Recently Adopted Yellow-Collared HELP!

[kasaleda]

I'm looking for any help at all here. I recently adopted a 12 year old yellow-collared male. The previous owners were very good to him, but have retired and are going to be traveling, with no time for him.

He will not let me handle him. The previous owners said he hadn't been handled in a few months, and whenever that happens, he does shy away and become difficult for awhile, but will quickly go back to loving being handled and played with. They suggested that I attempt to get him out of the cage often and just keep at it. Said that if he doesn't respond to "step up" command, to distract him with one hand and he will automatically step up with the other.

Well, this isn't working. I have several sores & bruises from numerous bites. The only time he steps up with no problem is if he gets scared & jumps off his cage. Otherwise, he'll continually bite me. If I do get him to step up, he runs to my back where I can't reach him to interact, will bite me if I try, then won't move again unless I either take him back to his cage or scare him to my front side (which I don't want to do).

It has only been 4 days, but I already feel myself getting frustrated which I know isn't good for either one of us. I know under normal circumstances, he would warm back up quickly, but I feel what I'm doing isn't really helping him to become comfortable with me, because when I do have him on me, it's not really interaction if he's trapped on my back scared to let me touch him.

Any advice is very much appreciated. I will love any tips on ways to have him more comfortable interacting with me. I'm commited to making this bird comfortable in my home.

[kellywess]

Hi, first of all welcome to the Bird Board and kudos to you for re-homing. First of all, it has only been 4 days. You have to keep in mind that our feathered friends are very intelligent and sensitive animals. The little bird that you have brought into your home is terrified and confused. Everything that he knows is gone, everyone that he trust is gone, everything that is familiar and safe... is gone. You are going to need to give him some time to adjust to you and his new surroundings... sights and sounds. You just need to leave him be for a few days. Change his food and water daily as needed and sit next to his cage and talk to him so he can get used to the sound of your voice. He needs to calm down and settle in before you can attempt to allow him to come out of his cage and/or handle him. Once he settles in and becomes more comfortable he should start to show interest in you. You can offer him a treat through the cage bars (you gotta find out what he likes) say a cashew, bananas, grapes... something that he normally doesnt get in his food dish everyday. Just remember to NEVER make him do something he is not willing to do... or else he will see your behavior as agressive and he will return the favor. Time and patience. Once you do manage to get him to step up... which eventually you will... do not let him run up your shoulder. Put your hand in his path and tell him no. Keep your arm bent at the elbow and always make sure he sits in a way that his eyes are well below yours. Good Luck, try not to get frustrated and let us know if you have any more questions.

[Oscars Mom]

$ days is a short time and hes scared and doesnt know you. Is he clipped? Its mucheasier to work/make friends with a new bird thats clipped.Will he get up on a perchtoo come out of his cage? Id keep pellets/fruitas /veggies in his cage but feed him seeds/treats from your hand/dish. Try to get him out of the cage and take him out of sight of the cage to a small room and spend 10-15 minutes one on one acouple of times a day then put him back in the cage .when hes in the cage talk and sit calmly near him so hell get used to youand learn your not a threat but a friend .Soon hell loook forward to coming out but the short sessions prevent frustration/stress for you and the bird.Working away from his cage will make a big differanceand youll have quicker results.Always end on an up note and if you or the bird get rattled stop and take a breaktil your calm.also PATIENCE is so hard but it takes a little time to win the trust of a rehomed birdbut is TOTALLY doable and worth it.

[PenelopeGem]

Congratulations on your new Yellow Collared Macaw - I have always wondered what it would be like to own one for a pet. I agree with what everyone is saying about going slowly to earn it's trust. One thing that has worked for me, and can take away a lot of stress in worrying about "the bite" is to train your bird to step up on a perch. If he/she is perch trained, you can usually step it up. This can work for birds that are hand shy, and can make the difference, sometimes, between them being able to leave their cage to play on a playstand, or having to remain cage bound because of the owner's fear of getting bitten.

[huntress]

Ditto Ditto Ditto

[Sprecker]

Wow. You are very lucky. I just got to meet one on sunday at an aviary and he was adorable. He would laugh and dance every time you gave him a treat. I fell in love instantly.
I am sorry you are feeling defeated but 4 days is too early to be forcing your self on him/her. If you were given away, had to live with strangers that didn't speak your language, in a new home would you warm up in and be your old self in 4 days? I don't think anything would.
Keep trying, just don't force anything. While you are home leave him/her in his cage with the door open. Let him/her come out on his/her own time. Talk to him/her and offfer treats or a peice of what you are eating. Before long s/he will be happy to see you and will learn that you are a freind and want to be around you.

[kasaleda]

Everything you all were saying was my gut instinct. (i.e. leave him be, feed him treats, talk to him, etc). Everything I have researched said this. I listened to his former owners & my husband, who said otherwise. I just lost focus on what was right. I'm going to take all of your advice. He will eat treats out of my hand, so I'm going to keep doing that, and I already have a chair next to his cage that I can sit in.

Sorry I didn't see the name of the poster, but the advice about bent elbow and keeping hand up if he tries to climb up my arm is EXCELLENT!

I appreciate this board so much. I've been a lurker for several months now, but this was my first post and I'm so glad I did it.

Other than treats and talking to him, I've left Cody alone today (as far as trying to get him out). I put my hand on top of the cage where he was and asked him to step up, but didn't force it. He didn't run away from me immediately as usual, so I assume that's progress. I'm looking at it that way anyway!

Thanks to all! I feel rejuvenated.

[kellywess]

You can sit in that chair next to his cage and read to him. I have done that in the past with one of my re-homes and it really helped alot. I eventually left the cage door open while I was reading until my little friend decided to come out on his own.

[kasaleda]

Update - Cody is doing better. I still cannot get him to step up. But he is coming to me when I sit in the chair next to him, will sit by me (still on his cage). He allows me to feed him treats, and this morning, he preened me!!!! I was so excited to be groomed by the little guy. When I ask him to step up, he still gets a little nervous and won't do it, but he doesn't run/fly screaming away from me anymore. I feel confident we'll be snuggling on the couch in no time!

[huntress]

When I got Cally I bought this wonderful sleeve from "the purple parrot" that helped allot for those step ups and his and my confidance. I played hell getting it from her but I LOVE love it. I still use it now to protect from his long nails.