How to progress from here with Eric, all ideas welcome.

[helenmat]

Since Eric’s best pal Ernie died I have spent loads of time interacting with Eric to keep him occupied and keep him company, trying to be his new friend. I have got so far but now I am a bit stuck. He will step up, eat out of my hand (red chard is his favourite) let me stroke him, let me nuzzle him and I can pick him up with no fuss or stress at all. But and this is the sticking point he will only do any of this if I am within about a foot of his cage. As soon as I try and venture away from the cage he flies back to the cage or does a loop round the room then goes back. He very rarely comes out unless I get him out and then he will only stay out for a couple of minutes. If I then walk away he shouts for me to come back but I can’t spend every second stood next to the cage. He never lands anywhere else in the room apart from the top of his cage or on his door to go back in. How can I progress from this point, I’m stumped or should I just accept that this is all I am going to get? I know I will never be a replacement for Ernie. It’s just frustrating because he is calling for me but then when I go to him he won’t come with me. Any thoughts?

[ffiscool]

I wonder if you move further from the cage, but not out of the room, that he will eventually come that bit further. He obviously likes his contact with you.

still have the red chard and anything else he likes when you are a bit further.

You’ve got him doing things since Ernie, he’s just I reckon needing more time. Bailey, although completely bonded with me, only ever went to 3 places in the room. He wouldn’t go to the kitchen, even if he could see me. Some, do have their own lack of confidences, but I think Eric will want his interactions

[helenmat]

I wouldn't want to get out of the room at all really. I was hoping I could at least get to my desk which is only 4ft opposite his cage  We used to carry the other birds around on a stand that Alex made with perches etc but Eric will not move from the cage.

[ffiscool]

What about having goodies on your desk. Eat things noisily, play with a mirror or noisy thing.

Maybe his curiosity will eventually take over

Put a play gym or something he can perch on, on your desk?

[Hezz]

Are you able to move his cage that little bit closer to your desk, so that you are within his "zone" while sitting at the desk? This might just give him the confidence to move to you. Sometimes we really need to ignore them to get them willing to make that little bit extra move. Possibly you will need to harden your heart to his plaintive "come to me" cheeps. As ffiscool has mentioned, have his favourite foods at your desk, or only given if he makes a tiny bit of progress. Can you set up a play gym beside you with his treats on that? Have you actually tried picking him up and placing him on another perching area?? When they were the two boys together, did they both fly about and land on different areas, or always back to the cage? Is the cage security a new thing?

[Marianne Marlow]

It's probably been mentioned, but can you do it in stages? Use a table or stool to put the playgym on.

Move it a little closer to your desk each day. Put Eric's favourite treat/toy there.

Start with it right in front of his cage,

[helenmat]

I could definitely move the cage closer to my desk it’s on wheels! Neither of them landed anywhere else other than back on the cage. I have tried carrying Eric to my desk but he just flys away before I get even halfway. I can certainly try moving the cage nearer when I am sat there. I have occasionally noticed if I am sat at my desk Eric goes to the very top of the outside of the cage and shouts as if he’s going to come to me but never does. It’s worth a try.

[Hezz]

Do you have somewhere else that is "his" place to perch, Helen? Such as a playgym or tree, rather than a piece of furniture? If so, can you place this either on your desk or right beside you, as well as move his cage closer to your desk (I can feel you getting hemmed in now ) It sounds like his cage has become his security blanket since finding himself on his own. He just needs a little confidence to feel he can move around freely again.

[helenmat]

He doesn't perch anywhere else Hezz apart from the top of his cage, He has two rubber perches stuck out the top and lands on those then sits on top of his cage. He never stays more than a couple of seconds though before he goes back in. I am going to get the play gym down at the weekend and see if I can't entice him with it. Yes I know what you mean about being hemmed in, the cage is huge, it will be like having a wall behind me!

[samwiseg]

Agree with Marianne Marlow - could you do it in stages helenmat and have the cage right next to your desk so he gets used to it, used to going on your desk and on you for treats so he knows that he can go home easily

Then, after he is used to that start to move the cage couple of inches away every couple of days so it's still within reach but a little bit further away each time.

Softly softly approach, what do you think?

[helenmat]

I will give it a go

[Hezz]

I do think that having somewhere else at your side that is his space might help as well. If you need to get him used to the gym, how about putting it on top of the cage for a few days/week so that it becomes somewhere familiar to perch and then move it to either the desk or a table close to you? If all that works then you can start moving the cage, slowly, back towards its original position or wherever you want it to be.

[helenmat]

I had intended to put the ply gym on top of the cage first. We did have it there some time ago but Eric and Ernie used to hide behind it and because I am only short I couldn't reach them so we took it off. I will definitely put it back. We will be going away on September 10th and my Mum and Dad are having Eric so I will be using a smaller cage for that so I might limit the amount of disruption for now, I will see how he reacts tomorrow when I bring the gym down.

[helenmat]

Ok this morning I have had a bit of a move round. I have swapped the cage to where my big chair was so that the cage is next to my desk. I have put the play gym on top and plonked Eric on it. He flew off a few times but then he sat there for ages. He seemed to be taking an interest in whats happening and got quite excited shouting. I am hoping it will encourage him to venture further but even if it doesn't he is nearer to where we are. I shall try it for a bit to see how it goes. Its not ideal because he is in front of the french doors but we shall see. Of course we altered the dining room so that the cage would fit in the recess next to the window but hay ho. 

[Hezz]

That all sounds very positive for him being receptive to change. Much better than I had anticipated, anyway. What will be your next move? Separate the gym from the cage?