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Post by eddymvp on Aug 12, 2015 7:12:56 GMT -5
Thanks I will try that, another thing I haven't mention is when he flies away from the case I have been using a small towel to grab him and put him on the cage, when he sees me with the towel he stays still and let's me grab him, yesterday and today after I grabbed him I put him on my arm and he stays there for a while. I can't get him to step up on his own
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Post by easttex on Aug 12, 2015 7:53:53 GMT -5
If you're going to try positive reinforcement training, you have to have him taking treats or toys from you first. At this point you've given him no reason to do what you ask, if he even has any idea what that is. Picking him up with a towel is something I would do only in a semi-emergency situation, not as a regular method. You can teach him to enjoy being toweled, but I doubt if Cuca is truly enjoying it, even if he does tolerate it. If you keep forcing him, he may give up and let you do what you will, but that is not a good frame of mind for a parrot.
That's why I recommended that he stay caged for a while, until he will take treats from you. It's difficult to get an untrained bird back in its cage when it doesn't want to go there.
I think you need to get the treat situation settled before moving on to training step up. Watch this video to see one way to do it. It definitely requires rewards, though, so don't start too soon:
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Post by eddymvp on Aug 12, 2015 8:06:04 GMT -5
That's a nice video and I like the idea of keeping him on the cage and removing the treats his like from his diet. Will update when I make more progress
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Post by julianna on Aug 14, 2015 18:41:26 GMT -5
You will soon find out what treats he really likes. My QP does not like any citrus fruits like oranges and banana he will only take if I give him very small pieces. Something about the size of it that scares him. His favorite treats (which are also his basic food) are fresh peas (already shelled), fresh carrots (only the centres), little pieces of bread that has multi seeds in it, crackers that have been dipped in water, baby marshmellows... and many other things... however, I find that most things he accepts must be the right shape and color. If I hold him a piece of a peach, he first wants to attack it... because of the color... then he will take little bites all the while bouncing his head back and forth... like he is unsure of it. Because I take a bite of it, he feels safer and will continue to eat it. Same with apple slices. Remember all fruits and vegetables should be peeled to ensure they do not get any toxic sprays.
You are doing a fine job with your little guy.... keep up the good work.
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Post by eddymvp on Aug 17, 2015 9:53:13 GMT -5
I still haven't made any progress I left him in the page for a few days and he still won't take anything from my hand
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Post by easttex on Aug 17, 2015 12:40:21 GMT -5
Way too early for despair.  I'll tell you of my own experience to give you an inkling of how patient you may have to be. I got Peppy when he was 21, and I knew very little about him. He was very cage protective and cage bound, but I don't know for how long. He was friendly, though, and clearly enjoyed company, but only from inside his cage. It was seven months before he started coming out on his own. Until then, I left him in his cage and carried it back and from the day to night rooms, and left the cage door open for him whenever I was present. It started very slowly. Eventually he would come out onto his "veranda" - the cage door dropped down - but would scurry back when I moved. But we got there. It was a relief to get him into a nice day cage so I don't have to cart one around. He loves coming out of his cage now, and he is a real snuggler.
It may seem like an awful lot of time to put into it, and I probably could have moved more quickly with him, but the bond you get with a trusting bird is incredibly rewarding. |
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Post by julianna on Aug 20, 2015 16:32:42 GMT -5
They need time.... lots of time to adjust... just as easttex says... patience is the virtue... and incredibly rewarding.
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Post by eddymvp on Aug 27, 2015 13:50:32 GMT -5
6 weeks has gone by and it still like day 1.
To move him out of the cage to the perch we have to use a towel, once he sees the towel he stays still and we can grab him and put it on the perch. Once we put him on the perch he will stay there for hours and won't go to eat unless we put him back on the cage. When he is on the perch and we try to make him step up, he flies away, if he is inside the cage then he will try to attack the hand. He does not attack us when we use the towel.
I can put him on my arm with the towel and he will stay on my arm and climb to my shoulder. I stopped putting him on my arm because he poops a lot and he will get my hand or shirt dirty.
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Post by aaron on Aug 27, 2015 15:37:54 GMT -5
Well, getting pooped on is pretty much a fact of having a bird... I try to wear shirts around the house that I will not mind if they get pooped on. If he is willing to sit on your shoulder, perhaps you should let him, as long as you don't feel he is prone to suddenly biting you. I'm curious what the others think of that idea. At any rate, it's possible that the stress of the situation is leading to messier or more frequent pooping. But even under normal circumstances it happens around every 15-20 mins or so...
Unfortunately, it could be many months before you have concrete progress with this bird.
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Post by eddymvp on Aug 27, 2015 15:50:38 GMT -5
Well, getting pooped on is pretty much a fact of having a bird... I try to wear shirts around the house that I will not mind if they get pooped on. If he is willing to sit on your shoulder, perhaps you should let him, as long as you don't feel he is prone to suddenly biting you. I'm curious what the others think of that idea. At any rate, it's possible that the stress of the situation is leading to messier or more frequent pooping. But even under normal circumstances it happens around every 15-20 mins or so... Unfortunately, it could be many months before you have concrete progress with this bird. Thanks for the idea of using old clothes when I have him, I have made the mistake that I was wearing new clothes when I was playing with him. I think the longer I kept him on my shoulder was for 10 minutes and then I put him back on the cage. He did not try to bite me when I had him on my arm of shoulder. |
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Post by easttex on Aug 27, 2015 17:25:11 GMT -5
You need to quit using the towel. It probably seems like he likes it okay, but I doubt that. If you are going to get him used to your hand, you have to use your hand. You don't have to let him bite it, but you will have to use it. Please read this: goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2013/01/help-my-parrot-wont-step-up.html then see see if you have any questions. I highly recommend Barbara Heidenreich's methods. Use them and stick with it, and you will see results. |
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holly
Hatchling
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Post by holly on Aug 28, 2015 1:22:19 GMT -5
Well, getting pooped on is pretty much a fact of having a bird... I try to wear shirts around the house that I will not mind if they get pooped on. If he is willing to sit on your shoulder, perhaps you should let him, as long as you don't feel he is prone to suddenly biting you. I'm curious what the others think of that idea. At any rate, it's possible that the stress of the situation is leading to messier or more frequent pooping. But even under normal circumstances it happens around every 15-20 mins or so... Unfortunately, it could be many months before you have concrete progress with this bird. Hello! About letting him up on your shoulder, I would(or did)!(as long as he doesn't try to eat you!)
As many on this website know, I recently befriended a Quaker that I inherited. I think it would be easier if I went in order of events.
The first day I had her home, she escaped through the food slot as I was refilling her bowl and played King-Kong all day long. After that I allowed her door to stay open as long as I was up and about(with all the animals locked away)!
Next she began flying from the top of her cage, onto my head anytime I left the room. This continued as she moved down to my shoulder and began grooming herself when I sat still. She started grooming my hair as she groomed herself after this(I have long hair, so she would just reach over and grab a few strands). Oh! And to let her off my shoulder, I'd just lean into the cage, and let the top of my shoulder touch the top of the cage. She would step off once she realized the ride was over. I did have to bribe her with millet a few times though.
My bird knew me before I inherited her, so the steps with us moved amazingly fast! But that isn't the norm for a rehomed parrot.
My Quaker hates any cloth that moves... And I realized the connection the first time I had to use a towel on her!!! The thing is, once I caught her and she felt my hand around her wings, she went dead still. Once I got back to cage and released her from the towel, she would puff up and turn around to face my retreating hands.
After that I strove get her used to my hands being around her.. Now she loves to sit between my hands as I scratch her neck, she also doesn't mind(too badly) when I just grab her. She doesn't try to eat me like she did with the towel anyhow, and at this point I don't have to just grab her if she refuses to step up. Because she steps up everytime, even when she knows its bedtime. Sometimes it takes some urging, but its only in emergencies that I have to swoop in and grab her(like if our farmyard cat runs in the door).
As many above have stated, let the bird set the pace. You may find that once he knows you give food and cuddles, that he moves faster than you may prefer! 
~~~Holly~~~ |
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Post by eddymvp on Aug 28, 2015 8:06:16 GMT -5
You need to quit using the towel. It probably seems like he likes it okay, but I doubt that. If you are going to get him used to your hand, you have to use your hand. You don't have to let him bite it, but you will have to use it. Please read this: goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2013/01/help-my-parrot-wont-step-up.html then see see if you have any questions. I highly recommend Barbara Heidenreich's methods. Use them and stick with it, and you will see results. That link is nice, I watched the video, I can't accomplish that with my bird because he won't take anything from my hand and when I try to give him food from my head he runs away, if he is inside the cage then he will attack my hand. |
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Post by easttex on Aug 28, 2015 11:51:19 GMT -5
Forcing him out of his cage is not a good way to start a relationship with him. When he starts to feel comfortable, he will come out on his own. Given time, he will get interested in things, but continuing with the coercion will cancel anything you might have gained by waiting.
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Post by biteybird on Aug 28, 2015 22:19:34 GMT -5
Hi again, Eddy and QP! The replies you've received are from very knowledgeable and friendly people. I don't have much experience with your situation, but I encourage you to continue being patient with your little bird. I hope you are feeling better about your parrot...as the others have said, it can take a LONG time to see changes in behaviour, so stick with it and please keep us updated on your progress. |
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I'll tell you of my own experience to give you an inkling of how patient you may have to be. I got Peppy when he was 21, and I knew very little about him. He was very cage protective and cage bound, but I don't know for how long. He was friendly, though, and clearly enjoyed company, but only from inside his cage. It was seven months before he started coming out on his own. Until then, I left him in his cage and carried it back and from the day to night rooms, and left the cage door open for him whenever I was present. It started very slowly. Eventually he would come out onto his "veranda" - the cage door dropped down - but would scurry back when I moved. But we got there. It was a relief to get him into a nice day cage so I don't have to cart one around. 
