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Post by teagal on Aug 7, 2014 11:30:37 GMT -5
My little one is doing great. He knows step up and gives mommy kisses when asked. Problem is and I don't know how to correct this is, he climbs up me to get near my neck. Granted, I'll love that one day but he's just two months old and has a lot of learning to do. My time spent with him is teaching him words etc. He doesn't listen if he's climbing. I also don't want to make him feel like being at my neck is bad. Help please!! |
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Post by baconfamily on Aug 7, 2014 12:20:53 GMT -5
It sounds like he wants to cuddle. Try putting him on your chest that is where mine loves to sit.
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Post by teagal on Aug 7, 2014 13:03:41 GMT -5
He sleeps on my chest a lot too but tries to inch up. Cuddling is fine but he won't listen then and my teaching time is lost.
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Post by easttex on Aug 7, 2014 13:04:45 GMT -5
You could try holding him up higher when you are in training mode, above shoulder level. They're more inclined to climb up than down. Or you can use a training perch. |
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Post by teagal on Aug 7, 2014 15:05:18 GMT -5
They are suppose to be a chest level for training. If they are above you they feel superior and won't listen. I kept taking him and moving him back down earlier. Once I got tired of it, I returned him to his cage. Hopefully he'll figure it out after a while. |
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Post by easttex on Aug 7, 2014 15:30:03 GMT -5
That's a myth, actually. Parrots are pretty cooperative by nature, especially with a bonded mate, and there really aren't flock leaders like there are with chickens. I highly recommend the training methods of Barbara Heidenreich. Here's a short video of her discussing the height dominance theory:
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 7, 2014 15:53:10 GMT -5
I suggest that you listen to your parrot.  If he's in the mood to snuggle, let him. Keep your training sessions short (about 10-15 minutes). You can also sit next to his cage and talk to him, and that will help. Talk to him as you change his food, water and bedding. Most parrots' first words are "step up". Chewy's first words were "step up" and "good boy!" LOL Two months is VERY young for a bird that may live 20+ years. He's still in the cuddly baby stage. Enjoy it while it lasts! |
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Post by cnyguy on Aug 7, 2014 20:46:34 GMT -5
I think Dani's suggestion is worth trying. My QP Ralph is more likely to listen closely to me when I'm trying to teach him new words when he's in his cage and I'm sitting in the chair next to it. Outside his cage, Ralph usually finds too many other things that interest him to pay much attention to what I'd like him to learn.  Dani is right too that parrots may pick up a word or phrase that we say to them a lot, whether or not we intend for them to learn it. The first thing I tried to teach Ralph to say is good parrot. The first thing he actually learned to say is wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! which is what I say to him when he wants my attention and I'm busy with something else. He did learn to say good parrot eventually. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Aug 7, 2014 23:03:37 GMT -5
I agree with Dani and Gary. If your quaker wants to snuggle, let him. Trust me, this wont last forever so enjoy it while you can. Also the learning times can vary each day. I can train Shah for 10 mins on some days or 1 min on others. Some days he is not interested in training at all. I let him decide what he wants to do. Your baby is only young - dont put too much pressure on him - you have years together.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Aug 8, 2014 7:31:46 GMT -5
One other thing that I havent seen mentioned here yet is, if you are trying to teach a parrot a word, it's good to relate it with something they like or can associate with as you are teaching them. Mr P picked up the word "yum" and "yummy" in a record amount of time! He also says "Douwanna yummy??", which is his version of what he hears when I ask him " Do you want a yummy?". I didnt set out to teach him this, but the yummy concept is so important to him that he decided he wanted to learn it. See the pattern here? I didnt name him Mr Piggy for nothing When I let Mr P out of his cage, I always say to him "Do you want to come out?". When we go outside on the porch for a shower I say "Do you want a bath?, etc etc. Always a phrase or word with an action. Even if they never learn to say the phrase, they sure as heck know what it means. When I ask Mr P if he wants a bath, he puffs up like he's getting ready. He knows EXACTLY what I'm saying! |
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Post by teagal on Aug 8, 2014 7:35:20 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your expert advise.
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Post by teagal on Aug 9, 2014 13:29:21 GMT -5
I found an article that says to use a towel while holding them. It's been working well for us.
I also read another article by Marie Sue Athan that states to not let your bird on your shoulder.
Her reasoning is mainly it's difficult to get a bird to step up while they are on your shoulder.
It also becomes a trust issue. The human is suppose to be in charge, not the bird.
While the video and the lady doing the demo are getting along great, she's probably had that bird for 20 years.
I've been toweling and playing peek a boo which has helped a great deal.
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 9, 2014 13:30:40 GMT -5
Yes, I totally agree with you, Teagal. Taz and Pico are allowed on my shoulders (and Taz loves sitting on top of my head), but both of them are great about stepping up. Chewy is not allowed any shoulder time, because he will bite. |
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Post by teagal on Aug 10, 2014 10:42:28 GMT -5
Cabu tries biting my earrings when I allow him on my shoulder.
It's not that I won't ever allow it, just not good for teaching time.
The toweling is working wonders.
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 10, 2014 15:29:51 GMT -5
Chewing earrings just goes with the territory....they're parrots, and earrings are shiny toys put there just for them to play with! LOL Pico has lost his shoulder privileges for awhile, last night he did not want to step up, and chomped my finger, hard. He'll learn, eventually. He's still a baby. |
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If he's in the mood to snuggle, let him. Keep your training sessions short (about 10-15 minutes). You can also sit next to his cage and talk to him, and that will help. Talk to him as you change his food, water and bedding.
