|
Post by aaron on Nov 16, 2015 10:02:58 GMT -5
Glad to hear things continue to go well with Byron! I've found that most of the time good days are precipitated by Cupcake feeling included, loved and appreciated, and getting lots of eye contact early in the morning. That said, sometimes it's just not a good day and it's not clear why. Can't help much with encouraging speech, however!
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 15, 2015 2:02:52 GMT -5
Haha.. It can be rediculously frustrating.. She always finds a way to get that scab off
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 14, 2015 11:30:00 GMT -5
I think it's a good thing to teach if that's how your household will operate, but it's something we don't try to attempt, honestly. If we are home, Cupcake is out, unless it is a very rare circumstance, like when we take naps on the weekend, occasionally. In general, we just try to encourage behavior in Cupcake that is manageable, so we can effectively go about our business without too much interference. But, I can understand how this is different than your scenario, because Cupcake is everyone's bird, and we all see her as our responsibility.
But I will say that Cupcake is very good about just riding around or sitting nearby while we do chores. Laundry, dishes, cleaning, even working on the computer (mostly)... she is pretty well behaved. This was not always the case. When she was a younger bird, she didn't really know how to act and got into everything... but now she is a good bird the vast majority of the time... So, the point being that if you and your partner want to try this approach, the bird can learn to be a good participant.
It's tough, because with their flock mentality, it's really important to them to be included in everything, and if they feel like they are being left out, they will often act out.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 14, 2015 11:18:53 GMT -5
So true. These Quakers have such bold personalities for such little birds.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 14, 2015 11:18:04 GMT -5
Cupcake hates being dried off. She will go out of her way to avoid being toweled when she has recently bathed. You can tell it's immediately on her mind once she's wet and she is watching to see if we're going to try to towel her. She becomes distinctly evasive.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 13, 2015 18:07:58 GMT -5
No doubt about that!
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 13, 2015 18:07:01 GMT -5
Exactly. The best habit to cultivate is one of always reinforcing good behavior. Even when they are already in the habit, keep reinforcing those good habits. And sometimes good behavior is not doing anything. For example, when Cupcake is just sitting there, being happy and calm and simply being a pleasant member of the household, we praise her for it. I do think that stern eye contact, especially with a bird that is very familiar with your eyes, is the most effective way to communicate disapproval. It works better than punishment, or verbal admonishing.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 13, 2015 13:51:30 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't think you need to worry about the height dominance thing too much. I have not observed that behavior at all in my time with Cupcake, and she rides around on shoulders all the time. I think this applies more to the bigger birds, whose eyes are actually above yours when they stand up straight on your shoulder. Even then, I think there is some debate as to whether the height-dominance connection is a real thing. I could be wrong though. At any rate, Ricky has the right idea -- shoulder time is a priviledge, and if they misbehave on the shoulder they should be immediately put back on their cage. The earthquake method works too.
I don't personally have any experience with mixed-pet environments... but perhaps the others can help. It sounds like you are being careful, and that's good.
|
|
|
Hello!
Nov 12, 2015 23:24:16 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 23:24:16 GMT -5
I guess it's hard to tell that the head is blurred from the avatar. Looks pretty good to me though.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 21:00:20 GMT -5
I dunno. When you only have one Quaker, adding another is doubling the amount of Quaker. That's a lot
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 21:00:02 GMT -5
I think they are probably mostly fiction. Perhaps there are some real cases though. I'd love to witness that At any rate, I'd imagine if there are truly sympathetic birds out there, they probably (*gasp*) ... aren't Quakers
|
|
|
Hello!
Nov 12, 2015 20:57:19 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 20:57:19 GMT -5
Yes, that photo in your (wsteinhoff) avatar looks stunning. I'd love to see a bigger version. It would be a nice addition to the Forum banner too. I agree! If I can get a larger version of the photo I can certainly provide a new version of the banner.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 20:54:19 GMT -5
Early conditioning could help, but either way there's no need to worry. Just educate yourself as much as possible and be prepared, and you'll be fine. The key is not encouraging the wrong behavior in the first place-- if you handle things properly initially, there's a very good chance the whole thing will be pretty manageable. Going backwards is harder, but even that is very do-able. I'm certain your relationship with Byron will remain intact Another thing I would recommend is not allowing access to nest-like locations. Cupcake's hormones are quite mild at this point in time, but they used to be much worse when she had a tent. Personally, I don't allow the use of happy huts or anything like that for this reason, but some people find them to be okay.
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 15:05:18 GMT -5
I'd love to see this video!!
To include a video in your post, you need to post the video to Youtube, and then include the Youtube link in the body of your post here.
|
|
|
Hello!
Nov 12, 2015 15:03:31 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 15:03:31 GMT -5
Yes, that photo in your (wsteinhoff) avatar looks stunning. I'd love to see a bigger version.
|
|