My lorie has gone wild.....

[chetanadance]

Hi everyone, I just introduced myself in the introduction section, Sorry to arrive and ask straight for help - but that's what led me to the site! I do look forward to sharing geat lorie stories, but right now I am seeking some much needed advice from more experienced lorie owners.

Scrappy is my sons bird, loves his owner and is very loyal and loving (but cranky to everyone else) My lorikeet is Dame. my son bought him for me last November as a hand raised baby, and I adore him. However, naturally, him and Scrappy love to play together - they live in separate cages but have play time together usually in the house. The more time Dame has spent with Scrappy - even next to him in separate cages, the wilder he becomes. I understand this is normal, Scrappy has become a bit less 'owner oriented' since having Dame to play with - but we were prepared to have this happen for the sake of them having a lorie playmate, however Dame has become unmanageable - uncatchable in fact! How can i get him back!

Up until last week he was hard to catch, he would hop on my hand or shoulder happily when I put a hand out to him, but as soon as I made a move to put a hand over him he would freak out and take off, so when I eventually did catch him it was a struggle and unpleasant for him.
i've always hand fed him, our morning routine is he hops out of his 'inside cage' onto me, I would make up his mix and he sits with me having his brekky, have a bit of a fly around, come back to me, fly again etc. Some days he stays inside all day - but usually spends them most part of the middle of the day on his spot in the bathroom, and hangs aorund me in the morning and evening. Scrappy usually comes inside for a play in the late afternoon/evening when Mitchell is home.
Some days I put him out in his 'outside cage' which is next to Scrappy's.

But last MOnday morning I put him into his cage in the morning (after the usual chase, tackle and grab to catch him!), he was in there all day, and all night as I was out and off to work early on Tuesday morning. WE were out tuesday night aswell, so I didn't get him in until bedtime Tuesday night, had a little cuddle and put him in his inside cage.

On Wednesday morning, instead of hopping onto my hand and coming with me for his brekky, he flew away from me, and wouldn't let me near him all day. I got him late in the evening when he was tired and hungry, then every morning now he has done the same thing. straight past me in the morning, and won't hop on me until in the evening when he is tired and hungry - meanwhile he hasn't eaten all day!
I miss him, and I'm sad as he's obviously not happy!
I don't know what to do - should I tape his wing tightly (he has always been able to fly except when I had him on holidays with me) and keep forcing him to stay with me, should I never let him see scrappy - (we think Scrappy tells him bad stories about me- scrappy is like that!)
It seems I may have to make a decision, separate the birds COMPLETELY, and work with Dame to get his trust back, but it seems unfair to not let them have eachother, or let them have eachother and accept that Dame is not a pet?
I really hope there may be someone with lots of experience with pet lories who can give me some guidance? - Is it possible to have 2 pet lories that can be playmates but like their people aswell?
Linda

[NoLimitssjca]

Welcome to BB. There are lots of experienced people here that caan provide lots of ideas about how to approach your problem.

It is possible to have your pet and them to have a buddy but it wll take changes.

I recommend the first step is to clip Dame's wings. There are two schools of thought on this, (1: Never do it because it isn't natural) (2: Do it because it makes the bird docile).

My experience is that minutes after you clip your bird he as a much different attitude. No chasing, no hiding, just a little bird that needs your help.

The second thing I would recommend is putting your guy in the cage off and on throughout the day. Sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes with a treat. Basically, you want him to learn that going to the cage can be rewarding and isn't always for a long time.

I don't see visiting with Scrappy as a major problem. I just see him exherting his independance. Clipped wings and a new cage routine should be tried first.

If you haven't clipped before, please get a professional to do it for you.

Good Luck.

[Ashling]

I agree with clipping his wings. When I clip my birds they usually makes less noise, bite less and are more docile... I think this is unnatural yes but for the happiness of your bird it's worth it. Just remember, it's not forever; when he is all trained well, you can let him grow his wings back... I suggest you also start on recall training. Good luck!

[chetanadance]

hello, and thanks! Yep, sounds like clipping his wings might be a good idea, and I'm thinking perhaps keep him with me, without scrappy for just a while. I'm thinking that he is confused, perhaps we should have kept him with just humans for a while longer before introducing him to Scrappy, (but of course we were so excited for them to meet we couldn't wait!) There has been less impact on Scrappy, as I guess his relationship with Mitchell (my son/his owner) was already well established. Mitchell does notice that Scrappy is less biddable when Dame is around, but will go back to being his friend when they're on their own.
What is - hang on, what was it you said...'recovery training' or something like that?

[chetanadance]

HI again, I clipped Dame's wing yesterday, which, yes, tamed him and he spent the day with me (even after I got his foot caught in the door and he flew across the road to the school! - lucky it was a clipped wing kind of fly!) so, that's good, I guess I just have to be so patient. What I really need to know, is, how do I work on getting him to accept me putting him in and out of the cage and handling him as needed? aS I mentioned, he will hop onto my hand or shoulder, but freaks as soon as I put another hand near him to scratch, or hold him. For example, right now, I would like to get him out for a cuddle b4 work, but won't, as it will be a major drama to get him back in there in an hour when I have to go?
aS you can see in the photo, dame is the little one looking up at Scrappy like he's God or something!

[NoLimitssjca]

Congratulations on making it through wing clipping.

Now you have some trust building to do. My guy HATES going back in the cage. Occasionally I have to flip him upside down (on the bottom of the cage) on his back (while he hangs onto my fingers) and pry his little feet off my hands. It's quite comical really. He is so quick and wants to be with me so much that it is sometimes quite a chore. I have even had to go so far as to take my shirt off (when he hides on my shoulder) and put the shirt in the cage.

But I never show frustration with him and always let him know I will be back later.

My wife has more problems with him than I do. So I can appreciate how difficult it can be. Be patient. It's a process.

[magdalena]

I'm having the breeder clip Poe before shipping him (so I'm not the bad guy heh). It really does make working with birds easier in the beginning, though I am pro flighted birds once they are well behaved (is that an oxymoron for parrots?).