Neglected and Wild!

[KaylaD8528]

I've just adopted my first parrotlet. I adopted her from a lady who just didn't have the time to take care of her. She was keeping the girl in a 12x16x12 petsmart cage, with the bare essentials (plastic perch and food). After getting her home, it was a crazy ordeal to get her out of the shoebox and into her cage.

I have lots of concerns, after watching her for about a day...

She is NOT hand tame, at all. She likes people, and will jump from shoulder to shoulder and rest happily on an arm. However, as soon as those hands start creeping toward her, she darts. The only way to catch her is by the nervewracking 'grab' method. I have no idea if she was raised hand fed.

Since getting her home, she hasn't touched any of her toys or perches. She has eaten the seed I put out for her, but she won't even look at the apples and lettuce I offered as a salad. Beyond that, she's stayed in the same corner, climbing up and down on the bars, coming down only for food and water.

Any advice at all?

PS. I'd love some name suggestions. The lady hadn't even given her a name. </3

[Emmilyy]

Heyy, Well, i guess its a good sign that she "likes" people.. My sister's parrotlet is the exact same way. She LOVES to be * with * you, but won't tolerate any touching. How long have you had her? I dont think its been too long, so i would suggest giving her time to get used to you and her new souroundings. I wouldn't risk stressing her out with the 'grab' method.

I'm still liking the name Galeno! (spanish for small intellegent one, or something like that, i think..) good luck!

[RubyMuse]

It takes time for a bird to understand what has just happened to them when they make a major move like that. Remember, birds would not do that in the wild. They are inherently uncomforable with new environments and new people. They are prey species and think they are in real danger until they learn otherwise.

We, on the other hand, are just itching to give them a better life - especially if we think the life they had before was not very good. We want to give them better cages, better food, toys, and love - but THEY don't know that...

It takes time. Your heart is in the right place but let her settle in and don't rush her. Let her do what is comfortable and practice building a give and take relationship.

A great thing to comfort them in the beginning is to cover their cage on the back half with a sheet and don't stick your hand in her cage to get her out - let her come out on her own.

[brdfvr]

Keep trying with the soft foods. It might take a couple weeks even a month for her to get to try it. I would start off by offering a little fruit they usually like that since it's sweet (apples, oranges, etc). And then once they find that stuff is good, there's usually no stopping them, but add a little veggies, corn is a big hit around here, until they are eating a full salad. Do you have any pictures of her? I am no good with names, hopefully someone else can help you on that front.

[Sally]

Chipper will not eat lettuce or apple either. You have to keep offering different foods. Chipper loves blackberries and strawberries, the only fruit she likes. Whole wheat pasta is OK sometimes too.

Chipper loves Beak Apetit, and soaking grains I get from this site. She likes sweet potatoes and oatmeal too.

It does take time to adjust. So glad he doesn't have to sit in that awful cage anymore. They need flight cages and lots of toys. Just imagine how sad it would be to have your life wasted by sitting on a perch, never flying, eating great food and playing with toys, playgyms and people. Sad.

Here is a link to a nice site for soaking foods.

Parrots on the Porch

[KaylaD8528]

I decided on the name Chicklet. :3 Cute and small and sweet. She seems to like me, at least, puffing up her feathers when I'm near her cage (which I often am) and, if I walk in the room and quickly back out (not on purpose! haha) I am called after with high pitched squeals, which end when I am back in sight. No squeals if I hang out or say hello, though.

Will definitely try some spinich and other berries after we go grocery shopping. We're way low on fruits and veggies all around.

A great thing to comfort them in the beginning is to cover their cage on the back half with a sheet and don't stick your hand in her cage to get her out - let her come out on her own.

I keep the cage door open while I'm home, so that if she is interested in coming out, it's available. So far, no such luck or desire. But, I will try the sheet idea. I need to have a night time cage cover, anyhow.

I also got some new perches! Much smaller aspen branches than the ones that had been in there, so she's not stuck hanging onto the bars anymore. Apparently the ones I had chosen were far too large for her feet.

[Sally]

Good luck. Remember, fruit is sugary. Limit that, but I do give Chipper one piece in the morning. Nuts are really fatty, seed too. Chipper had to see the vet. Even with her good diet, she started to overpreen. Her cholesterol was high. We caught it before the liver was damaged. She is going to be fine.

I just want to make sure it doesn't happen to others.

[Powder]

Chicklet is a very cute name!

[PetiteJadie]

if she never had toys, she may not know what to do with them. Some toys scare Jade even though she has plenty in all different styles, shapes, sizes, colors, and materials.

Perhaps take all out but a ladder, a swing, and one toy (oh, but keep the perches). Give her space and time to adjust to that. slowly add more toys as she warms up to the larger cage and figures out that toys can be fun and entertaining.

As for hands, if you have to grab her use anything but your bare hands! using your hands wont make her like them any. she has probably been chased and captured by hands, maybe even hurt by them.

There is a lady on youtube with videos on approaching a vicious parrotlet with your hands. she approached the feisty parrotlet with an apple slice. though the parrotlet continued to attack the apple, he soon learned that he liked the taste and the hand approaching wasnt so scary after all. That's also a good way to get her to eat her fruits and veggies ;)

Give her lots of time.

[Lori~D]

My Parrotlets all loved sweet corn on the cob.