Need Help w/G2... long...

[atalantae]

Hello to All,

I am Win. I adopted Sydney 1 yr ago. He was a loving bird full of fun. He learned that he loved to dance and whistle with me. He learned to play with a towel, he would chase it around like a little dog and shake it. Then run for it again.
He is now 15 yrs old. He spent the first 14 yrs of his life in a small cage with only a measly sock and 1 toy to play with, so he is not much of a toy player. He was on a just seed diet. He will now eat corn, peas, mashed potatoes, pizza crust, apple and of course seed. I have been trying to get him to switch to pellets but to no avail. He just pitches them out of his bowl. Over the past yr he has gone from sleeping in his small cage to sleeping and living in his much much larger cage. We only use the small one to go to the vet and to got out in the sunshine.
We went thru the screaming and biting phase. Thank goodness he has decided that screaming and biting gets him no where.
Now we are to yet another phase in his little life.
In May I painted the living room. And in July I painted the rest of the downstairs. The color is called snow ballet. It is brighter than the 'sort of yellow' it was painted. Then we pulled up the living room carpet and had hardwood put down. In the computer room, which is right out of the living room, we pulled up the piece of carpet and now just the wood floor is there.
Syd started to act strange, he would not step up to go anywhere with me. He will not play with his towel with me either. I caught him laying on his one rope perch. So I took him to see his avian vet. We ran all the blood work and did find he had a small infection and he had to be put on Baytril. I have to towel him to give it to him, which he hates with a passion. But that is the only way to get it into him. And for me to take him outside or give him a bath I have to towel him.
What does everyone think.... Will he get over the floor change and get back to normal after his med is done and he is better? About how long should I give him? Or should I start looking for him a new home now??

And please do not flame me for asking that question. I just need help with my son.

Thanks.
Win

[KimBear]

Given time, your cockatoo should get used to the new floor, but in the meantime it sounds like the stress of the medication and the new floor "shock" has him on overload. There's no way to know how long it will take him to settle down, but once you're done medicating him, he'll have one less thing to freak out about.

You might have better luck trying to play with him in another room so that he isn't distracted by his fear of the new floor. Since you're having to medicate him, be sure to get him out often so he doesn't think that every time you come for him, he gets restrained and fed ikcy Baytril. Even if you just open his cage for a head scratch, that's good. The more pleasant interactions he has with you as opposed to bad ones, the better.

When a parrot is nervous about something it's hard for them to focus on anything else, so he won't find playing with you as much fun as he used to. If he can get his mind of the floor, he may be able to relax more.

It's probably premature to think of rehoming him at this point. Parrots may hold a grudge for a while about changes in their environment, or from having to take medicine, but if you're able to be patient and take small steps to win him over again you should be fine.

Think of him as a bird that's new to you, and find simple activities that he seems to like, but don't overdo it. Once you sense that he's getting stressed, back off a bit and try again later. Use food treats and lots of confident, calm verbal encouragement. Try not to come off as anxious about him because he might pick up on your mood.

[atalantae]

Hi Kim,

Thanks for not flaming me and giving me great answers...

I do not take him out just to give him meds. I take him onto his perch so that we can all have dinner together. To his outside cage so we can go and enjoy the sunshine.

Thank goodness he only has this week yet. Then he has to go for a checkup with his vet.

Yes I am patient... sometime I just have to walk away from him though

Again thanks. I will try to keep in mind that he is 'new'.

Win

[nutCase]

Hi Win,
I have a Goffin also, and I urge you to continue going slowly with Sydney and giving him the time to adjust. They are high-strung little guys, and always on alert. Their nature makes them so much fun, but can work against them in a home setting when they get overloaded with change. My Casey "went phobic" many years ago, and there have been times when I thought of rehoming him, but I honestly don't think that would be best for him.
Kim's advice is right on the mark. Please let us know how he's doing now!

[atalantae]

Thanks NutCase.

Syd is now in his... I love my mommy, I hate my mommy mode...
One time he is full of hugs and kisses. The next he is running away. He will only step up when he feels like getting scritches. Or when I ask him if he is hungry and does he want to go along and eat.
I know the floor does not bother him. He loves to get on the floor and play the chase game.

Win

[Beaks]

go out and buy a throw rug the same color as the carpet was and put it in front of the cage and that should help.

Just hang in there and he should be ok

[KimBear]

If you start to have increased problems with Syd's attitude, let me know. Willful cockatoos are usually not pleasant to have to deal with. For now, I recommend doing your best to show him that his refusal to step up has consequences. For example, if he won't step up when you try to get him out of the cage, just shut the door and walk away. Try again in a few minutes. He can learn that if he wants to come out, he needs to step up.

And be careful about that floor chasing thing because it can get out of control. The floor is a good place for exercise, but don't let him get in the habit of attacking people's feet. Just about everyone who's done that ends up regretting that little game!

[Beaks]

Aint that the truth!

My wife still cant get her brain wrapped around the idea of taking charge with my U2s so they try to bully her every chance they get.(i never have a problem with them LOL)