Help with GCC - Page 2

06-21-2007, 09:15 PM

oh, one thing i wanted to ask - how often do you get bitten?

i'm asking becasue me too am collecting "love-marks" from my little bundle of feathers.... just not as often as others are

06-21-2007, 10:40 PM

I am having a different experience. This 20 yr old GCC, Fiona, is just the friendliest, most affectionate girl but not cuddly. However, I am now getting kisses through the cage bars at night because Shrek started giving me kisses out of the cage and then when I told him "nite, nite" and made kissy noises to Fiona, he came to the front of the cage to give kisses through the bars-so she wanted kisses too. Now we have this whole nightly ritual and the tiels are listening to this whole production! I will faint if they ever voluntarily ask for kisses...

Fiona has stepped up from Day 1 and would spend a lot more time out of the cage, if I let her. She has never bitten me although she has warned me a few times but we managed to work it out,lol. She loves to take a bath every day, too. And, if I don't get the message quick enough (she must think I'm dense), then she dive-bombs into her water dish! Whenever she really wants my attention-she wolf whistles!

Like the other night, when I made one of those 100 Calorie bags of saltfree, tasteless popcorn and I brought it into the office with me. Fiona raised such a ruckus that I turned around to look at her whistling and making kissy noises and focused on the bag on the desk. When I looked at Shrek, he was pressed into the front of the cage with his beak extended outside the bars. It would have been funny, if it wasn't so pathetic! So I gave them both a few pieces of popcorn and it was obvious that this was a precious treat. Now I know what to use to train them,

06-22-2007, 04:38 AM

You've gotten some great advice, I really enjoyed reading through this thread so far.
I will just add something that I found with my little green boy Nani, he loves to snuggle with me but takes a little bit of time to settle down after he first comes out of his cage, doesn't like 'hands' near him for the first 30-45 minutes after he has escaped from his cage. I find getting him out and putting him on his playgym for a little bit does help when trying to handle him. We are still working on the step up with Nani, he stands still and lets you pick him up or jumps onto your arm but is not so keen on stepping up onto fingers yet.

06-22-2007, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moirana

oh, one thing i wanted to ask - how often do you get bitten?

i'm asking becasue me too am collecting "love-marks" from my little bundle of feathers.... just not as often as others are

This is where the "I have to get over my fear" part comes in, I actually haven't gotten bit for quite some time, because I haven't given him the opportunity. I've been using perches whenever I mess with him, I have a perch in each hand, so if he creeps to the hand holding the perch he is on too close I can make him step up on the other perch. I am honestly not even sure if he "WOULD" bite me anymore, but I'm still trying to work up the bravery to try it without the perches. I know......... I feel like such a chicken.

06-22-2007, 09:41 AM

can't blame you for that - it takes a lot to get over the fear of a GCC. sounds funny, but despite their relatively small beak size most of them sure know HOW to use it.... valo grabs a little bit of skin and then grinds down when he bites the people he doesn't like.... therefore it's not all that surprising that people are scared to hold/touch him.
i think you're doing the perfect thing - keep going this way, and once you feel comfortable enough holding him, go for it (chances are you won't get bitten). i think it's best to not push it, you as well as baby have to feel comfortable....

did i already say that i really think you're on the right track?!

06-22-2007, 11:37 AM

Thankyou, I really appreciate all the advice and support from everyone. The encouragement really helps, there are sometimes that I just want to completely give up, and I feel like a total failure, but then my stubborness kicks in and I get unwilling to throw in the "towel".

You guys have already helped me MORE than I could express and just wanted to say thanks again.

06-27-2007, 07:06 PM

I wanted to post you all an update, today I took Baby to a local breeder that I have talked to a few times, and she helped me work with Baby and showed me how to handle him and what to do when he bites. The saddest part is I knew everything she showed me, but seeing is different than knowing. And she helped me get over some of my fear, today I was handling Baby with MY hands. I'm starting to feel braver. She told me that if I ever want her to help again to just give her a call and we will arrange a time. Things are finally starting to look up.

06-27-2007, 10:54 PM

Yay! That is great news! I am so glad you were able to get some hands on help!

06-27-2007, 11:01 PM

I am really glad to hear that things are going well with you and Baby. Its also good to hear that there are still breeders out there that are willing to help people with their birds and aren't just in it for the money so to speak.

06-28-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lethalfire

I wanted to post you all an update, today I took Baby to a local breeder that I have talked to a few times, and she helped me work with Baby and showed me how to handle him and what to do when he bites. The saddest part is I knew everything she showed me, but seeing is different than knowing. And she helped me get over some of my fear, today I was handling Baby with MY hands. I'm starting to feel braver. She told me that if I ever want her to help again to just give her a call and we will arrange a time. Things are finally starting to look up.

That is wonderful news! So glad things are going a bit better. Let me share a little something I've mentioned to others before. In my experience with problems like this, it has almost always worked out that things are darkest just before the dawn. Just when I'm desperate and thinking the problem is never going to improve, some sort of breakthrough happens with the bird. I'm serious, I know it sounds stupid, but its true!

Of course, there is also the occasional set-back, but if that happens, just concentrate on the progress you've made.