Baby is changing and it's odd. When we first brought her home, many of you know how skiddish and so and so that she was. NOT touching, ran from me and ESPECIALLY the perch. Attacked the perch, ran AT the perch, ate the perch, really hated any perch remotely close that was in my hand.
After months and months, by clicker training, I got her to "sometime" step up on the perch.
OK..in that meantime, she still would fly around some and WALK back to her cage. She'd fly to the couch, climb down and walk back and climb up. She'd run from the perch if I tried to perch her to get back. She knew how to get back to the cageby walking on the floor.
Now, that she has learned the perch is ok, not GOOD but ok, she has changed. For the past two days, she has flown from her cage to the same places, the couch back and to the kitchen floor. She has stayed in there a lonnnng time. Once, I was gone (I hadn't let her out all day, so I let her out while only my daughter and wife were here) and she stayed on the couch back about 30 minutes. She used to would have walked back, I've seen her. But, when I went to get the perch she crouched,flapped and begged for it. I put it down and she JUMPED on it and was happy to be rescued back to her cage.
Last nite, she was out, I was taking a shower, getting ready for us to go to a play. I was in there awhile. When I got back out, she was under the kitchen table on a chair leg crossbar. just sitting there, looking scared. She could have walked back from there, I've seen her do it. Once again, she begged to be on the perch and I put her back.
Ok, don't get me wrong, I love this., It is sooooo satisfying to get her to trust me. There is no way to explain, some know, the feeling of being able to retrieve her safely on the perch.
But...it's as if she has forgotten how to get back by walking. Either that or she knows eventually I'll bring the perch. Birds are normally afraid of the floor. Maybe she's was afraid of the floor all of the time, but since she hated the perch, it was her only resource to get back.
Or..maybe she just wants to be rescued by a big strong man?
Crazy burd.
Mark

hmmm.... I'm by all means no expert, but I dont think she has forgotten ow to walk... I just think shes playing games with you... I think she is warming up and is enjoying being off her cage and gettin the attention you giver her when you offer the perch.. As far as being afraid of the floor, Papi, my Yellow Nape loves walkin around the apartment. He'llclimb to the floor and walk laps aroun te place checing everything out. I think you are doing great with Baby.

Mark, I'm not sure why she's not walking or flying back to her cage. But I was thinking when you find her in these situations try offering your arm/hand instead of the perch. I bet she'll step right up for you at this time. It may be the breakthrough you need to reward and let her know the arm/hand is a real good thing.

I agree with Karen. Also I remember reading way long time ago before or just when you got her that she was always terrified of the perch. So I'd say since she's been rehomed a coupla times and came with some issues that she is going to be a puzzle and it's very kind of you to try and support her by examining what she's doing instead of just dismissing it with an easy answer.

For me, she's special needs meaning not going to be typical in all ways and confused or confusing.

So my guess is she is STARTING to feel comfortable enough to venture out into the family. First of course because she is hardwired to be in a flock and will NEVER want to be alone 365 24/7 she has no choice it's in her brain chemistry. But for her it's a fear/insecurity thing fighting her emotions.

Now to get back is going to be a struggle maybe for her for who knows what reason.

Do you have a dog or cat?

Are there kid's toys and stuff on the floor? Is it hardwood? Or maybe she never saw carpet....a million reasons.

Why she's not flying back could be as simple as she doesnt really have the skills and therefore the confidence. Flying out from UNDER a chair takes skills. Turning takes skills and not overshooting your target takes skills. An Amazon is a heavy bodied bird and she feels she cant land just any old place right now.

I would start to help her by encouraging her to fly to you. NOT The perch it's not stable for her to fly to. AND she has mixed feeling wanting to be with you but having to overcome that perch. Making the perch her only "thing" can be like flooding and making her brain mixed up if it's all she gets.

Once she flies to you say, a foot then back up OVER TIME ...until she can land comfortably... extend your forearm and stay still. Dont distract her by talking once she takes off.

Its a VERY slow process (duh lol) but this is how you teach recall and free flight but usually with food but the clicker is good to. But I dont know so much about clicking.

Anyway, make is SOCIAL now, not work. Making her overcoming her perch fears is work for her and stress. So you never want that to be transferred to you since as you can see her confidence and trust takes time. So now maybe click for food, or just for enrichment and when she lands go sit down if you can with her.

Also I'd banish the kids and wife during these times.

Also keep your arm chest high only. And don't have it out waving in the breeze or on an angle and stuff.

Thank you for understanding her and helping her to adjust. And especially thanks for letting her fly it will be a huge investiment in your and your families relationship if she has the confidence and security of flight. Yes it'a bit tricky and with an Amazon maybe a bit more but nevertheless it's important to her and therefore of course to you guys as her family. It is a LONG haul but she'll be forever grateful if she's found her forever home.

I think she's training you, Mark.

yep and you said it in just six words versus my....um....I can't even guess lol.

I think Baby is doing extremely well. My Libby has never flown but loves to walk all over the house. Both of my Grey's love to play on the floor.

I am glad you & Baby are becoming friends. That she wants your help - is perhaps using this as a way to interact. You are her 'slave' or 'knight'.

I think the perch is a great tool.
- it helps others pick up the bird if need be & get them down from up high places as well. My 1st bird was mature when i got him & he hated hands or being on our skin. He was happy to use the perch. Now that he's been with us over a year we have conditioned him to hopping onto our arm or hand. But whenever my husband picks up the bamboo pole we use for recall - up comes Laker's head - he knows & loves the flying game. We just have to tap the pole for him to come.

BTW IME they will never ever walk if they can fly. (are a "flier") Anywhere. It's just not in their makeup. Even in the cage they don't walk if it's easier to fly. 6 inches even. So there's no reason to walk from the chair to the cage if she can fly.

Something else is going on but it's anybody's guess.

I agree on the perch being helpful for some birds, Piper and Toby love hopping on theirs but if she already has shown a severe strong serious aversion to it then it wouldn't be something I'd do.

Mark have you offered your arm at all?