Hi there,

 

Well, having been a 'second mommy' - and with alot of advice from my BB friends, I likened my bird to being like a child.  He was wonderful for about the first three months and then all h**l broke loose...I guess maybe it's like a child feeling abandoned...it's okay to visit, but when they realize that its a permanent change...then the behavioral problems start.  It's only a suggestion, but it sounds like you are on track and want to do what is best for your bird.  One thing I did learn was to not let them 'push your buttons' - I was a hopeless case when it came to that, and Wembley had me so wrapped around his little wing...anyhow, good luck...have patience and remember that this is most likely an adjustment phase of sorts and eventually with lots of love and kindness...hopefully all will work out

 

Christine

Well, I'm certainly no expert (ask anyone here!) - but it sounds to me like a good case of green eyed monster.  She was so used to having someone at her beck and call and now she has to SHARE YOU with other BIRDS.  When she screams and you come running and she is quiet, is a form of 'birdy manipulation'.  Wembley did the exact same thing to me and it made me crazy, to the point where I had to send him away.  Sometimes, when she screams, you might try just calling out "I'm here Sugar!"  so that she knows you haven't gone anywhere.  If she continues to scream, as much as it pains you, try to ignore it as long as possible.  Birds seem to hate being ignored most of all, and once she figures out that she won't get a response, she will more than likely quit.  And, when she is being good and quiet, you can praise her for being a good bird.  There are a couple of good books out on behavior training...it's very hard, and I know first hand how frustrating it is.  I am not one to really be giving advice, as I tried for 3 years and finally had to throw in the towel, but only you will know what your limit is too.

 

Do try and read up on behavior problems and I'm sure your vet could likely recommend some good reading as well.  There is a book I've been meaning to read, but have not yet done so entitled "My parrot, my friend" - which I've been told is just fabulous.

 

Good luck...and patience and peace to you!

 

Christine

Peggy,  Can you whistle?  I have always whistled to my birds while in the room with them and from any corner of the house.  They whistle back. It's our usual contact call and the only one they make.  None scream. They aren't cockatoos so my noise level could never be like yours.  But, try it. Let her know you are whistling to her while in the room and she'll know it's you when you are out of sight.

I have read so much about the "honeymoon" period with birds who come to us and are sweet natured but change as time goes by. Like the others said, she realizes finally that this is IT and she's protesting.

Best wishes.  I hope she settles down soon.

Annie

I think you are going through exactly what I went through with Oscar--and I wouldn't suggest ignoring a TOOs screams because plucking is the next attention getter they go to. A contact call back of some kind is called for--a whistle like Annie suggests. Oscar was an only bird for a lot of years and became a he devil when he was rehomed with LOTS--more than you or I have--of large birds. I brought him back and he seemed to settle in well until that short episode a year ago. I spoiled him--Like I said changed the pecking order because the macaw seems better adjusted and could accept that. Never let him actually see me hold any other birds and try to do nothing he can hold against me because a TOO never forgets. In other words he is an only bird amongst 39 others?

Its an illusion I create for him--because he isn't my special bird pal but the neediest of my birds. And the one who is the apple of my eye seems to accept that this is how it has to be and understands. When you say she acts out when you take the others out--I have come to think that is just  a TOO who has known the single life and liked it and won't give it up without a hissy fit. I feel kind of crazy giving you so much advice because I realize you have so much experience with the large birds you could write a book yourself--but I was new to TOOs a couple of years ago myself so am just sharing what I have learned--I was so scared of it I almost didn't take him!!    Katz

Shoot---I put this one the wrong thread.  Gettin' tired.

 

 

Jane Foster is probably the last word on TOO's--I hope this link takes you to the main menu and not the phobic bird page --but if its the phobic one its a good read anyway --and you can get to all the articles from there.

http://www.parrothouse.com/sfbio.html                Katz

I meant SAM!!! I always think Jane when I think TOO problems--she was Oscars long time Mom and keeping in close touch with her has saved my life many times.  Katz

Hmm...Annie has a point with the nail polish....the loveie that Mango used to live with absolutly HATED any type of nail polish.  What a bout a new perfume?...laundry soap.....shampoo even?  Did you raise your voice at someone/somebirdie that would scare her?

 

 

Leslie

Hi, One thing you said is that the bird is only mad at you and not the rest of the family. They have a very good memory. I think you did something that made her upset. Maybe it is something that the previous owner has done to make her upset and when you did it, it made her mad. Some birds hold a grudge. Some birds hate the towel, I understand that you don't want to get bit. Maybe one of the other family members can put her back in the cage or try a dowel. Just sit next to her and she will see you are not trying to hurt her. Make sure you the one who feeds her. I hope it works out, they are beautiful birds.

Tony

  Wow I am having the same problem with my Senagal.  All of a sudden this week he acts like I am going to eat him.  He has always been a sweetie, loved to be scratched on the head.  Now when I go near him he has a fit.  My husband goes to the cage and he comes right over. 

  I am going to get some Rescue Remedy.  It is an herbal that the rescues use to help calm birds down. 

  I am also thinking of adopting an M2.  She is a real sweetie who comes from a bad background.  She has been plucking, but with the use of the herbals, she is growning down on her chest and legs.

  Making me think twice,  or maybe three times about the adoption.  If I have her here for a few months will she hate me too?  She has been in foster care for a month, and so far so good there.  HUMMMMMM

 

Ok, you guys think about your hairstyles, your clothing styles and colors.  I had a scarlet macaw once who would go insane if I wore red, including lipstick.  It wasn't from babyhood, but suddenly, after he was past two years old and had been with me for all of his life.  Bit the dickens out of me if I had anything on that was red.

The birds I have now are alarmed when I wear a bright floral nightgown in their room.  They have seen me in that gown regularly for a couple of years. And when I have my hair cut you'd think I was an alien from the way my CAG acts.  He does settle down in a day or so, but I have to be careful until he settles.

When the season changes from winter to summer, my bare feet bother them.  And then when we change from summer to winter, my socks bother them.  But all of this goes away quickly, in just a day or so.

I have wondered this week if haircare products cause my hair to show to the birds as different than usual.  Hubby bought me a new hairdressing to prevent the fuzzy-haired fly-aways during our humid summer and the CAG is very suspicious when he looks at me.  Never know, since their color vision is different than ours.

Annie

 

It can be anything that sets them off--with normal birds its easy to tell--like Annies, my macaw hates the color green and has let me know because i only get that reaction when I wear green--when a bird acts phobic--like its been beaten--its a continuous thing everytime it sees you no matter what. there is no way to really know what set it off unless you start from absolute scratch and do everything over until you get to the problem, And the two most phobic birds are the cockatoos and the piocephalis(Senegals--although Meyers are worse than sennies)

I have seen a delightful MTOO go phobic overnight--hand fed out by its owner and never a problem until one day it was like a blast. My Senegal male is phobic and has been ever since I got him. He wants nothing to do with people(herbs are what finally calmed him enough to live a some what comfortable life)--but he will try and take on my TOO so fear isn't really the problem?? Go figure.  There is a lot of behavioral help out there--and using it is important.

Phobic birds don't have to come from a bad background or have been mistreated in any way--it more like a mental illness. My MTOO has been shuffled from pillar to post and has never displayed phobic behavior.Bad behavior for a time but not like he was scared of me. But I do know that moving furniture makes him very upset--so it can be anything.             Katz