Unrealistic Routines, Need Help Fast

[FoxersArtist]

We got a phone call this morning about a 13 yr old congo african grey named Sunshine that is needing to be rehomed due to his owners failing health. He has been an only bird and has lived with her since he was 6 months old. We agreed to go pick up the bird on Saturday and I gave her instructions to prepare the bird for this change in the ways that I saw possible. The bird has an extensive vocabulary and working knowledge of the english language so I told her to calmly explain that he was going to go buh bye throughout the week.

Here's the problem. This bird has been given an exact routine. (This is about how it goes, but the details are just an example): Nutriberries at 8:00AM, Avi Cakes at 11:00AM, cuddles from 11AM to noon, spinach and raw veggies at 1:00PM, Watch mom go out to get the mail at exactly 2:00PM daily, Nappy time between 4:30 and 5PM, watch General Hospital and Jerry Springer without fail every single day, Mushy foods at 7:00PM, lights out at 8:00PM.

As I understand it, the bird has been somewhat neglected a lot of one on one out of cage time over the past year due to the owner getting a couple of dogs and worrying that the dogs would attack the bird. So this very strict routine is all the bird really has. He does not show interest in his toys though his owner continues to rotate his stash through the cage monthly.

My personal opinion is that a bird should never be put into a routine like this for the exact reasons that THIS bird is currently facing. Not very many people can live up to this kind of schedule, not even a person who is home a lot of the time. The last time someone surrendered a CAG with this kind of routine I had very little knowledge about parrots and totally failed at being able to care for the bird's needs, who ended up going back his original owner after he sat in a cage for 2 weeks at my house muttering his owners name and whimpering "It's ok, it's ok, it's ok!" as he nerviously rocked on his swing. (No joke!)

Give me some ideas of how we can work with this fellow to break his routine without breaking his spirit. A few months ago I placed our dear sweet Bonnie on a waiting list for a CAG and as life would have it, she had already been planning to visit us at the end of the month. If the bird is a good match for her and we have been able to help him to be comfortable without a strict routine, he will be going home with her in about 3 weeks. This is our plan. The bird may have something totally different in mind as birds will do things in their own time and as they see fit. We'll see how it goes when he gets here. In the meantime...HELP!
-Anna

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Anna,

It could happen that Sunshine will surprise us all and relish a varied life-style. Maybe cross the bridges as we come to them and not before.

In other words - one day at a time.

[Chrissy and Flock]

Anna Sunshine may not like that routine at all he may just be going along with it. What were his routines before the dogs came along. Who knows this may all be happening for a reason, Bonnie wants a CAG maybe Sunshine is meant to own her. Remember God works in mysterious ways. :)

[too&me]

I think if you can talk to her and/or give a small treat at most of these times it might help Sunshine. It sounds as if her routine has not been on track lately
so she may appreciate a little normalcy in an attention format. Perhaps having some other birds & some music she may adjust, they are so smart they can adapt to survive both in captivity & in the wild. She may understand a lot more than we think if you & the current people keep talking & letting her know what to expect and that she is safe & loved. Act like it is normal!

[Julie]

The amazing thing about Greys is that they DO understand, in context, what is going on. You are good with reading birds, so as long as she displays her intentions you will be just fine. She will take more sitting and talking interaction than necessarily play time. For the most part, Duch enjoys her general routine (us working during the day/out of cage several hours at night), but we mix it up deliberately to make sure she is always "on her toes".

Mine LETS ME KNOW what she wants, and she is pretty clear about it. Duch does not have a large vocabulary (may be 40 words, for a 4 y/o) but last night she was acting up. I asked her "do you want to go nite-nite? If you keep screaming I will put you in nite-nite". Her response was "bye-bye".....

I would say do NOT even attempt to keep the birds routine when she shows up at your house. She is coming into a new flock and will need to find her place in the group. She will adjust quite well. Duch greatly improved as soon as we brought Carl into the house. Her whole world doubled in mental interaction not only with us but also with him. Sunshine will be so overwhelmed with all of the cage/location/flock changes that the routine will be much lower on the priority list. It also is sounding like this schedule is more put in place so the bird knows what to expect during the day (like the bird has trained the owners too well).

I would say, at least for the first little bit, try to keep on hand a small supply of her "normal" treats. Because they are finacy eaters, this will help to smooth out the transition. May be start her out with PJ since he enjoyed Lucy so much, and he is one of your more "mellow" birds. Mine does not like to play much outside of her cage, she LOVES to watch me cook dinner, do the dishes, and make comments while we watch TV. She will play “get your toes/beak/wing/belly” while on her play swing. She loves her shredders and the phone book.

For me the most important thing to remember with Duch, is that she likes a calm mellow approach, and does not care for the exuberant playful cockatoo approach. Hope a little of this helps, you will be just fine. Do not be surprised if she holds out on the talking for a bit, or she will talk your ear off. You never know, this might just be exactly the change she needs. Keep us posted, can’t wait for stories…..

[bonnie]

Anna Sunshine may not like that routine at all he may just be going along with it. What were his routines before the dogs came along. Who knows this may all be happening for a reason, Bonnie wants a CAG maybe Sunshine is meant to own her. Remember God works in mysterious ways. :)

Thank you Chrissy. Anna and I were just talking about that last night. After we were finished talking and I went to bed I turned on the tv and watched Joel Osteen. I don't know if you watch him, but I love him. He was talking about how God knows what He wants for you and when He knows what He wants for you all you have to do is the work. Everything else is already planned out. So, Anna, my worrying is over! Let's do this!:D

[Chrissy and Flock]

One thing I have learned in my many years on this earth you can't fight the will of God.

[Julie]

So, Anna, my worrying is over! Let's do this!:D


Keep your shoes buckled on Bonnie, a grey will certainly add spice to your household! Congrats, and keep us posted on your timing.... Though I'm sure we will get a couple video's and pic's from Anna for Sunshine first!

[bonnie]

I'm sure she will! I'm excited to see him!

[Don]

Who ever came up with the idea that parrots need a static lifestyle never saw any wild birds. Oh Please name just one species that lives, eats, sleeps and plays in one place for it's life time - I think it's about time this birds life is expanded. Good luck and have fun with your new bird.

Don

[Chrissy and Flock]

Bonnie I am so excited for you... I bet you can hardly wait.:)

[too&me]

Don's wisdom is right on track, expanded horizons. Lets hope Sunshine makes the turn as well as Bhodi did. CAG's can be so shy but braver than TAG's usually are. Waiting to hear her progress.

[FoxersArtist]

Thanks everyone, for all of the advice. I'm honestly not too worried about Sunshine - but after Einstien the whimpering CAG I became quite gun shy about greys for a while, so much so that they all bit me when I tried to handle them! I got over my insecurity about them and they stopped biting me but I am certainly not as experienced with them as most other species. I'm sure Sunshine will do fine and I totally agree that it's high time that he is liberated from his routine. I think I'm going to try to keep parts of it for the first few days that he is here, so that he doesn't totally flip out if he seems super traumatized by his big change. Otherwise perhaps he will be relieved to get away from his set lifestyle. I agree with Julie that he has kind of trained his owner into this routine as he seems to "request" to watch tv or reminds her to get the mail, tells her to put him down for a nap, etc. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts.

As far as Bonnie getting the bird, I believe this bird was likely meant for her, considering he is one out of all of 4 greys I have ever worked with. I had just explained to Bonnie that we do not get many greys surrendered and lo and behold not even a week later here comes Sunshine! HaHa. Thanks God. :yeah:
-Anna

[too&me]

Ask & ye shall receive. It does seem to work out this way more often that not.

[Don]

Keep in mind the 10(+/-) days of good behaviour rule - then you meet the real bird.

I am still looking for a handleable mature GW female for Navidad, so if anyone knows of one seeking a mate, lemme know :) My offer is a handfed baby (Gw, Umbrella, Caique or whatever I have) for a hen.

Don
donsbirds.com

[EasySpirit]

Who ever came up with the idea that parrots need a static lifestyle never saw any wild birds. Oh Please name just one species that lives, eats, sleeps and plays in one place for it's life time - I think it's about time this birds life is expanded. Good luck and have fun with your new bird.

Don


No neurotic CAG here. Sam has been my first bird this time around. Many birds have come since he has been here. He has changed cages, he has had cages moved around. He takes it all in. If he wants me he comes looking for me. None of the other birds bother him...he is King. But, he also is not a pest and doesn't stand on top of the B&G's cage so he could get a foot bit. So he has a bit of sense about himself.

Now, with that said, I do tell him what I am doing, if I am going away, who will be taking care of him. Just a normal everyday conversation. He knows he is safe, no harm has come to him. He has been socialized and will go to others. He is in great feather and I think he just goes with the flow (food helps too!!!! :haha: )

me:hihihi: