Rehomed-helping acclimate

[Pajarita]

I have birds that will step up from inside a cage with no problem but I've never trained them to do it, it's something that came in its due time when they felt complete trust in me. It's also something that is absolutely unnecessary in terms of safety and that some birds simply do not like so I never ask for it.

Even if clipping did not have negative health consequences (atrophied air sacs and muscles and shrunk tendons), you simply cannot have a clipped bird and cats and it doesn't even matter if the cats show no interest whatsoever in the bird. It's an issue of stress. You can't take away the one and only predator-avoidance strategy a prey animal has and make him cohabit with its species predator without the animal suffering chronic stress (which has been proven over and over to affect their health and shorten their lifespan).

[Harpmaker]

In the area I live most of the people have bought into the myth that a clipped bird is somehow "safer" than a flighted one. Rather than argue the point, I have a three word answer "I have cats." This works on pets stores, avian vets, bird clubs, etc. It saves me from explaining that clipped birds can fly in a breeze or a bout of terror, and that at my house we put bells on the cats to keep them from being stepped on. (My husband has heavy feet.) A grounded bird wouldn't stand a chance. I don't think Corsair has touched the floor since she learned to fly.

[mulatte27]

ok thank you so much for the info! of course the breeder made it seem like clipping was the best and only option... but wolf and pajarita you have given me a much different view and that is much appreciated...

wolf: i know what screens you are talking about... it would be difficult for me to limit his access to the foyer unless i kept him in a bedroom which would be away from social interaction so that would be a bad thing right? my downstairs is a very open layout... all the rooms are connected and my stairs lead to a loft and the foyer. if i don't clip how can i be sure that if he does fly up into the foyer window or loft i will be able to get him down? and because it is all open i worry that if he were to fly into the loft he wouldn't be as safe from the cats seeing as they spend the majority of their time upstairs... not sure if my explanation of my house made sense lol

i guess this would be why i definitely have to work on training.... i want to be sure that if he isn't clipped he is still safe and accessible

[Wolf]

Although pictures would be a help, I think that I understand. A lot of the answers that you are wanting are really more dependent upon the personality of your bird and your personal relationship with him. Some birds will want to meet everybody that comes in and others want nothing to do with them. Also most Parrots will want to spend their time with/ on you if your relationship with them is a good one.
With cats roaming freely there are no guarantees as to a birds safety if it is also free. You can reduce the danger of the cats by having a flighted bird and by teaching your cats that the bird is yours and to leave it alone.
I have 6 cats that are free to go throughout the house and all my birds fly. My cats all know that these are my birds and will mostly leave them alone. And I stress the mostly part of this. When I am home and able to be inside with them the birds all come out, if I can't watch over them then they remain in their cages until I can. After all I do have cats.
You can alter a cats normal eat the birdie response, but you simply cannot completely eradicate it. It is their nature and eating birds is a natural survival trait.
You can teach your bird its name and you can teach it to come to you when you call to it.
Also, as long as you don't mind musical cats you can put bells on your cats to reduce the chances of them getting to your bird.
It might be easier to limit the cats access to the upstairs than it would be to limit the birds access.

[Harpmaker]

And the cats have reflexes about small animals. One of mine has mouser reflexes and MIGHT duck a parrot flight pass-maybe. But the other catches humming birds and can standing high-jump at least 4 feet. She would have Corsair in an instant. It wouldn't even be her fault. SHE CAN'T HELP IT. I could probably get Corsair back in one piece, but if her skin was broken the bacteria in a cat's mouth and on it's claws are usually fatal to birds.

Distance is the only safety.

[mulatte27]

Again wonderful advice. My cats all have bells on their collars so that will help. And one of the first things I definitely want to teach the bird is to come to me. I will keep all of this in mind. The bird is coming to me clipped so I will have to be extra careful until his wings grow back but I think that will buy me a little time to get the piece of mind that I can work on training both of my cats and the bird. He does know the name he has which is apple but I don't like it and kinda want to change it. Thanks for the advice

[Wolf]

Since he already know himself as Apple What do you think of Applejack as a name? He may pick up on it pretty easily. The best way is to try to find something similar sounding or to build or subtract from current name. If you use it enough , however, they can lean any name, it just takes longer.

[mulatte27]

That makes sense... I guess I could live with applejack.... he is colorful like the cereal hahaha thanks wolf

[Wolf]

Actually I was thinking of the other Applejack, the kind that you drink. I does tend to make some people act more colorful.