Hello all,
Sorry, I seem to be posting a lot, just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing. Over the last two days, Byron's little happy-go-lucky demeanour seems to be shifting. He's about six months old now, and I know that's the time the 'terrible twos' start to settle in. He's not been really bad, but he is beginning to display a few lunging behaviours, particularly at my partner, although there's been the odd occasion when he's squeezed my finger a little too hard. We have responded in the following way:
- Too hard a squeeze when on the finger has resulted in an 'earthquake' shake and the word 'gentle'
- Too hard a squeeze when on the shoulder has resulted in an 'earthquake' shake, the word 'gentle' and removal from the shoulder. (we are now being careful about shoulder time)
- Lunging behavior is reprimanded with a cage time out for two - four minutes, after which I start again as if nothing has happened.
- when he 'kisses' or beaks our fingers or cheeks gentle, I tell him he's a good boy and lavish him with praise.
We haven't yet found a treat he responds to well, but I may try sunflower seeds provided it doesn't require me to give him loads. Or maybe a mouthful of millet. We've also been very careful to moderate his diet. He gets:
- A bowl of pellets (every day)
- a mix I make myself of cooked peas, sweet potato, carrot, kale and quinoa in with mixed pulses (every day, and I sprinkle crushed oyster shells into this to boost calcium levels)
- egg (once a week)
- millet (every two or three weeks)
We've also been ensuring he gets 10-12 hours of darkness a night. I know it's really important, through phases of hormonal aggression, to ensure they remain hand tame. I've been working on stick training him with a T-bar so I can get him out of his cage if he becomes territorial of it, but he's not used to it yet and nor is he particularly protective over his cage at the moment.
Is there anything else I should be doing to moderate his behaviours? What else can I expect from this phase of his growth? Thanks again! Sorry for all the questions. I have a million books, all of which I've consulted, but it's good to hear people's different experiences and how they personally handled it.