Just wanted to post an update on how it's going with Baby; my rehomed Zon. She is doing great. This has not been without frustration. I know that Zons are all stubborn, but..Baby is EXTREMELY stubborn especially about perches or hands. Briefly, I had her on a perch, but that very quickly went from celebration to "I wanna eat the perch" again. So, I'm back to square one on that. Clicker training is working wonders for us. So far, I have her clicker trained to wave, ring a bell, be BIG BIRD on verbal cue (flap wings and scream, she's a natural at that) and yesterday we started working on retrieval. She takes a ring from my hand and is starting to release it back into my hand on cue. She more about taking than giving back right now tho. haha. She is cute as she sits with that big plastic ring thrown back to her side with one claw, looks like a lil woman with a purse. (picture coming soon).
and even though she's not perch trained, she'll SOMETIME "go home", to go back inside, on cue for a grape.
She has learned to say "uh oh" if something is dropped. She'll let me scratch her, depending on the mood of course, and even let me rub a wing a little. she is still very hand shy. The ring retrieval training has helped that as it forces her to let my hand be closer to her and she'll nibble on my hand some.
But, the biggest thing that has helped us is moving her into our living room. Much to my wife's dislike, I moved her there to get her more socialized with us. Now, she had a great eye-shot of us before, but it's entirely different to have her with us as we gather as a family. She has even started laughing some. That was funny. She watches as we get Dood outta his cage and play with him. She sees him safely and happily being scratched and I have him on my hand a LOT for her to see. Actually, the two have started chatting back and forth some. Neither are out of the cage at the same time.
She watches movies with us from her playtop. She has even gotten into the floor some. Having her readily available has made her a little more relaxed. And I'm more prone to just walking up to her and carrying on with her or talking to her or training her if she's there.
I found out that she is very different if I have on a neutral color shirt to train with than a red one.
So, this might help some other's coming into a new bird. This has surely tested my patience, but together, we'll get there..
When I get her perch trained and hand trained, we're bout 75% there.
Enjoy the burdz.
Mark

sounds so good, best of luck and clicker to you both

Sounds like you're doing just great!! Tell me about rehomed 'Zon frustration! You're about 5 light-years beyond me and Chico. Keep up the good work!

Mark, you and Baby sound like you're doing really, really well. That's great progress for no longer than Baby's been with you. I agree with the color thing. Red doesn't seem to be a big favorite with some 'zons.

Mark, I think your decision to move Baby into the living room was an excellent one. My 'zon definitely likes to be a part of the action in my household! If others are visiting and she is in another part of the house, she ALWAYS makes her presence verbally known! She can't stand to not be part of the human "flock".