The change in my bird since I've had him

[Tishrei]

As I have been reading through different posts, it got me to thinking about my bird and the changes I have seen in him. I thought I would share especially in light of posts regarding getting a bird where the owner weans so as to have a better bond with the bird.

I've shared how I acquired my bird -- I consider it a rescue since I never wanted a bird and agreed to take him simply to remove him from an unhappy situation. People can call it what they want -- rescue or a rehome -- makes no difference to me. But when I saw him in his previous home, he was a screamer -- could make the walls shake practically. And, man could this bird bite -- he would lunge at you and even chase you. I'll tell you what he was like and what he is like now.

Anyway, when he came here, I was nailed by him a few times but I found out why. Anything large in my hands especially if it was blue -- he would BITE ME -- he bit my neck once so hard it was embarassing as it looked like a really bad hickey.

When he came here, he would scream if I left the room so I would take him with me. I left his cage open all the time so he could come and go as he pleased (when I was home). He was only locked up when I wasn't home.

His second home, he was hit with a stick so he was very afraid of sticks. In fact once I was coming from one room to another and I had a hammer in my hand as I was going to fix something. Ducky was following me into that room and and when I was coming out, he took off as fast as his little legs would carry him. He triped on something so I reached down to right him back up -- not thinking about the hammer in my other hand. He let out this most heart wrenching yell -- I mean, this wasn't one of his screams, this was the type of yell that broke your heart as he was scared. He thought I was going to hit him with the hammer. When I realized that, I threw the hammer across the room and picked him up and just cuddled with him. I tell you, it simply broke my heart that he thought I was going to hit him with the hammer. Even this many years later, I remember that sound and it almost brings tears to my eyes. (I'm back .... LOL ... remembering that incident I had to go give him a hug and a kiss).

Anyway, to break him of that fear, what I decided to do is desensitize him. I found a long stick and I approached him with it and held it up and when he went to bite it, I would pull it away. Within that same day, I was able to gently touch his little body with it on his cute little bare belly -- he would bite the stick and back and forth. Anyway, I've created a little monster with that exercise. Now he thinks its a game -- I have to put him in another room when I want to sweep or mop because he thinks its a game and attacks the broom or mop. I have to shut the door to my room when putting clothes away as he wants to attack the clothes hanger -- he makes all these cute noises attacking and when I throw the "stick" I'll pick him up and he rubs his beak against my mouth making all kinds of silly noises to show me what a brave boy he was in attacking the stick.

I'll probably be talked to about how I handled him in the beginning but I was not a bird person and knew absolutely nothing about the proper handling of birds when I first got him. I did not know that I could say "step up" and he would step up on my finger. I would simply reach in and grab him with both hands. He would let out a yelp of total shock but for some reason, he did not bite me when I did that. He TAUGHT ME that all I simply had to do was put my finger out and he would step up.

If we went somewhere -- and he hated car rides in the beginning -- he would scream when I would try and take him out. Not anymore -- my thoughts were that I was the boss and he was going to comply with my wishes (I know, that's not the way to raise a bird) -- but my point is that for some reason, despite my roughness from my absolute ignorance regarding birds, he trusted me. I am guessing it is because I would not keep him locked up in his cage or cover his cage when he screamed. Actually, when he screamed (and again, I now know this is bad), I would grab him with both hands and put him up to my face and yell "DON'T SCREAM" -- loudly and sternly (I also used other punishments but NEVER hit him).

But as he became more and more secure and used to me, he calmed down. I'm serious, this bird doesn't scream anymore. He doesn't even do the morning or nighttime squawking. I honestly started to get concerned that he was ill or something because he doesn't squawk -- he's so quiet -- and he's a severe macaw. He's a very cuddly bird but not needy anymore. Right now, he's perched on top of his cage -- 2 years ago, he would insist on being on me. It was like he was a permanent attachment to my body -- it was getting a bit annoying having this bird attached to me at all times.

The other day, I was at a friend's house and I had Ducky with me. We had to go out and do an errand. Anyway, I couldn't take Ducky with us so I left him at his house all by himself. In the past, if I did that, Ducky would pitch a fit and I mean pitch a fit. He would scream and scream so you could hear him outside -- and would start screaming again when he heard the keys in the door. Not anymore, I put him down and no screaming -- returned 1/2 hour later and no screaming. I put my hand out and he simply climbed up and just sat there.

I got him when he was 16 years old and he was a total neurotic bird. Drove me crazy and I could not figure out how I was going to live with this crazy bird that wouldn't leave me alone. After I agreed to keep him, I knew that this was a commitment and I would not back down and give him up. It wasn't his fault that he was forced to live in captivity and it wasn't his fault that he acted like a bird. I had decided to give him a home that was without abuse or neglect -- I'm the human so I can adapt as I have better understanding.

Before when he hated to go out on car rides, he's learned to love them now. I know he likes them because he associates me picking up my purse and my car keys with a car ride so he runs over to me as fast as his little legs will carry him so he can go for his car ride. We get in the car and he perches on my shoulder next to the window with his back to me so he can watch the scenery.

I also take him to outdoor coffee shops. In the past, he would hate to sit on the table as he would forever try and crawl on me. I would push my chair away so he could not reach me. Now, he doesn't want to be on me even if I try and pick him up -- he'll move away from me. He simply likes to stand on the table and eat his treat while I read. When I pick up my purse, he knows it's time to leave so he'll lift his leg on his own to be picked up. In the past, if I went with a friend and left him with the friend while I ran in to get another cup of coffee, he would scream up a storm until I came back out. Not anymore -- doesn't even let out a peep ... he's learned that I always return.

The bird I got 5 years ago and the bird I have now -- two different birds. Now, only if I could get him to clean his own cage ....

I'm certainly no expert on birds by any stretch of the imagination -- I am still being trained by my bird on how to treat birds. I know I annoy him and he certainly annoys me but we have a thing going and I'm not sure how it happened. If I INSIST on doing something to him, he'll comply but mostly if I know he wants to be left alone, I'll give him that. If I want to pick him up and he wants to be left alone, instead of lifting his leg, he'll put his head down for a scratch so I'll scratch his head and leave him alone. If I insist, for instance if I want him to go someplace else, I'll say in a stern voice "step up" and he'll comply for he knows it's not an option. I try and not do that though as I know that I don't want people to always force me to do things I don't want to do.

I feel so comfortable and safe that I don't take issue if he preens my eyelashes -- he's so gentle and like I said, I can't remember the last time he took a bite as it's been years. We have this little game -- I'll go up to him and say "I wanna kiss a bird" so he'll lower his head for a kiss or he'll put his beak on my mouth for a "birdy kiss." If he's on my shoulder and I feel like kissing him, I'll grab hold of his beak and pull him to my mouth and kiss his cute little cheek.

The one thing that I can't seem to break him of is if he is on my shoulder and I want him to step off and he doesn' want to, he'll climb down the middle of my back where I can't reach him. When he does that, it's hard to get him off and sometimes I end up taking off my shirt just to get him off of me and once he's off of me, I put my shirt back on and then pick him up and take him to his cage.

Birds are great and I ended up with a bird that knew how to train me in proper bird handling. He picked me and said to himself -- this is a person I can train. Don't know why he picked me but he did and he allowed for my utter ignorance regarding bird handling.

I can't tell you how glad I am that I did not say no and send him back to the home where he was so unhappy. This is one quiet macaw.

Sorry this is so long but I've been thinking about the changes in him ever since I've been on this community and reading all the different posts. I've been blessed to have him live with me.

[BanjoBuddyCookie]

That's such a beautiful story. Congrats on getting him to trust and love you.

[Kiwi1224]

Thanks for sharing your story. How wonderful. When I read your initial posting about the background of how you got Ducky, I was hoping to hear updates. What a great bond you share and how wonderful that Ducky has his trust back with someone who truly loves him and it sure sounds like the feeling is mutual from him. congratulations!

[itchysquid]

Who the HELL would hit a bird with a stick.... Some people should just....

This is a family place so I'm not going to say what I really think!

That's so great that you've learned so much and given an awesome bird a good home. Well done!

[ROYJOY]

thanx for the story.

[Busguy]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[KitKappa]

I really enjoyed reading about you and Ducky thank you so much for sharing!

[Monica]

Charlie sounds like Ducky when he first found you, only he hasn't been abused (at least that I know of). He's so bonded to me he'll scream his head off! If he can't see me he's screaming... if I'm not home, he's screaming!!! I'd love it to have a day when he's quiet!!!

Lovely story! And it certainly sounds as if he taught you!

[kathyellen]

That is a beautiful love story! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[PyscoFalcon]

What a lovely story. It's birds that come from a past like this and show us how happy they are in ther new home that it makes it all worth while.