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Post by aaron on Jan 29, 2016 20:28:13 GMT -5
I imagine Cupcake would probably love it. She is historically a brave bird to a fault... Unless I pull out the harness  |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 30, 2016 5:52:59 GMT -5
Hahahaha, that's hysterical. Bless little Cupcake! Byron did really well with training yesterday. We put the headstrap on twice and counted to five. Then he had a bit of a freak out (understandable) so we went back to retrieving treats from the hand with the harness on, built back up, and he let me put it on a third time. It's still a bit of a struggle for him to let me put it over his head but I've been very careful not to force him. I think this is the key. He needs to know that if he REALLY doesn't want it, it won't happen. I think that's just a matter of respect, but it'll also stop any fear of the harness building up. He's doing really well! You know you can get harnesses in all sorts of colours so a different coloured one might help?
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Post by aaron on Jan 30, 2016 9:16:08 GMT -5
Yeah, another color would probably give us the opportunity to start over. At this point I'm not sure I have the patience or the time to pull it off... but maybe in the future  |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 30, 2016 17:17:59 GMT -5
Totally understandable! Byron wore the harness and went outside for the first time today, for about five minutes. Getting it on was a bit of a caffufle, and I'm not sure I'd do it again soon as, about two thirds of the way through, it appeared to become quite stressful. He still chewed on the straps, but I pulled it out of his beak gently and, mostly, he was just fascinated by being outside. He sat in a tree, flew a little way, played about in the grass. Then, when we got inside, he did let me put the headstrap over his head a couple of times, so we haven't got backwards. He's still not 'trained' and it might take another couple of weeks before we can fully play outside with the harness on, but this is good progress |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 30, 2016 20:23:41 GMT -5
Well done - beats the heck out of my disastrous attempt with Bonnie. Hopefully Byron will realise quickly that the harness is his ticket to a bit of outside freedom (I'm sure he will, as QPs are so smart it's scary). As he was in the grass outside, you might have to think about treating him with a mite & lice spray…just to be on the safe side. |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 31, 2016 4:33:58 GMT -5
He's off to the vet tomorrow anyway as I'm a little concerned he might have a nasal infection (keeps clearing his nose) so will see if I can get a good mite and lice spray from the vet. Thanks, that's a really good point.
Am slightly worried about using anything on him not recommended by a vet, which is probably ridiculous, but I want to play it safe until I know his needs a little better. We'll keep going with the harness and I'm sure he'll get there eventually.
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2016 5:52:20 GMT -5
Oh wow that sounds amazing Beccilouise! A little outside time, yay! You are doing a fantastic job with your harness training!
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 31, 2016 10:11:07 GMT -5
Thanks Angela! It's grotty outside today, so I think we'll just stick to the regular training routine. Maybe we'll try outside time again next week if he'll allow me to put the harness on again! Lots of treats seems to be the key |
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Post by beccilouise on Jan 31, 2016 18:56:55 GMT -5
So he did pretty well today. It took a little persuasion to get the head strap on (treats and slow approaching) but he accepted it twice. He still chews it unless I put a finger gently on the upper mandible of his beak, but am hoping he will continue to get used to it slowly. We've also resumed clicker training after our harness session (Byron loves this bit as he doesn't have to do anything, just wait for the click and eat his treat!) am hoping this will make training to fly to me easier when we get to full time outside, |
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Post by aaron on Feb 1, 2016 10:50:09 GMT -5
Wow, nice work beccilouise! Sounds like Byron is really doing great.
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 1, 2016 10:56:30 GMT -5
Thanks Aaron! He is doing well. We only had a short training session today as he was grumpy from being at the vet. No nasal infection apparent, but he also struggled during toenail clipping and so the vet accidentally cut one too short. He is therefore on baydril anyway to prevent infection and the vet said if there WAS anything in his nose, this should clear it up. So he really wasn't in the mood to train today. We did lifting wings, putting head through the strap for treats and he sat with the head strap on for a full five seconds WITHOUT chewing it and WITHOUT my finger gently on his beak, so I will take that as a success! Clicker training is still his favourite part of the session. I've bought a little treat bag from CLIX for when we go outside. His clipped wing has still not grown out yet though, so it may be a while before he can fly properly, but he's definitely giving it a go! I get the impression he's the kind of bird that would really want his flight and would love to make the best use of it outside, so am keen to make sure is harness trained properly he's being such a good boy! |
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Post by aaron on Feb 1, 2016 13:09:55 GMT -5
Glad there was no apparent infection. Cupcake has been sneezing a bit more than usual lately so I've been thinking about taking her in... although some days she won't sneeze at all, so it's very inconsistent. She needs a nail trim too, however, though I think one of these days I'll do both.
Hehe... little grumpy Byron after the vet. He sounds like such a sweetie. You guys are doing great!
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 1, 2016 17:12:19 GMT -5
Poor little Cupcake, hope she's ok. And I know, he's so funny. He's doing so well. Am staying in London tonight and have a very busy week so am having to fit making sure he gets out of cage time around an unusually busy period. It's worrying me a little, but I'm sure we'll manage, and it's a good excuse to leave work early anyway, so no real harm! Hopefully all will be well |
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 3, 2016 7:21:37 GMT -5
Managed 5 seconds with the harness on without chewing and no finger on beak yesterday! TWICE! I am a pleased Quaker mum we then tried to teach him to do the 'turn around' trick and he wasn't having it, he just flew onto my shirt and nicked the treat. I had to admit, that was a pretty smart way of handling the issue! |
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Post by julianna on Feb 3, 2016 13:50:31 GMT -5
Nice going beccilouise. Hope it all works out for you both. I know Oscar loves to walk in the grass outside and also loves the gravel driveway. He will never sit in a tree however.... they scare him for some reason.
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