Honeymoon period

[Larry, Baby and Me]

In another thread, I saw Bonnie and Chrissy talk briefly about the Honeymoon.

I thought it would be interesting to hear what the rest of you have to say about this period of adjustment... so we can all learn from each other.

[Julie]

Carl seemed to take forever for his honeymoon period to end. I think nearly a year and a half till he felt fully comfortable with us. He was 6 y/o, at least that is what they told us, when we brought him home. Carl is a very quite/shy too though, and on the smaller size scale as far as breeds go. I think since he was also not the largest bird in our house that had influence on the situation also. I do not know if speaking/communication would have slowed it down, since he was new and it took us a while to be albe to read too since he is our first one.

[Cheryl]

I took in a sun that was in a really bad situation. He was ok with me but no one else could touch him. But I had known him from his days at the pet store also. His true nature came out after a month or so. He started getting real nippy and bossy and such. A good wing clip and lots of handling in neutral areas and then with the rest of the family all thru the house. He is now has his niche in our family. After awhile my daughter could hold him and he now loves my daughter and crawls all over her. They are best buds but no guy can touch him. He will attack, actually go across a table or whatever to get to a guy. His wings are clipped for the men in my home. He really acts like a crotchety old man. He is 19 years old according to band on his leg. We love him and he is ours.

[Evelyn]

In another thread, I saw Bonnie and Chrissy talk briefly about the Honeymoon.

I thought it would be interesting to hear what the rest of you have to say about this period of adjustment... so we can all learn from each other.


I've had my 6-year old LSC female (who was terrified when I got her) for about three years, and except for gaining some confidence and learning to play, she hasn't changed.

My female CAG is almost a year old, and except for growing and learning and becoming a little more independent, she hasn't changed. She is still very cuddly.

Plato, male E2, 1 1/2 when I got him last June, is still the same sweet, cuddly, gentle bird as he was then. He has never offered to bite. He is very gentle with his beak. He always steps up no matter where he is. I dread his "puberty," because I suppose he will change then.

I didn't know what people were etalkinga bout when they mentioned honeymoon until Gyro, the Smartest and Most Beautiful Cockatoo in the Universe). I bought him when he was about 6 years old. When I went to look at him, he stepped up on my hand, walked up my arm, and laid his face against mine. I was a goner. He was that way for about 2 days at home, then on the third day he was sitting in my lap, and he flew into my face, bit a small chunk out of my face and gave me a black eye. I thought something had startled him and didn't give it much thought, but he was the same every day for several days after that. Then he went into a really vicious stage where I couldn't even change his food and water without having somebody at the other end of the cage to distract him. I talked to him and eventually could pet him through the cage bars. He would turn around so I could reach everywhere, but that was as far as I could get. He was fine with almost anybody else--just not me. He was and still is a very confident, very smart bully. I know that bird thinks and schemes and plans. He lives with a friend of mine now in an aviary where he can fly free and is very sweet with her. When I visit, he stalks me. I believe now that he knows I am afraid of him and takes advantage of it. But I still love him. Maybe I'm a masochist!

WOODY, 3-4 year old female Mexican red-headed Amazon was very friendly and affectionate when I got him and hasn't changed.

From what everybody says, my experiences aren't typical, so they probably won't be particularly helpful. Even Gyro is extreme, I think.

Evelyn

[bonnie]

Lets see...
Chicken had belonged to my mother in law and was very bonded to me even before he came home. I have decided we had 2 honeymoons with him. The first would be when he moved into the house with my (now) husband Matthew. He and Matthew lived in the house for 2 months together before we got married and I moved in. The second would be when I moved in after the wedding. I came to see him every day and take care of him before the wedding, but the family dynamics changed after I moved in. We got married on July 21st and it was September before the real Chicken came out. We have had A LOT of screaming issues and a few biting issues. But we have it under control now for the most part. We had originally thought he was 6 and according to that age thought it was a puberty problem. But we have since found out he is 8 1/2 so I don't think that was it.

Since Chicken already knew me and was bonded to me before I rehomed him and because of the wedding, my results may not be particularly helpful either, but I will answer any questions anyone has!

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

The honeymoon with Linus is now. When I first got him, he screamed, bit and was generally a real jerk. He and I might have been the first couple wanting a divorce immediately folowing the wedding (except Brittney Spears, of course). He's such a gem now.
Theo is still a bit fearful, but still a sweetheart. Quiet, great eater, cuddly. Couldn't ask for a better behaved too. I hope that doesn't change but I want her to play more, with toys if not with me. We're working on that.

[bonnie]

I want her to play more, with toys if not with me. We're working on that.
This is something I have issues with. It's getting better, but I would like him to play more. He didn't ever have toys at the MIL's, so he really didn't know what to do with them when I started providing things for him to play with.

[Chrissy and Flock]

I know what you mean there Cassie didnt have much by way of toys at SILs so she is learning what to do with them. At SILs she just chewed whatever she felt like chewing. Didn't matter if is was good for her or not.

[EasySpirit]

I've had my 6-year old LSC female (who was terrified when I got her) for about three years, and except for gaining some confidence and learning to play, she hasn't changed.

My female CAG is almost a year old, and except for growing and learning and becoming a little more independent, she hasn't changed. She is still very cuddly.

Plato, male E2, 1 1/2 when I got him last June, is still the same sweet, cuddly, gentle bird as he was then. He has never offered to bite. He is very gentle with his beak. He always steps up no matter where he is. I dread his "puberty," because I suppose he will change then.

I didn't know what people were etalkinga bout when they mentioned honeymoon until Gyro, the Smartest and Most Beautiful Cockatoo in the Universe). I bought him when he was about 6 years old. When I went to look at him, he stepped up on my hand, walked up my arm, and laid his face against mine. I was a goner. He was that way for about 2 days at home, then on the third day he was sitting in my lap, and he flew into my face, bit a small chunk out of my face and gave me a black eye. I thought something had startled him and didn't give it much thought, but he was the same every day for several days after that. Then he went into a really vicious stage where I couldn't even change his food and water without having somebody at the other end of the cage to distract him. I talked to him and eventually could pet him through the cage bars. He would turn around so I could reach everywhere, but that was as far as I could get. He was fine with almost anybody else--just not me. He was and still is a very confident, very smart bully. I know that bird thinks and schemes and plans. He lives with a friend of mine now in an aviary where he can fly free and is very sweet with her. When I visit, he stalks me. I believe now that he knows I am afraid of him and takes advantage of it. But I still love him. Maybe I'm a masochist!

WOODY, 3-4 year old female Mexican red-headed Amazon was very friendly and affectionate when I got him and hasn't changed.

From what everybody says, my experiences aren't typical, so they probably won't be particularly helpful. Even Gyro is extreme, I think.

Evelyn

Your story of gyro is an important one. Here is where I am going. We say a bird has a forever home with us. Good idea that we go in with that intention. But, not all birds match up with all people. Some people don't understand this. I think it is the smart, caring and intelligent person who realizes a bird may be better in another home. They too can have a good home with someone else. It i not as if you are passing a bird around. A bird may not know what is right for them either.

Thanks for your story Evelyn. :o

[EasySpirit]

In another thread, I saw Bonnie and Chrissy talk briefly about the Honeymoon.

I thought it would be interesting to hear what the rest of you have to say about this period of adjustment... so we can all learn from each other.

It can be hard sometimes to tell how a bird will react to you. With one being rehomed we talk of the honeymoon period. This is a time where the bird is new. They are a prey animal. They don't know the rules, the other animals (including human ones) and who will get them. Being out of their element and into the unknown creates some interesting behaviors which are often ones of not calling attentin to themselves or the other direction of them shouting for any flock member to come and find them. In the wild, a bird in need calls the flock, The flock circles and comes down to protect the one. Poachers know this behavior and use it to capture birds. You would see birds in quarantine stations during import times and these birds would have damaged wings. The cause...shot in the wing to bring the bird down. The flock responds in their usual way. Poachers then throw nets over the birds and captured them.

So back to our bird new to your home. They are just showing protective instincts. Birds are great at reading body language. You bet they are paying attention to you. Once they figure you out they then may relax and show who they are. Hey, there is the person who is the wall flower at a dance. Or the shy person at a party. They come out in a variety of ways also. How we respond though does make a difference.

[Evelyn]

Your story of gyro is an important one. Here is where I am going. We say a bird has a forever home with us. Good idea that we go in with that intention. But, not all birds match up with all people. Some people don't understand this. I think it is the smart, caring and intelligent person who realizes a bird may be better in another home. They too can have a good home with someone else. It i not as if you are passing a bird around. A bird may not know what is right for them either.

Thanks for your story Evelyn. :o

It was awfully hard to give him up. I consulted with a behaviorist whose advice did not work, and Gyro spent several months with a couple who had rescued and rehabed a lot of cockatoos. He was sweet with them, but when he came back to me, same old Gyro. When my friend came to pick him up, I was crying, and as she was talking out with him, he clung to the door of the carrier and kept saying, "Bye bye, Bye bye, Bye bye." It broke my heart.

I consider myself forever responsible for him. Occasionally I bring him home to see if things have improved, and they usually haven't much. He is happy where he is. He doesn't have to be caged which he hates, and he has made a buddy there--a little Goffin's who plucked his whole chest and front bald until Gyro came. Now they are inseparable and Puff doesn't pluck anymore. Mean, old independent Gyro covers sweet, shy little Puff with his wing, and they preen each other and are so cute together.

He's still my Gyro, the Smartest and Most Beautiful Umbrella Cockatoo in the Universe.

Evelyn

[bonnie]

It was awfully hard to give him up. I consulted with a behaviorist whose advice did not work, and Gyro spent several months with a couple who had rescued and rehabed a lot of cockatoos. He was sweet with them, but when he came back to me, same old Gyro. When my friend came to pick him up, I was crying, and as she was talking out with him, he clung to the door of the carrier and kept saying, "Bye bye, Bye bye, Bye bye." It broke my heart.

I consider myself forever responsible for him. Occasionally I bring him home to see if things have improved, and they usually haven't much. He is happy where he is. He doesn't have to be caged which he hates, and he has made a buddy there--a little Goffin's who plucked his whole chest and front bald until Gyro came. Now they are inseparable and Puff doesn't pluck anymore. Mean, old independent Gyro covers sweet, shy little Puff with his wing, and they preen each other and are so cute together.

He's still my Gyro, the Smartest and Most Beautiful Umbrella Cockatoo in the Universe.

Evelyn
Oh my Evelyn GOOD FOR YOU!!!!:yeah: You realized the situation wasn't working and gave him a chance at a better life. And at the same time you helped Puff! That is a story for the book!:dancered:

[too&me]

The story you & Gyro lived brought me to tears. The Bye Bye & the caring for Puff both brought tears.

[Chrissy and Flock]

The story you & Gyro lived brought me to tears. The Bye Bye & the caring for Puff both brought tears.

I know what you mean, I did the same thing.:)

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

This is something I have issues with. It's getting better, but I would like him to play more. He didn't ever have toys at the MIL's, so he really didn't know what to do with them when I started providing things for him to play with.

I bought her some small wooden blocks and put them on the table in front of her perch where she goes during the day (I know this from the food trail she leaves). Linus climbed up on the table today and started playing with them and she watched intently. I hope she got the message and I will start seeing beak marks on them one day soon.

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

we never had an issue with Sam of course she is a tiel so a lot different than the bigger breeds...I am very shocked to hear some of the stories and even happier that I joined this board..what a great group of dedicated birdie lovers you all are

[bonnie]

I bought her some small wooden blocks and put them on the table in front of her perch where she goes during the day (I know this from the food trail she leaves). Linus climbed up on the table today and started playing with them and she watched intently. I hope she got the message and I will start seeing beak marks on them one day soon.
Chicken is a wandering too. He likes to be on the floor and walking around. I have a bucket of toys under my coffee table that he has scattered everywhere by the end of the day. Blocks and wood mainly. He will throw them around and occasionally destroy them. Fun to watch. Fun to get in on as well!