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Post by beccilouise on Jun 29, 2016 14:53:39 GMT -5
Hello everyone! So, I managed to get Maya into her flight suit today. Needless to say, once it was on, she was NOT HAPPY? She didn't protest noisily, but she did incessantly chew it unless I cupped her with my hands. She just would not leave it alone. At one point, I managed to persuade her to eat a bit of nutriberry whilst wearing it, but she's not pleased. My plan to move forward is this:
Put her in the flight suit once a day (preferably at different times) for a minute at most, offering her nutriberries, then take her out of it straight away and fill her bowl with them. Do this for a week.
Gradually increase the amount of time she wears the suit as she gets used to it. She's not good with things touching her feathers (apart from my hands, which she doesn't mind), but I need her to get used to it so we can transport her more easily and ensure her safety. Any further tips would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by biteybird on Jun 29, 2016 16:57:25 GMT -5
As I made a complete mess of the flightsuit with Bonnie, no tips from me (sorry), but I just want to say well done for getting this far. If the new member Brandon happens to see this post he might have advice - his 4 birds all wear them, however they're not quakers...
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 29, 2016 18:28:54 GMT -5
I just want you to know that quakers can be like wind up toys - they keep repeating the same thing. If you think that she will "adjust" to the flight suit, you may end up being surprised that she doesn't and will keep chewing it. You will eventually give up. I wish you well in your endeavours.
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Post by beccilouise on Jun 30, 2016 0:09:15 GMT -5
You may be right, but I have spoken to people who've managed to train their quakers into it. I'm going to try for a little bit longer.
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Post by biteybird on Jun 30, 2016 1:48:34 GMT -5
... quakers can be like wind up toys - they keep repeating the same thing. LOL.  I hope for your sake that Jan's wrong, Beccilouise - hope springs eternal! I'm going to give the flightsuit another go with Bonnie too, as soon as I get off my well-padded behind and order another one. You never know, in a few months the two of us may force Jan to eat her words...bets, anyone?  |
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Post by biteybird on Jun 30, 2016 1:51:36 GMT -5
I have spoken to people who've managed to train their quakers into it. I'm going to try for a little bit longer. That's encouraging! I've never come across any quaker owners who've done this - but in fairness I haven't personally met any other quaker owners here in Australia yet (although the communications with the Aussie forum members come close to personal meetings). |
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Post by beccilouise on Jun 30, 2016 4:04:15 GMT -5
I've met at least 3. All trained their birds when they were roughly Maya's age and have said with any bird it takes time. I'm going to buy some millet tonight, spray Maya's suit with bitter apple and hope the combination of the two persuades her to stop chewing on it. I think it will take time, but I will keep trying. Xx
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 30, 2016 6:17:24 GMT -5
Good luck Beccilouise. Hope it all works out for you and Maya. Shah used to fall over when I put his flight suit on - just laid there like a dead bird. Of course, I gave up as I thought it was stressing him out. So he wins again and I remain his slave |
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Post by beccilouise on Jun 30, 2016 6:42:51 GMT -5
Hahahaha, Maya's not THAT bad but she clearly is put out by it. We'll go slowly. You may be right, but not without a heck of a lot of trying! |
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Post by easttex on Jun 30, 2016 9:40:41 GMT -5
No flight suit/harness success stories here, but maybe you can glean something from this video. It's from my favorite trainer. It's about the harness, but the principles would be the same. The thing I most noted in it was the recommendation to back off before your bird gets stressed. That could slow down "progress", but may help you to achieve long term success.
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Post by julianna on Jun 30, 2016 13:07:26 GMT -5
I have no advice on the harness. Oscar would not even walk by it after 2 weeks on the table. I think the previous owner tried and failed and Oscar never forgets.
Best wishes to you both.
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Post by beccilouise on Jul 1, 2016 3:49:48 GMT -5
Thanks easttex! I've seen those videos before, they're very good! Maya had the flight suit on twice last night. She chewed on it incessantly the whole time (it wasn't on for very long). I'm going to just keep putting it on her and then taking it off after a few seconds and then immediately giving her yummy treats. I think the trick is to gradually increase the length of time she wears it for, and maybe even start taking her outside in it after a week or so so she builds up the association. *sigh* I wish I could explain to her why I'm doing it. It would be so much easier if we could have a conversation so I could tell her I'm not trying to torture her!
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Post by beccilouise on Jul 2, 2016 15:02:44 GMT -5
So Maya had the flight suit on for a minute today and was A LITTLE less inclined to chew it. This is good. I offered her some millet, which she loves and hasn't had in a while, which helped. She wasn't thrilled, but was significantly less bothered, had some millet while it was on and didn't sulk afterwards, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Also, I spoke to a fourth person today who had harness/flight-suit trained their quaker. This person had harness trained their quaker. She said it had been a long process, but it's as much about convincing the bird that the thing on them is not going to eat them, so you have to be persistent as well as patient. She said she understood that Maya not liking the flightsuit was making me stressed because I care about her, but, to an extent, adapting to new things is always stressful and it doesn't matter how patient we are, we cannot alleviate ALL the stress. She said I just have to do my best to minimise the stress as much as I can, but I should keep trying. This reassured and calmed me a lot.
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Post by lesley on Jul 3, 2016 2:28:51 GMT -5
Best of luck Becci. You must have the patience of a saint give yourself a pat on the back for that. It takes me all my time just to keep Coco trained and teaching him to talk. I would love to see a photo when you have been totally successful. It sounds like you are getting there.
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Post by beccilouise on Jul 3, 2016 15:13:22 GMT -5
Thanks, Lesley! I've been training Maya in some capacity with harnesses since January. A lot of the slowness has been my fault because I have no experience in animal training and have very much had to learn by making mistakes with Maya (a bit like parenting an oldest child!) Like the lovely, sweet natured bird she is, she has forgiven me and continues to be patient and loving. Jan may be right and she may never take to it or enjoy going outside in one, but if that's the case, it's pointless forcing her to do it because it's supposed to be to enrich her life anyway. Given her willingness to travel and meet new people, I genuinely believe she will enjoy it when she gets over her nervousness, but it's got to be her choice as far as I'm concerned. We tried again today and it was similar. She was significantly better, though still a little put out. She had a nibble on her millet and it was only on her for a minute before I took it off. She stayed calm while I was giving her head scratches, but if I stopped or moved my hands away, she tried to chew it. This is A LOT better than the first couple of times when she just wouldn't stop attacking it. I'll keep doing this for another week or so and then start taking her outside in it and see how she goes. Fingers crossed!
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