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Post by melody on Apr 15, 2020 17:03:54 GMT -5
Hi,
I have two male Quakers that are around seven and six months old and that I am assuming are mated to each other (they are always trying to make babies). Whenever I put my finger close to them or get a bit too close with skin showing they will bite down. They bite down pretty hard but haven't done it hard enough to like take chunks out of my skin, but I am starting to get small scars in areas. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to stop their aggression as it really does hurt. I do target training with them currently and they have taken really good to that. My older bird does step up occasionally without problems, but the other one absolutely refuses. I let them roam around outside of their cage and they have plenty of toys to play with. I'm just not really sure how to proceed and I don't want to make the problem any worse by scaring them. If anyone has any advice on what I could do to stop their biting that would be really appreciated!
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Post by newquakermom2 on Apr 16, 2020 2:49:48 GMT -5
Hi, target training is a really good start, and since they are responding well to it, continue working with them. Work individually with each of them and hopefully while doing so, you can also build up their trust and work on stepping up. Are you sure that they are both males?
I am sure someone else will be on that can offer more advice, but I would stick with the target training for now.
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Post by melody on Apr 20, 2020 19:39:08 GMT -5
Hi, Thank you so much for your advice. I will continue to work with them on target training. I hadn't thought of working with them individually, that's a good idea! I was told that they were males when I got them so that's what I have stuck too. Hopefully it all goes well  . |
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Post by biteybird on May 2, 2020 2:56:42 GMT -5
Hi and welcome! Perhaps you could also try limiting their out of cage time and letting them out after they have NOT been biting (hopefully they will associate this free time with good behaviour). Just a thought. You could also let them out one at a time rather than together. Maybe training first, then reward with roaming free time? |
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Post by Oldbird on Jul 9, 2020 22:07:19 GMT -5
Hi I have a female Quaker parrot. She is about eight years old. I am afraid the we did a poor job training her as she began to age and develop behavioral problems. Sadly I think she has been neglected attention for too long and her behavioral problems are too big to fix. She doesn’t seem to trust anyone and is very nippy. The other day she bit me and caused my to get a couple small cuts that scabbed over. She will step up occasionally. Also she has been doing these strange motions where she cranes her neck up very tall and hooks it back down. She also does that while rubbing her beak on things such as her tent or cage bars. She also still bobs her head a lot and moves her wings a little while they are by her side. Do you know what these actions mean? Can I still re-bond with her? Can she still learn to do and say more things?
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Post by waterloggedfun on Jul 9, 2020 22:59:04 GMT -5
Hi there. There's really no behavior problem that is too big to fix - some just take longer than others. I hope its helps you to know that.
I have some questions before I can offer advice.
1 How long have you had her?
2 What training, if any, have you tried to do?
3 Why do you feel she has been neglected? In what way?
4 In regards to the physical movements you described, a video of it would be helpful, but it could be hormonal behavior.
5 Just as we continue to learn throughout our entire lives, so do animals. As long as you are willing to work with her, I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to have a great relationship with her. Can you describe what your relationship with her was like before and when did it change?
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Post by Oldbird on Jul 9, 2020 23:43:40 GMT -5
I have had her (Indigo) for 8 years so I would say that she is 8 and a half. I first saw her at a bird show and she was in a small metal cage with several other Quaker parrots. We trained her to step up, and do a high five. We also taught her to say step up, high five, and good girl. She also whistles and with make mumble sounds to try and mimic us talking. She has a large cage with toys and treats but for the last couple of years she hasn’t received the amount of socializing and playing that she should have. When she was younger we played a lot and she was less nippy. I also wasn’t as scared of getting bit as I am now. When I got her I was eight years old and spent much more time with her. As I got older I started paying less attention to her. As a result if that she doesn’t seem to like me anymore. She has never really wanted to cuddle. I also don’t like to put her close to my face because she will run her beak along my face then bite me. I really would like to teach her to be potty trained but we have a three story house with two dogs and a cat. We also are a family of five so I would assume it would be stressful for her to be out if her cage. We used to clip her wings but have been forgetting lately. So now when I carry her on my shoulder she will take off and fly around if there is any sudden movement. She also doesn’t have much control when flying and seems like she does not know how to land. So she often flys around the house until she hits something and falls. This is concerning me because I am afraid she will injure herself. I would like to teach her to lay in my hand and feel comfortable walking around and flying in my room. I have a small second cage that I can out in my room. I also think she is afraid of my hands. She gets very nippy and will screech if I try to give her a treat in my hand and out it close to her. She will sometimes take it if I hold in to a little bit if the treat and hold it away from her. Do you have any tips that can help me make her feel safer around me again?
Thanks!
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