Featherfinder, I'm thrilled to hear you'll always provide a safe home for him. THANK YOU!
Butters (that's my red-belly's name) was a bit of a cage hog too in the beginning -- because that's where he felt safest. Its tough without seeing what he does when you hang out with him... Is he relaxed enough to sing or whistle? I've found mimicking them helps to relax them, as if they are in charge. The thing with birds (even chickens) you can't fake your "feelings". If you're sitting with him and you're feeling "come on little guy, come on out...." he's going to feel pressured. I would go so far as to take him into a dark room, turn out the lights, put him in a towel or use your steel tipped gloves and take him out of the cage. Close the cage (so he can't get back in), put him on top, maybe with treats or some toys and just make him be outside the cage with you (with the lights back on now). Then I'd read, maybe have a radio on, just be like, "Hey dude!" and ignore him at first. Then in later sessions sing out loud, talk to him but don't look at him. Just let him get used to your voice and that talking doesn't mean "I'm going to put my hands on your helpless little birdy body!". Let him do what he's going to do. If you do this enough, he'll realize life outside the cage isn't all that terrible. But it will take routine, something he will come to EXPECT. With animals, routines are the least threatening since they are predictable and that ='s safety to them. It's not knowing what will happen next that makes them whacky. Eventually, he'll start making his noises, or if he doesn't, do your best to mimic what you know his sounds are. At some point he won't be able to take being ignored, he'll want your attention. So sing to him, tell him how wonderful he is and really smile at him...like from your whole body smile so he feels how happy you are with him. Maybe start to have a phrase that means, "It's ok to go back into your cage" and open his cage door, let him go in on his own. He needs to feel some level of control before he hands it over to you.
I know these are baby steps but it's what this little guy/girl needs. I promise, there is a funny, happy bird in there...you just need to give him time to find himself in your environment.
Here is a picture of Butters on his favorite (and my least favorite) perch, flirting with Annie. He's got a thing for the big, busty chickens. He'll drop his wings and make a little singing voice when he can get close to her. He'll do the same if I pull up a picture of a similarity built chicken on the web. He certainly has a type! Of course, after I took this picture he did his flirting dance.
Butters (that's my red-belly's name) was a bit of a cage hog too in the beginning -- because that's where he felt safest. Its tough without seeing what he does when you hang out with him... Is he relaxed enough to sing or whistle? I've found mimicking them helps to relax them, as if they are in charge. The thing with birds (even chickens) you can't fake your "feelings". If you're sitting with him and you're feeling "come on little guy, come on out...." he's going to feel pressured. I would go so far as to take him into a dark room, turn out the lights, put him in a towel or use your steel tipped gloves and take him out of the cage. Close the cage (so he can't get back in), put him on top, maybe with treats or some toys and just make him be outside the cage with you (with the lights back on now). Then I'd read, maybe have a radio on, just be like, "Hey dude!" and ignore him at first. Then in later sessions sing out loud, talk to him but don't look at him. Just let him get used to your voice and that talking doesn't mean "I'm going to put my hands on your helpless little birdy body!". Let him do what he's going to do. If you do this enough, he'll realize life outside the cage isn't all that terrible. But it will take routine, something he will come to EXPECT. With animals, routines are the least threatening since they are predictable and that ='s safety to them. It's not knowing what will happen next that makes them whacky. Eventually, he'll start making his noises, or if he doesn't, do your best to mimic what you know his sounds are. At some point he won't be able to take being ignored, he'll want your attention. So sing to him, tell him how wonderful he is and really smile at him...like from your whole body smile so he feels how happy you are with him. Maybe start to have a phrase that means, "It's ok to go back into your cage" and open his cage door, let him go in on his own. He needs to feel some level of control before he hands it over to you.
I know these are baby steps but it's what this little guy/girl needs. I promise, there is a funny, happy bird in there...you just need to give him time to find himself in your environment.
Here is a picture of Butters on his favorite (and my least favorite) perch, flirting with Annie. He's got a thing for the big, busty chickens. He'll drop his wings and make a little singing voice when he can get close to her. He'll do the same if I pull up a picture of a similarity built chicken on the web. He certainly has a type! Of course, after I took this picture he did his flirting dance.
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