Sammie has been with us about 10 years. It took a long time for him to form a relationship with me as he was just Jerry's bird. He would bite me every opportunity he got. Finally I learned to wrap a towel around my arm so he couldn't hurt me when he bit. From that point forward, he and I did okay. When he got his wing amputated, I was the one who took care of him, and that is when we finally bonded. Life was fine until I went away in January for 14 days. Since I came back, he has consistantly refused to come out. When I try to push the issue he bites. Because his is an amputee, and because he had a severly fractured foot that wasn't cared for before he came to us, you can't force the step up. It has to be on his terms as he doesn't have the balance that a "whole" bird does. From the day he got here to this day, he is petrified of sticks (perches) and totally freaks out. Besides, he weighs 1040 grams, and that is a bit much for me to be picking up on a stick. The other night, I just life his cage door open, and he came out, and pranced all over the top of his cage. Finally had to chase him back into his cage with a towel, as he was not going to step up and let me get him off the cage. Every time, I think I'm making tiny steps with him, he goes back to strikeing me when I try to get him out. Once out of his cage, he is fine, and will readily come to me and get cuddled for hours.

OMG I LOVE YOUR FIDS GREAT PICS. This may sound nuts and only a TOO parront would understand but I would love to have more. Yup I'm nutsy Of course living in an apt. just ain't making it so. I don't really have any earth shattering advice except love and patience and because he is a special needs bird regular training methods may have to be altered. It may have to be on his terms but at any rate you are a great mom and I'm sure in time he will come around.