New Quaker, Rico

[stepht25]

So the short version - last Sat. my daughter and I went to meet Rico and he came home with us! He's approx. 2 yrs. old, likes to be talked to but doesn't step up or like hands. (I got the feeling the previous owners, who had him for a year, were inexperienced and after getting bit a time or 2 - they just gave up on trying to handle him. But it's obvious they spent a lot of time talking with him.)
He talks some - "Rico, Rico, Rico!, Be a good boy, Rico!, Pretty bird Rico, Peek a boo", and a few others. He was pretty loud and was screaming quite a bit the 1st, 3 days or so. But yesterday and today he's quieted down quite a bit and seems to be adjusting well. He came with his cage which had 2 dowel perches, a couple of pretty chewed up toys and a happy hut. Also had a mirror which is still attached to the top of his cage, but I plan on eventually removing it.
Surprisingly his diet is not bad. Natural Zupreem pellets, some fresh fruit and a Frosted Mini wheat a day. ( I gave him a frosted mini wheat the 1st, 2 days - but haven't since then and he doesn't seem to miss them!)
Over the last few days I have taken out his old things and put in new perches (2 different types of grooming perches and a natural wood perch) and replaced his old toys with new ones (and added some).
We have a boing hanging from the ceiling by his cage. He's been playing with the toys on the boing - but wasn't brave enough to get onto the boing itself. Last night he finally decided to give it a try. He would put 1 foot on, but then it would start moving some, so he would get off and yell at it and bite it. LOL Then he would calm down, look at it a bit, and try again. He did this several times. Finally, he put 1 foot on, grabbed it with his beak, waited for it to stop moving and slowly put his other foot on. He stayed there with both feet planted and holding on with his beak till it once again stopped moving. When it was still, he slowly let go with his beak and stood up straight. He looked so pleased with himself! LOL It didn't take very long for him to start to get comfortable with the movement of the boing and move around on it. He went straight to it this morning when I let him out.
He's getting more comfortable with us. He's now eating millet extended from my hand and doesn't run away when we come close, but stays where he is and listens to us talking. He's played peek a boo with us and danced for us. It's hard not to scoop him up - but I'm being patient. Hopefully some day he'll let me hold him. Sorry this was so long! Here's some pics I took the other day.

[derekw68]

stephanie he so cute que has a boing in her cage and thats where she sits for most of the day

[stepht25]

Thanks! I would love to see more pics of Que!

[Tiki]

Steph, Rico is so adorable!! I think it's great your daughter shares your love of birds!

[kimtoo]

Steph, Rico is so cute! I hope he comes around to trusting you soon. It sounds like you guys are off to a great start!

[stepht25]

Originally Posted by kimtoo

Steph, Rico is so cute! I hope he comes around to trusting you soon. It sounds like you guys are off to a great start!

Thanks Kim! Rico has made so much progress!! We have found out that once away from his cage - he is really quite an affectionate birdie who seems to crave being touched and getting scritches! I emailed a pic of Emily giving Rico scritches to the previous owner. She responded that seeing someone be able to touch him made her cry because she saw him as an "untouchable" bird. It really makes me kind of sad that he was just mis-understood. I really think the previous owners meant well, they just weren't experienced. Once they got bitten a few times while trying to handle him on/near his cage, they assumed he just wasn't a bird that could be handled.

We started out getting him used to being toweled. He didn't like it at first - but now when he sees me pick up a towel - he runs to the front of his cage and makes the sweetest cooing noises at me. Once in the towel he immediately starts closing his eyes and puffing up his feathers, anticipating scritches. The other night he literally fell asleep on my chest. He also likes to lick our fingers while we're scritching the feathers by his beak, LOL. I think he's going to turn into one of our sweetest birds!