Should I have old owner over? And Questions

[luvsmygreenguy]

Hi all,
I have looked all over to find out how my blue fronted amazon Pablo will feel if his old owner was to visit me. He was with her all this time in what I'd call a unhealthy situation. I have had him almost 4 weeks now and we have a routine just like all the members in my home. I do not plan on ruffling his feathers now that we are getting somewhere. He has just now started to trust me and knows when it's time to eat,clean his cage, play time,and bed time. We are working on his screaming just to get a rise out of me. I still can't get him out of his cage or off his perch without him wanting to take my arm off. So me being a mom I used the wooded spoon and it works like a charm I am happy to say! I have a few questions also. BATHING HoLy CoW! So in the kitchen I put water in a bowl and the silly bird only washes his head. I mean he has really good intentions just not quite there...As for the spray bottle....UGGG This makes me so angry!!! So his old owner (old friend) would use the spray bottle to hush his screaming. I had one and went to just mist him with it and OH MY!!! I took it dumped it out and haven't attempted it since. I do plan on using it later with positive experience. Sorry I get in a tizzy thinking about this reaction that day. So my questions are. How do I or can I get him used to the shower or bath tub? Also we have a large deck on the front and back of our home. I want him to have fresh air and be outside with me and the kids. Do I have to have a net over his cage? How long will or could it take before he will let me touch him pet him? He tries to eat my arm! So I just hold him and talk. HE HAS A POTTY MOUTH!!! And I have a four year old and a one year old and Pablo is going to be 6 in May. He has picked up already my daughters name will he always have a potty mouth? We don't talk like that here so I am hopeful he will say what we say and push his trash mouth in the back. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my booklet (sorry) I haven't had a bird in 20 years and I felt like I needed to save this green guy knowing him all his life but now can't get old owner to pick up phone for my questions. So thank you all for being here. I don't care about my friendship with Pablo's old owner I care about my little green guy this is his home and he matters!!

[patdbunny]

How Pablo will feel if his old owner was to visit me.

Have the chick that your husband lost his V to come over for dinner and see how that goes with you and the family. Of course everyone has to clearly know who she is.

How do I or can I get him used to the shower or bath tub?

Different birds are different in how they prefer to bath. Try a kiddy pool with an inch of water. Try the bath tub with and inch of water. If the bird doesn't take to it the first time, try again. I usually introduce new experiences a minimum of 5-10 times before deciding the bird really doesn't care for something.

Do I have to have a net over his cage?

If he's in the cage, why the net? I'm not understanding the question maybe.

How long will or could it take before he will let me touch him pet him?

Possibly tomorrow. . . or never

Will he always have a potty mouth?

Maybe. One of my CAGs came w/ F bombs. It's been 8 years. He still drops F bombs everyday in addition to all the new sounds he's picked up at my house.

[luvsmygreenguy]

Thanks patdbunny!
I guess I already knew that having the old owner over wasn't one of the best idea's I have had lately.

Bath...Thanks I will try it!

Net over cage...I was told by old owner to put a net over his cage I guess like a bug net. I have had him outside in his cage with no net. I mean he is a bird! I was making sure I just need advise from experienced people.

POTTY Mouth...I don't mind him talking his trash. That's what I tell him jokingly. I just hope my 1year old don't decide to mimic Pablo while were in public.lol


Petting and loving....Well I will just have to wait forever then!!! Holding him will be enough for me until then! I forgot how amazing a feathered friend could be. Thanks again

[patdbunny]

Heya.

Having the old owner over is like getting together with any prior significant person in your life. Different people (animals included) react differently depending on their temperament, etc. You might be completely ok with an ex coming over for dinner or you might stab her with a paring knife or you might go crying into the next room or you might act ok during the visit and then torture your husband afterwards. It's more of - do you even want to deal with the possibilities?

Netting over the cage - well, there are bug bourne illnesses out there like west nile. Depends how paranoid you wanna be. I have most of my birds outside for the last 10+ years and they're not protected from insects and I haven't had any problems.

Kids are little hoots! My daughter when she was about three came out of the bedroom and picked up an empty ice cream container off the coffee table and said, "Godnamit! Daddy ate it all gone!" Easier to teach the kid not to say things like that than the bird.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

If you want to discourage the potty mouth, you can try being very careful not to react to that speech at all, then do shift your attention to him or make a fuss and talk back when he speaks in ways you prefer. If you say "oh no!" or "you potty mouth, you" or something when he does it, it may actually reinforce it.

Bathing -- let me know what works! Our Cape thus far insists on bathing in his water dish. It isn't very big. We have offered him alternatives, but he still goes for getting as wet as he can splashing in his drink!

[luvsmygreenguy]

Hi guys,
I want to thank you very much for your advice and I'd like to add you to my friends here if you don't mind. I am sooooo happy to let you know that the past few days have been awesome. First old owner never coming to my home or at least not now. For a few days now I have replaced the stick with my hand and Pablo is happy to step up without trying to draw blood. And just about a hour ago he climbed off his cage (excuse my excitement) and walked across the room to me. I picked him up and he was loving on me! I tried to pet him while he was kissing me but it startled him so I backed off....But I will not give up! He hasn't really been using potty mouth as much and has picked up what I say to him every morning. He is barking like my dog that's funny. I haven't used the spray bottle yet I am going to hold off for a bit I don't want to step back when we are doing so good. But he is using his bowl and I have tried the bathtub and he was scared so I have been taking him in the bathroom when I am bathing so maybe we will get it together. Thank you again

[mrstweet]

I'm late to the party but I asked a similar question and got a similar response.

If Cupcake's old owner didn't know where I live I would not have them over. Send pictures and videos if you really feel like it. My bird came from an abuse/neglect situation and I 100% don't like her old owner.

[patdbunny]

Hey Mrstweet -
I lost track of what happened (AA gets a bit overwhelmingly busy I lose track of stuff I find interesting). What happened when Cuppy's old owner came over?

[mrstweet]

Hey Mrstweet -
I lost track of what happened (AA gets a bit overwhelmingly busy I lose track of stuff I find interesting). What happened when Cuppy's old owner came over?

She hasn't yet - she keeps pushing it back, which hopefully means she will lose interest and forget.

[patdbunny]

Oh YAY - For Cuppy's sake.

You already know my in-your-face opinion - The old owner's just trying to alleviate her own guilt. Now that she's not even getting around to coming over to see Cuppy, I think she's just got some weird self-righteous thing going on. I saw her response to you, "I really care about Baby/Cupcake!" Oh PU-LEES! Key/Care. . .