hand. As he/she becomes more comfortable you can gradually adjust your grip so the bird comes closer and closer to the hand. Eventually you may even be able to use the millet spray to lure the bird into stepping up on your hand.

[Mango27]

Hi Steve, Im glad your tiel has a good home with you now. Avicalm is supposed to be safe and shouldnt make him drowsy or anything. I have been using it with my grey for about a week. Just keep working with him on a daily basis with the treats and just getting him used to having your hand around him.

[Steve A]

Thanks for the replies. I waiting for him and if he never calms down thats OK to. I just thought I would try to find some option before we have to make that scary vet trip for a check up.
The lady from the rescue mentioned rescue remedy as a another way to calm him. Thanks Steve A

[tielfan]

Rescue remedy is one of the Bach Flower Essences. There are a lot of people who swear by it, but scientific testing indicates that it's a placebo. I don't know anything about Avicalm so I can't comment on it.

[Steve A]

I don't think it's a placebo. I Rescue remedy on my Sheltie who is afraid of thunderstorms and it calms him right down. I like how it helps him. I can understand how a person can believe something is affecting them when it's really not. But I don't see how that can be the same for a pet, Unless the idea is that after I give the placebo to the pet and it calm me. then that effects the pet? But I am not sure because this is way over my head.

But in my experience rescue remedy works.
Steve A

[tielfan]

Rescue Remedy WILL have a real effect if you give a lot of it, since it contains alcohol. But in scientific tests (on humans, I assume) it has the same effectiveness as a placebo at the recommended doses. With pets, the placebo effect is on the owner and not the pet. The human knows that the pet has taken "medicine" which affects the human's expectations and perceptions.

Here are some brief, highly skeptical articles on Bach flower essences:
Bach flower therapy - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com
Bach Flower Essences - SkepticWiki
Bach Flower Remedies (ART Blurbs) (ART Blurbs)