Post by rae on Oct 27, 2017 16:41:50 GMT
This is more of a venting post than anything, though encouraging words are certainly welcome.
Very quick recap: I was away for work for 2 months. My husband took care of the birds, so it wasn't a stranger taking care of them. He neglected them quite a bit by almost never getting them out or interacting with them beyond changing water and food and general cleaning. When I came back Basal was the same old same old (not big on being physically on me, but very calm). Link, however, whom loved me very much and would spend time singing to my earrings, was completely untame. All that work I put into taming him was gone. At least they had each other because I would hate for a single bird to be alone and neglected like that.
So now: I've been back since August, I've been doing all the steps to tame him again. Some days are better than others, as is expected, but I had honestly thought there would be better progress than this. Yesterday he was absolutely terrified of me and even though I took all the steps he just spent the entire time keeping as far away from me as possible. This is strange because he was doing okay with stepping up and letting me transport him. Every now and then he would allow me to put him on my shoulder.
It breaks my heart because he just doesn't seem happy. He is afraid of everything. In just 2 months he turned into this completely different bird, and even though I work with them every day, multiple times a day, and do all this work, he hasn't changed or progressed in 3 months.
This morning he did step up and I did all the praise. He then got millet because I couldn't have both my hands in the cage easily. But I think this was just because he was still waking up and too sleepy to care that he was on my finger.
The problem is that I'll be gone on Saturday night this week, and Friday night and most of Saturday next weekend. I have to go to a research conference, and although I'm coming back after ending ceremonies on Saturday evening, I won't be home until late (2.5 hours away). And in January I'll be gone for a week for the same reason. I love my boys with all my heart, but I cannot get out of these opportunities. They will help me look good to employers so we can have a better life after I graduate.
I just wish he would be a happy little bird again.
Very quick recap: I was away for work for 2 months. My husband took care of the birds, so it wasn't a stranger taking care of them. He neglected them quite a bit by almost never getting them out or interacting with them beyond changing water and food and general cleaning. When I came back Basal was the same old same old (not big on being physically on me, but very calm). Link, however, whom loved me very much and would spend time singing to my earrings, was completely untame. All that work I put into taming him was gone. At least they had each other because I would hate for a single bird to be alone and neglected like that.
So now: I've been back since August, I've been doing all the steps to tame him again. Some days are better than others, as is expected, but I had honestly thought there would be better progress than this. Yesterday he was absolutely terrified of me and even though I took all the steps he just spent the entire time keeping as far away from me as possible. This is strange because he was doing okay with stepping up and letting me transport him. Every now and then he would allow me to put him on my shoulder.
It breaks my heart because he just doesn't seem happy. He is afraid of everything. In just 2 months he turned into this completely different bird, and even though I work with them every day, multiple times a day, and do all this work, he hasn't changed or progressed in 3 months.
This morning he did step up and I did all the praise. He then got millet because I couldn't have both my hands in the cage easily. But I think this was just because he was still waking up and too sleepy to care that he was on my finger.
The problem is that I'll be gone on Saturday night this week, and Friday night and most of Saturday next weekend. I have to go to a research conference, and although I'm coming back after ending ceremonies on Saturday evening, I won't be home until late (2.5 hours away). And in January I'll be gone for a week for the same reason. I love my boys with all my heart, but I cannot get out of these opportunities. They will help me look good to employers so we can have a better life after I graduate.
I just wish he would be a happy little bird again.
