terrified citron crested cockatoo

[Melon]

hi Ijeanne,
you doing well,good luck!!

as long as you are not afraid to get bitten,slowly this bad behavior will go.i got a lot of bit from my crest Too and she will not let it go,the baddest thing is she bit me and likes to chewed my skin.i know it sounds difficult but i keep trying and trying.i was really scared at beginning but once you get bitten really bad,you wont feel that 'much' of scare for the second bite because you already know what to expect.and for the next next next bite you will think with your self ''its okay why i must be scared,it just a bite'' when she bite me i calm myself and i dont let her know that its terible pain.well i keep trying and finally after 2 months she give up herself and the bite slowly end.

the best way is learn their body language.my too wont erect her crest when she wants to bite but she click her beak and continue with open-close beak.see his eyes,somehow their eyes is change when they start want to bite.the most scary thing for me was to make her step up.the jacket idea is great,i did that too to make her step up in beginning.my too also give sign if she wants to bite me when i ask her to step up.she will put one of her leg 'only' for some second,just stand and if i dont back off she will bite me.i leave her alone but i try again after 3 min.
good luck,when you win his heart you will find how lovely they are!!

[karl morton]

Hi, This is really gonna help me also I recently got a (Ty) from this lady about 3-months ago now. and was told that he is hand held great temper everything you want to hear once I got him home it is totally the opposite. he will not let me touch him at all, I also have another (Jada) that is very loving got her when she was 7-weeks old so I had the bonding time with her during the hand feedings. Im so wanting to build the same bond with him, but at this point I'm at a lost as to what I should do I have tried everything just joined this forum over the weekend sofar the postings are exactly what i'm experiencing whith him, and the comments have given he hope after all I to had thought that i might have to try and place him in a new home but my heart do want to give up on him yet. i'm gonna keep coming back here to post progress aswell as get advise on future situations that may arise. he displays all the same symptoms that the crested cockatoo except when i walk by his cage he don't reach out to bite me i can reach in his cage to put food in but the min. i try to go in as if i wanted him to step up all hell breaks loose and its the same way when and if he decides to come out of his cage, putting him back up for the night hell breaks loose again. so im gonna try this method and see were its goes. thanks......Karl

[liz]

They are in a new world. So many things are different that they are overwhelmed. The only thing they can call their own is the cage. Don't go in after them. It is theirs and until they are bonded to you your hands should only be in to feed and clean. Don 't even talk to them when you do.

Open the door and let them come out when they are ready. They need to investigate on their own.
All the birds I have (even the ones who came to me wild or abused) would accept help when they were out and got tired. I say the word help. They have learned the meaning and will even come to me when they want help. When I got scared and skinny Myrtle before she could fly and before I could touch her she would come to me for help. She would try to fly and land on the floor. Then she would run to me as fast as she could and climb up me to my shoulder. Still not able to touch the scared baby, I would walk to her cage and let her climb off. It isd a matter of trust before bonding.

[Melon]

hi karl,
the first time i get my Too,the rescue said she really tamed and loving.when i visited her for the first time she come to my hand and let me cuddle her so it seems to be true.but once i bring her home she change 100%.she bite,and dsnt let us touch her at all.i was so dissapointed that time.but now i realize thats normal because we are stranger to them,and they dont know if we are about to hurt them or not.i also belive they try to testing us,and if they see our fear we will have a lost control bird.

for first month i just come near her when i need to change food and drink.when she is 100% okay with that(not try to attack me) i start to sit really near her and talk alot with her.slowly i can bring my hand closer and closer and step up will follow by time.

you said u just had him for 3 months right?probably he needs more time.3 months seems a long time for us but maybe not for the bird.once he trust you,everything will be easier.
hope this help!

[karl morton]

Thanks Melon, after reading all the comments it does makes sense now that they would react the way they do. They are in a strange place and its gonna take time, so what I have to do now is let him observe me with my other gray and let him come around when he feels safe and know that I'm not going to hurt him. Soooooo glad I joined this forum I feel such a relief that there is still hope again. Thanks
kx

[cml]

Trust takes time with some birds. It's slow going with our pionus Leroy, as he was previously an aviary bird, but we are getting there slowly! There is definatly hope for your parrot =)!

[ljeanne]

hi guys, i am reading these new posts now and crying so hard because i rehomed rudy . he has gone to live with a vet tech who is very experienced with cockatoos. my heart breaks when i think of him and thats only a hundred times a day. part of me is relieved that i don't have to be scared all the time but most of me feels like a coward that gave up too soon. i feel horrible. thankfully this woman is a great new friend and has sent me info on his adjustment and promises to stay in touch. i know time heals but at this time i am devistated. my other birds make me cry 'cause i think if only rudy would be so nice.... talk more later. i love you

[Melon]

Ijeanne,
i know how sad is it,but you did the best for him.you tried and ask many people in this forum so it means you love and care.time will heal,and you still can stay in touch with rudy rite?
take care,i wish you always good luck

[ljeanne]

thank you melon. yes i will hear if he is doing well or not, and i told her i will take him back anytime if she doesn't want him anymore for any reason no problem. i'm just very sad because for some reason i just loved him so much in this short time. without my

[terri]

Do you think you will try another bird?