Adopted a 10 year old DYH Amazon

[Arymuzs]

My fiance and I have just adopted a 10 year old DYH Amazon. The previous owners didn't put much time into socializing him, they never even named him (actually, we're not sure of the gender, as they never had him sexed either). He does have quite a wide array of vocabulary, but he is very fearful of hands, and people in general. He was never allowed out of his cage and never taught any tricks. We brought him home 2 days ago and are worried about properly acclimating him. We both work from home and have more than enough time to entertain him. We've been leaving his cage door open to give him the availability to exit his cage if he so desires, and have been trying to give him treats to become more comfortable in his new home. However, he was never fed fruits or veggies and is very wary of them. We're keeping him on his normal diet (for now) so as not to over stress him and brought his cage and food from the previous owner so he would have that comfort in familiarity. We're looking for tips and suggestions on how to train him and get him used to us. Of course, we don't plan on teaching him anything until he is comfortable enough to start talking again. But we want to make sure that we make this transition as stress free as possible. Any suggestions or advice is certainly welcome, as this is the first large bird either of us has owned. We both have small bird experience from childhood, but caring for a bird yourself is very different from owning one as a child.

Thank you in advance.
~Ari

[theparrotletdude]

Try sprinkling seeds/something he enjoys eating on the new food. Might help him get used to them Poor little guy, doesn't sound like they took good care of him. You might want to cover about half of the cage with a blanket for a while till he gets used to the routine. That way it won't be too dark but it should make him feel a bit more secure.

I hope everything goes well

[liz]

:amazon: My fiance and I have just adopted a 10 year old DYH Amazon. The previous owners didn't put much time into socializing him, they never even named him (actually, we're not sure of the gender, as they never had him sexed either). He does have quite a wide array of vocabulary, but he is very fearful of hands, and people in general. He was never allowed out of his cage and never taught any tricks. We brought him home 2 days ago and are worried about properly acclimating him. We both work from home and have more than enough time to entertain him. We've been leaving his cage door open to give him the availability to exit his cage if he so desires, and have been trying to give him treats to become more comfortable in his new home. However, he was never fed fruits or veggies and is very wary of them. We're keeping him on his normal diet (for now) so as not to over stress him and brought his cage and food from the previous owner so he would have that comfort in familiarity. We're looking for tips and suggestions on how to train him and get him used to us. Of course, we don't plan on teaching him anything until he is comfortable enough to start talking again. But we want to make sure that we make this transition as stress free as possible. Any suggestions or advice is certainly welcome, as this is the first large bird either of us has owned. We both have small bird experience from childhood, but caring for a bird yourself is very different from owning one as a child.

Thank you in advance.
~Ari

If he has been in a cage all this time his whole world is there. All he knew was what he could see outside his cage and you changed it. Two days is not enough time to adjust to his new environment.

They are afraid of hands because hands grab and make them do things they don't want to do. They are not afraid of faces. Myrtle and I had many face to face jabber conversations before she would even let me touch her feet. I suggest putting the cage up to face level. If it is too big then sit beside the cage at face level and talk. I mean face within inches of the cage.

Also he will take food layed in front of him long before he will take it from your hand. Myrtle will now take things from my hand that she knows. If it is something new I have to just put it in front of her.

I know my methods don't match anyone else but they have always worked for me.

[drif]

A bell pepper cut in half is as much toy as food, even more so if you cut it using a spiral pattern so it 'boings'. I would leave one in the cage for about 12 hours and see if it is interested. Another way to introduce new food is to actually eat some of it yourself in front of him/her, don't share the food that was in your mouth but make it seem you took a bite of what you are offering. I've never met a bird that doesn't like a sliver of low-sodium triscits and wheat-thins.

Two days is way too short a time for it to get used to you. I would expect a week or two but wouldn't be concerned if it takes a few months to warm up to you, as long as it seems healthy the whole time (no concern that is).

It took my gcc over a month to go to his former favorite playstand because I put a toy made from coconut and corncobs that slightly resembled a face.

I hope this helps.