[Tike2]

Wow, I am a chick...

I have had Tiki for a month.....

Thanks to all of you who have been so patient and answered questions and given suggestions... I really have appreciated it.

Yes, Plukie I worried for naught... we have made so much progress..

I have stopped using the perch to get him to step up, he still thinks he should bite first, so far no pucture wounds tho... I just move my hand back a little, tell him no and go back again and again until he steps up....

Yesterday I tho't I would take him to the table for something different... of course it scared him... we did that a couple of times. Today he was much more willing, enjoyed his millet, looked around, walked around, ect ect... and left me a big mess, which he neglected to clean up before going back to his playstation...

He's still not affectionate, lets me skritch his head only when he is busy eating his millet or other treats.... but we will get there.

Since he is a year old and doesn't talk, I wonder if he ever will talk or whistle???? I repeat different things for him and whistle, but nothing so far.

When I outfitted his cage before I got him, I put in a cuddle buddy and a couple of toys... last wk I bought a coconut husk... the top and bottom connected with rope... he really likes it... I see him biting on it. Anyway, to start with he would perch on top his cuddle buddy to sleep... then he moved to a toy that has some rope on it, didn't look very comfortable to me, but seemed to suit him OK.... now he is sleeping in the bottom half of the coconut husk....it moves with his movement and looks much more comfortable...

I have let Bandit be part of the training sessions(so to speak) the last few days , he is totally obsessed with Tiki, stands in front of the cage and barks, wanted to get on my lap when I had Tiki on the table, sits up on his haunches and wants to see Tiki on his playstation... ... when Tiki flew to the floor, Bandit was leary and stayed his distance...he shows no aggression, just curious... But again we will get over that too... I hope....

I have another playstation coming in the mail, and that will be in the computer room... so next wk he will have to get use to something new...

Again thanks for all the help...

 

[Plukie]

Wow, now that's progress!! It sounds like you have yourself a real good little friend there now. I don't know what sort of rope toy you are talking about, but just one word of warning, if it has a tassel on it, cut the tassel up short so that he can't get his foot caught in it. I really don't know why they make toys for birds like that, they can be so dangerous. I know of a cockatoo that hung itself in a tassel whilst the owner was out and I had a budgie that got his foot caught in it, luckily I was in the room at the time. So, if a toy has a tassel, cut it right up short. Apart from that.........it's all sounding really good. I'm so pleased for you because I know what you were going through when you first got him, a little anxious to say the least. lol. Now you can both build up the trust in each other.

 

[Tike2]

The rope toy has other things tied to it, like wood and such, the pieces of rope that stick out are very short... knotted and just a very little bit fray... nothing he can get caught on.... I have been very careful for things like that... thanks to reading on this forum.... Its so funny, he gets so excited when I get up, and does this little swaying dance for me... and even more excited when he sees me move his playstation in place, then he knows he is coming out... as soon as he steps onto the playstation he knows he will be getting some millet as soon as he steps up... that takes a little bit of a discussion between us, (getting shorter, tho) but he steps up and we are good to go...

And yup... I was a lot anxious...

Thanks again for the encouragement...

 

[Plukie]

You are more than welcome! It's really good to hear of such progress from you both. It sounds as though Tiki knows the routine now, it can only get better.