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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 13, 2015 22:44:14 GMT -5
Gary, Gary, Gary - since when does Ralph need to ask your permission? When do any of these green terrors ask us if they can do anything? The word "permission" is not mentioned in the Slave Training Manual. No wonder Ralph gets frustrated with you - you seem to have forgotten everything you have been taught  |
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 13, 2015 23:40:24 GMT -5
Permission, lol... Sonic doesn't do well with asking permission either. Glad he's not the only QP with that trait.
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Post by easttex on Mar 14, 2015 4:31:19 GMT -5
Yes, the thought of a parrot "asking" for anything strikes me as pretty absurd. |
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Post by julianna on Mar 14, 2015 12:11:10 GMT -5
One thing Oscar loves to chew is towels... especially if my hand is under it and I am playing "gonna catch you". I have more spoiled hand towels than I care to count. Majority of my clothes are destroyed but I do have a shawl that I wear when I want protection from bites or poop. Usually I only wear it if I take Oscar out.
What appears to be aggressive preening... like when Oscar goes after his leg... is not necessarily biting himself or preening himself. This is Oscar message to me that he wants to talk and that he is excited about whatever I am saying or singing.
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 14, 2015 19:25:16 GMT -5
I didn't say that it was necessary for Ralph to ask my permission. Sometimes a parrot has to overlook the usual rules of conduct for Quaker slaves when one is attempting to keep up the reputation of a Gentleman Quaker-- so if Ralph is practicing etiquette, it stands to reason that he might say, "Do you mind if I enlarge this hole in your T-shirt?" However, he is a Quaker parrot first, and a gentleman second, so he needn't always bother with such formalities. I understand that.  |
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Post by biteybird on Mar 14, 2015 19:39:58 GMT -5
However, he is a Quaker parrot first, and a gentleman second, so he needn't always bother with such formalities. I understand that. I suspect Ralph is a lot smarter than we give him credit for...maybe he's been reading everyone's posts about "normal" quaker behaviour and has realised that he needs to 'up the ante' so as not to let down his species.  |
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 14, 2015 21:21:10 GMT -5
However, he is a Quaker parrot first, and a gentleman second, so he needn't always bother with such formalities. I understand that. I suspect Ralph is a lot smarter than we give him credit for...maybe he's been reading everyone's posts about "normal" quaker behaviour and has realised that he needs to 'up the ante' so as not to let down his species. Exactly. And it also probably explains the two loose keys on my computer keyboard. |
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Post by siobhan on Mar 14, 2015 22:35:44 GMT -5
Clyde objects to certain clothes and he beats up shirts he disapproves of. I have an Eeyore hoodie that he dislikes extremely and I don't know why, and so he attacks it and calls it names in Quaker. That may well be the case with your bird.
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 15, 2015 0:05:19 GMT -5
So I had a big scare with Sonic last night. He apparently wasn't keen on going to bed. (It was like 1 a.m.) he was trying to get out and got his toe caught in the bars. I was able to get him free, after getting bit a few times. Going to get a new cage today. By the way, the putting him away has helped. He hasn't been near as aggressive with my shirts. Not perfect, but alot better. I have heard people say they aren't smart enough for negative consequences to work, I beg to differ. What do you guys think? Overall, he and I are getting along better. He has been the most difficult bird I have ever delt with, but he has also been one of the most affectionate. I love him. I hope we will continue making progress.
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Post by biteybird on Mar 15, 2015 2:03:31 GMT -5
I have an Eeyore hoodie that he dislikes extremely How could anyone dislike Eeyore? He's my favourite Pooh character! Perhaps Clyde views him as a rival. |
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Post by biteybird on Mar 15, 2015 2:06:31 GMT -5
I have heard people say they aren't smart enough for negative consequences to work, I beg to differ. Never underestimate how smart they are. I think they understand both negative and positive consequences (just my opinion). Keep going, it sounds like you are making good progress with Sonic. |
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Post by easttex on Mar 15, 2015 4:49:16 GMT -5
So I had a big scare with Sonic last night. He apparently wasn't keen on going to bed. (It was like 1 a.m.) he was trying to get out and got his toe caught in the bars. I was able to get him free, after getting bit a few times. Going to get a new cage today. By the way, the putting him away has helped. He hasn't been near as aggressive with my shirts. Not perfect, but alot better. I have heard people say they aren't smart enough for negative consequences to work, I beg to differ. What do you guys think? Overall, he and I are getting along better. He has been the most difficult bird I have ever delt with, but he has also been one of the most affectionate. I love him. I hope we will continue making progress. I think they are smart enough. And I think "punishment" works in the short run, and sometimes it is unavoidable. But in the long run, you'll have a better relationship if it is based on positive reinforcement. The immediate potential problem with putting him away as a negative consequence is that he will start to perceive his cage as a bad thing. I'm assuming you mean putting him in the cage when you say putting him away. One observation: if Sonic routinely stays up late, it could well affect his behavior. I shoot for 12 hour days and 12 hour nights year round for my birds. It helps to regulate their hormones if they are not able to perceive shortening and lengthening daylight. |
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 15, 2015 12:15:51 GMT -5
I have thought about that. It is a good point. I work 2 to 11 most of the time. He is kind of odd in the fact that I thought birds wouldn't scream in the dark. He does, when I come in if I don't let him out he will scream until I do. I don't mind letting him out, but he wants to be on me and preen me for a while before he will go to sleep again. I am living with my folks due to a fire in my old place so I can't let him scream like that. I have tried putting his cage in the living room to no avail. If you guys have any suggestions about that I would love to hear them. I just want to say, I appreciate you folks on here taking time out of your day to help me and others like me on here. This last year has been excitingly difficult for me. I lost everything I had in the fire including my other quaker Luigi. Getting Sonic was a blessing, but it was very difficult. I guess im a bit over protective since I kinda blame myself for Luigis untimely demise. I know what happened wasn't my fault but still I play what if alot in my mind. Sorry I was so long winded on this one. Thanks to all of you!!!!!!
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Post by siobhan on Mar 15, 2015 14:19:22 GMT -5
Today I'm wearing a new Spock T-shirt that Clyde has never seen before, and it's rather vivid and he doesn't think he likes it, either. He's still thinking it over.
If you routinely work 2 to 11, you might try covering Sonic's cage and letting him sleep later in the morning, then he could stay up to hang out with you a while when you get home and still get enough sleep. I play in a band and when we're leaving the house at 6 or 7 and won't be home until midnight or later, I hate to put the birds to bed so early so I leave them out. Usually they've settled down for the night without actually going to bed and I come home and tuck them in and let them sleep late the next morning and they're fine. It's only occasionally, though. Most nights, they go to bed at 9.
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Post by julianna on Mar 15, 2015 14:24:33 GMT -5
I have always felt that when the quakers are screaming it is because they are trying to communicate something to you. If you think it means that he wants to be on you... then that is probably what it is. If you cannot train him at this time by saying "no" and leaving him in the cage (cause you know the screaming will not stop and it will affect the rest of the household) then I would think your best bet is that when you come in from work go and get him. Find a little something that he enjoys ... perhaps a treat... and give it to him as you put him back in the cage. He might stop talking then. Later when you are back on your feet, if you have the willpower to listen to him squaking when you come in.... and if you just leave him be... eventually he will stop.
With my quaker I find myself spending most of my time finding ways to keep him quiet by answering his calls... moving him around... giving him various new things to explore... or just talking to him while on my shoulder or finger. Food also quiets him. Whenever I come home the first thing Oscar wants is to be with me. Just like a little puppy dog and of course I am so well trained, that I go and get him.
I am truly sorry to hear about your loss of Luigi and everything else... that truly is unfortunate.
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