Hello from Miami

[Taybu2]

Hello all,

My name is Taylor (21) and I just rescued an adult female eclectus parrot named Lily from a neglected home. She is very shy and as a beginner parrot owner she is posing a bit of a challenge. She has no feathers because of the stress put on her by her previous owners. I would love to treat this parrot with a lot of TLC but I can't even give it treats through the bars without her pulling it out of my hand and throwing it on the cage floor. She bites when any hand goes near her. All advice is welcome. I read the entire training guide posted on this website and plan to start using those techniques immediately. I have had her for about 3 days. Thanks and I'll keep everyone updated on her progress!

[Wolf]

Thank you for taking in this parrot and giving it a home.

[Lady]

Hi Taybu,
Wow, it is truly wonderful that you are going to give this bird a new start. From what I have read here it can take quite a bit of time for her to learn to trust humans again, but you can be the one who brings that trust back. There is a great amount of information here about diet, as well as a solar schedule I believe it is referred to and much more. I look forward to reading about your progress.

[Pajarita]

Welcome to the forum but, please, no training yet. Nothing, zilch, nada! She needs to feel at ease in her new home and begin to trust you before you should even attempt training. Parrots are not dogs, their social structure is completely different and a lone bird is a bird under constant stress. If you add the fact that she has plucks (a sure sign of stress), is now become unfriendly to people and that she doesn't know you from Adam, training would put too much stress on her and could set you back considerably instead of advancing your case with her. Just talk, sing, whistle, transition her to a good diet (not easy with ekkies, you need to cook for them and offer a very large variety of raw foods daily), keep her company for, at least, two hours and four of out-of-cage time. She needs to start to relax before you start working with her or you will never get her to stop plucking.