today is one of those good days where you just have to share! Scarlet actually played with a toy and put BOTH feet on a rope perch I was holding! Just for some background, Scarlet is our eclectus that we got from a rescue. She is not hand-friendly and often has phobic responses to just about everything. Scarlet came to us plucked to her white down and bare on her chest, crop, back, the underside of her wings and shoulders. For the majority of her first month or so with us she preferred to be alone, in her cage. The Second month she began to talk and come out of her cage, it's been going good so far after that. She doesn't like to play with toys but will shred her books (old prayer missiles) for hours on end, she goes through about 3 books a week.
About two weeks ago I finally found a V-tech phone and a play keyboard that both worked at a goodwill for 50cents. After keeping them near her cage for a while I decided to finally let her play with them last Thursday. She actually looked interested and kept trying to push the buttons. After that I thought she would be done with them. But, today as a sat downstairs I heard the phone, then the key board start to go off and play some music. It was Scarlet actually playing! She played with them for over an hour! I eventually had to take them away so she would eat dinner. I was so happy.
I also began target training with her last week. She needs to re-learn to step up properly, not just to be cute and say "step-up, come on Scarlet" whenever the perch is presented. Well, today I was able to have her put BOTH feet on the rope perch to target the stick! I was practically jumping up and down! I finally feel like we're making progress with her. It's these small victories that keep me going with her. The first time I tried "out time" with her (about 1 week with her) she was lunging at me, screaming, pulling out feathers, and it ended with me in tears wondering if I made the right choice by taking her away from her wonderful foster mom. Now she is a different bird and I couldn't be happier!
sorry for the long post, but I HAD to share