|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 5, 2015 9:37:28 GMT -5
We just acquired a quaker that is less than two years old. This quaker is untame and when we try to grab him he would bite us immediately, the bite changes some time he would bite hard and another time soft. How can we train this quaker to like us? we have a 4 years old boy and 5 years old daughter and a 10 years old daughter and the quaker does not like any of us.
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Aug 5, 2015 10:28:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!  Lesson #1 in how to introduce yourself to your new parrot: Never, ever grab him. At this point, he assumes the worst about his situation, and you scare the dickens out of him when you grab him. Even after your get to know each other, a grab will practically guarantee you a bite. You have to teach him to step up, using positive reinforcement, but it is too soon for that. I recommend you start with a thread on another board - Quaker Parrot Talk, called Good Read for Rescues, posted by Sharyn. Then explore this site. There's a lot of information that should be helpful. For now, I would leave him in his cage. Sit as near to him as he is comfortable with and talk gently to him. Or you can read, or some other quiet activity. Give him some time to observe his surroundings and the people in it. Don't pressure him. He needs time, and depending on his previous experiences, he may need a whole lot of it. Some children and some parrots do not mix well. Children can be too boisterous for them, and even the most well-behaved bird will bite if you ignore their subtler signals. Many children can't be expected to have those abilities. What do you mean by "untame"? Do you know that he has never been handled? Was he hand-raised? |
|
|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 5, 2015 10:32:35 GMT -5
We aquired the QP about two weeks and he was missing some feathers under his eyes toward his throat. We do not know about his history. He also come out of the cage on his own and goes back inside. He only bites when we try to grab him.
How can I teach him to step up when I get my hand close he does not like that and tries to bite it? that's when he is on the cage, when he is outside of the cage and I try to get closer to him he just run away.
I don't know the sex of the Quaker and I keep calling it him. Is there a way I could tell the sex? I have the green and gray.
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Aug 5, 2015 10:42:42 GMT -5
If he comes and goes from his cage, he is probably tamer than you think. You need to give him some time to watch you, and by all means, don't grab him. That is predatory behavior, and gets you off on the wrong foot with him. Also, do not expect him to respond like a dog or cat. He won't, and it will be very helpful for you to read up on parrots to get a little insight into their world. Keep posting your questions as you go along. There are lots of people here eager to help first time Quaker owners. |
|
|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 5, 2015 11:09:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Aug 5, 2015 12:22:02 GMT -5
A DNA test is the only sure-fire way to tell sex. Eventually, if "he" lays an egg, that would tell you, too. Have you named him yet?
Will he take treats from you? If he won't, that's where you need to start. Start dropping something he really likes into his food bowl when he is calm. Do it every time you pass by him as long as he remains calm. After a while, you can start offering them to him through the bars of the cage. Eventually offer it directly from your hand. If you think he'll bite, put it between your thumb and finger, and make him stretch a little to get it. You thereby offer a small target and he will also have to concentrate on keeping his balance.
Treats could be anything he really likes, but it should be something you give him only while training. Keep it tiny, so you can give him lots of rewards when he makes the slightest progress toward a goal. |
|
|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 5, 2015 12:42:55 GMT -5
My 5 years old name him siri, but we call it cuca, I'm unsure of what treats to give him as I don't know what he likes, and how should I rewards him.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Aug 5, 2015 12:56:15 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!
Easttex has already given you some fantastic advice here. Really, patience and perseverence are going to be the name of the game in this sort of situation. Remember, you are dealing with a prey animal here. Any amount of pressure will likely backfire. It could be quite a while before this Quaker is nice to you, and the more prepared you can be for this, the better. Think about how scary this must be for this little bird, try to be as empathetic as possible, remain calm, don't take his bites personally. If you stay the course, you will eventually get results, and like Easttex said, if he is already willing to come out of the cage on his own, then you may be closer than you think.
Speaking to him calmly from a safe distance, for extended periods of time, will definitely be helpful. Let him get used to your presence in a non-invasive manner. Treats can be little bits of nuts (avoid peanuts) or the occasional seed (I am not a fan of sunflower seeds under any circumstances, and have used safflower or hemp seeds in the past).
Good luck and keep us posted!
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Aug 5, 2015 14:18:38 GMT -5
You can also try tiny bits of dried fruit, but I would look for something without sulfites. Whatever it is, and you will probably need to experiment, it should be really small so it doesn't hold his attention for long. Don't give up if he won't try something the first time you offer it.
|
|
|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 5, 2015 16:03:44 GMT -5
Yes, thanks for all advice, I will not try to grab him anymore and will try to teach him how to step up, I will be patient with him.
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Aug 5, 2015 16:29:56 GMT -5
When you are both ready to start training the step up, I learned a technique recently that might help. It takes a leap of faith to step forward onto your hand the first time, and this takes advantage of their comfort with a sideways movement. On a perch outside of his cage (many Quakers are very cage-protective) put your hand in a fist and place it where it becomes an extension at the end of the perch. Use your other hand to deliver the treats. If he even so much as looks at your perch hand, give him a treat. Reward that for a few times, then move your treat hand where you can encourage him to move toward your perch hand. Reward, reward, reward. Keep doing this and he should eventually step on your hand. It doesn't get you where you want to go, but it can get things started. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Aug 5, 2015 19:44:53 GMT -5
Welcome! You've received some good advice already. If you read through some of the posts here on the Forum, you'll find lots more information and suggestions. Anyone new to QPs might benefit from reading a good book about them, like Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot, or Shelly Lane's book, offered on the companion site, quakerparrots.com. As others have said, grabbing a parrot isn't a good approach. Imagine how you'd feel if a giant hand reached into your house and grabbed you!  Take everything at the pace your parrot sets, and be patient. Concentrate on helping your new QP get settled into his new home and get comfortable with his new flock-- meaning you and your family. One treat I'd suggest is plain air-popped popcorn. No oil, butter or salt. Lots of parrots enjoy that. Many parrots will do almost anything for a pumpkin seed, so you might try those too. |
|
|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 6, 2015 8:12:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the Advise, I tried to treat the popcorn and he won't take it, everytime I get my hand close to him, he runs away.  |
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Aug 6, 2015 8:40:36 GMT -5
No doubt he's going to be afraid of your hand for a while. Put any treats you want him to try in his food bowl. Let him check them out on his own time. He may refuse anything he's unfamiliar with for a while.
I have another recommendation for you. Put his cage up on a table. Birds can feel very insecure on the ground level. Higher means safer to a bird. Particularly with children around.
Just guessing from the picture, but it looks like he might have come from some hard circumstances. Other than regular cage and food care, and dropping treats in his bowl, try to let him be for a while. Talk gently to him, but don't try to handle him or start on training. It's not easy to deal with a bird that may have been mistreated, even more so if this is your first experience with parrots. He has good reason in his mind to be afraid of you, and you don't know what he might have had to deal with before, so try to just relax around him and let him watch you for now. I'd guess you should plan to do this for weeks, at least.
|
|
|
|
Post by eddymvp on Aug 6, 2015 9:18:10 GMT -5
easttex you have been a great help, I will put him on top of the table and I also bought one of these perch below I'm going to have it on top of the table. I will keep you posted with any progress I make.  |
|
Take everything at the pace your parrot sets, and be patient. Concentrate on helping your new QP get settled into his new home and get comfortable with his new flock-- meaning you and your family.