Can you get the bond back?

[montgomery2007]

So here is the scoop. I had to clip my bird's wings because he got sick and I had to give him medecine twice a day via an oral syringe. There was just no way that I could do this while he was flighted. To make the matters worse I had to towel him twice a day and he hates to be toweled. So after three weeks of doing this; my little bird wants nothing to do with me. :( He no longer steps up, stopped talking, and has almost stopped contact calling. He will climb as high as he can to get away from me when I approach him. He won't even take treats from me regardless of what it is. To say that I am frustrated and sad would be putting it mildly.

I could use some advice on what to do (besides not clipping wings). If anyone has some suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks, Eric

[chapala]

That's such a hard situation when you have to restrain and medicate a bird for a few weeks. They don't understand why their bonded person is doing this to them. Yes, I think it's quite possible to regain his trust again, jsut take it slowly just as you would if he was a scared, new bird to your house. Don't expect quick progress, but watch his body language and take little steps when you see he's comfortable. Let him set the pace for the amount of attention. Try hand-feeding treats (does he like millet spray?). I wouldn't even attempt to pick him up or hold him for awhile. Just let him get used to you not being the medicine giver!
Good luck,
Reta

[Pado]

That is hard having to go backwards like that :( but sometimes necessary.

I also think its possible to regain their trust. As suggested take it slow (as frustrating as that will probably be). Your coming towards his cage now means something bad is going to happen - you have to now work on every time you come towards the cage something good happens. You know your bird best and what those "good" things should be - mostly its food.

Use this time while his wings are still clipped to work on this. But every time you come towards him now you should make a pleasant experience for him.

[drab91]

I think he will come back for sure.. These are quite smart little guys.. Don't forget that they do go through mood changes on their own throughout the year where they want nothing to do with you even if you hadn't gone through what you did...
Just remember if you didn't do what you had to do he wouldn't be here to enjoy any of this ( I think ) so it was totally worth it!

I have gone through so many changes with Mavric.. he has lived in 5 houses with me.. and for the past year I have only been able to see him one weekend a month.. but after a tiny bit he is just the same old buddy!

Just as the others have said, take it slow and I would predict a positive outcome!

Good Luck!

[Amy]

I had to clip my birds wings after he tried to fly out the door, and it just made his already hateful attitude worse. He used to let us pet the feathers on his head, and he used to sleep in my hair, but now he wont even sit on our shoulders.

But we still love him and try treat him with respect. Even if he will pierce your skin if you look at him funny. (Yes hes done it to me many times, mostly when we try to get him to stop pestering the dog by making him step up).

I think if you and your birdie had a bond before, he will remember it eventually. I agree with the others that if you treat him like a new bird again, his trust will come back.

[Cocomaco]

Poor little guy, he is sad and frustrated too. Not only has he been ill, but he's lost his flight and his friend in you. My parrotlet is very quick to learn when I'm going to pick him up for anything other than a cuddle (medicine, foot check, etc) and also scrambles to get away.

I really do think you can get this guy back. Like any animal it takes time to build up trust, but it is very quickly broken down (in the case of my mum's collie-cross it took one shouted word and that dog refused to come near me for a week). At the moment, he sees you as a negative presence. Someone who is going to hold him and give him nasty tasting medicine.

My birdy is currently on medicine, and while he hates it there are ways of making it less unpleasant for him. Firstly, he's obsessed with all bottles and rustly things, so he likes the medicine containers and will happily come over to see them. He also likes the syringe wrappers. Of course, he hates the medicine, but when it's done, I use another syringe with fruit juice and give him a little of that. That way there is something enjoyable at the end of it, and he doesn't necessarily fear syringes and medicine time.

What are his favourite things? Did he chase after tissues, rattley tubs, bottles, cat toys? Try and coax him to you with those, outside of medicine time. And as mentioned, use food. Good luck, it sounds like you've done a great job so far and I'm sure you can win him round.