Problems with my 6 month old Alexandrine

[xopaula]

Hello, I have now had Coco, my alex for about 1 month and a half, she was parent raised and when I first got her from the breeder for the first day I have kept her in her new cage so she could get used to her surroundings better (she is kept in my room). On the second day I opened the cage so she could explore on her own and so she did. On the third day I gave her some treats from my hand and she was happy with it so proceeded to ask to step up which she did. She also let me pet her and looked happy. On the fourth day she was even flying to me on command. All until the end of the first week everything was fine and then the problems began. From this nice bird she changed into a little monster. She will not step up if the treat isn't presented, when before I never presented the treat and she did step up and she will also bite if the treat isn't presented as bribery. She doesn't let me touch her which I am not even trying anymore as I don't want her to feel forced. I started doing target training straight away in hopes of better relationship and it seems to work but she will loose focus if I don't hold the treat in my clicker and stick hand. She now started lunging and growling. I am out of ideas and I am loosing my patience. I only do training when she seems somewhat interested in me and leans towards me on top of the cage. I also regularly give her treats from my hand through the cage bars and she takes it form me so gently. I forgot to mention she is on a pellet/fruit/veggie/seed and nut diet and I measure everything out. Also treat I use are sunflower seeds. Also she has 2/3 toys in her cage at once which she shreds through quick. She has been clipped by the breeder.
I'm sorry for such lengthy thread but I'm desperate I need to eliminate this biting behaviour to better our relationship as well as the quality of her life.

 

[Jottlebot]

Unfortunately I think the behaviour you saw for the first few days was probably "good" behaviour out of fear of the unknown rather than a genuine reflection of her behaviour. I wouldn't expect a parent reared bird to be so comfortable with hands. So, you haven't lost the bond you had, you just haven't built one yet! It sounds like you're behaving and expecting behaviour that you might get from a bonded bird based on those first few days. If she takes treats from you through the cage bars then stay at that level of interaction and slowly slowly increase interaction.

Just a few other of points; Alex's generally don't respond well to being clipped. Maybe take fruit out of the daily feeding regime. You might need to go back to "loading" the clicker so she understands the link with a treat.

I know this won't change how things are, but maybe changing your perspective (that you possibly expecting FAR FAR too much) will help you to feel more positive and hopeful!?

 

[Betrisher]

Yes, it's a shame she was clipped. Alexes are acrobatic flyers and to remove their wing-power is a hunormous blow to their confidence. Ringneck species are famous for 'bluffing', or using the bill as a bit of a 'persuader' to avoid doing the right thing or to keep the human at bay. Try not to take Coco's behaviour too personally. Like kids, birds only do what works for them. Once it stops working, they'll try something else. Your job is to ignore bad behaviour and reward the positive stuff.

I'm usually not in favour of using the cage for punishment, so maybe you could put a t-perch somewhere close by, but out of the main play area. If she bites or lunges, immediately take her there and turn your back on her for a minute or two. When you ask her to step up, praise her with your voice, but maybe back off on the treats if she's expecting them every time. Target training is so useful when these annoying behaviours happen because you can use a known skill to avoid something unpleasant (like biting).

The other thing is that, if she's expecting treats and worked well for them, maybe you could simply start cutting your sunflower seeds in half with a sharp knife? That way, she can still have plenty of treats but isn't getting quite so much fat. It is awkward with Alexes because many don't enjoy being scratched or touched (mine don't, but some do - depends on the background, I s'pose).

Teach Coco to respond to vocal rewards if you can. As you give a treat, say her name in a high voice or whistle or make some sound of approval. Do it every time she does the right thing and give a reward as well. Then, slowly stop giving food treats and just use the vocal cue. If she nips, then straight to the naughty-perch! It's a shame she doesn't fly properly because you can use targetting with flight training as well. My Beaks used to swoosh through tiny openings (eg. door sightly ajar) as they flew from their perch over the front door to my hand at the back door.

Just as an aside, when her primaries eventually moult out and regrow, do think about teaching Coco to fly downward from a height. It's a learned skill and if she ever escapes you might be glad she knows how to fly down to you from a tree! When my Barney escaped, he was sitting in a tree when we found him, but had no clue how to fly down to me. We could all see he wanted to, but he took sudden flight and flew off to Woopwoop (that's Australian for 'parts unknown').

Try not to be discouraged by Coco's naughtiness. She's still such a baby and there will be plenty of bad behaviours along the way. It's your job to teach her the good ones slowly and patiently and calmly. Birds don't hold grudges (unless you really hurt them, that is), so just keep reinforcing her good behaviours for now. Don't be hesitant to ask questions and do post a photo so we can see how gorgeous she is!

 

[xopaula]

Unfortunately I think the behaviour you saw for the first few days was probably "good" behaviour out of fear of the unknown rather than a genuine reflection of her behaviour. I wouldn't expect a parent reared bird to be so comfortable with hands. So, you haven't lost the bond you had, you just haven't built one yet! It sounds like you're behaving and expecting behaviour that you might get from a bonded bird based on those first few days. If she takes treats from you through the cage bars then stay at that level of interaction and slowly slowly increase interaction.

Just a few other of points; Alex's generally don't respond well to being clipped. Maybe take fruit out of the daily feeding regime. You might need to go back to "loading" the clicker so she understands the link with a treat.

I know this won't change how things are, but maybe changing your perspective (that you possibly expecting FAR FAR too much) will help you to feel more positive and hopeful!?

Hi thanks for your reply, now seeing it from your point of view I get what you mean about the fear of the unknown. Also she takes treats happily from anywhere not just the cage bars so I do feel I'm on the right path. She also only feels comfortable around me only so for example if anyone else gives her treats she takes it very quickly and moves away wheres from me she will take it gently and stays in the same spot.

 

[xopaula]

Yes, it's a shame she was clipped. Alexes are acrobatic flyers and to remove their wing-power is a hunormous blow to their confidence. Ringneck species are famous for 'bluffing', or using the bill as a bit of a 'persuader' to avoid doing the right thing or to keep the human at bay. Try not to take Coco's behaviour too personally. Like kids, birds only do what works for them. Once it stops working, they'll try something else. Your job is to ignore bad behaviour and reward the positive stuff.

I'm usually not in favour of using the cage for punishment, so maybe you could put a t-perch somewhere close by, but out of the main play area. If she bites or lunges, immediately take her there and turn your back on her for a minute or two. When you ask her to step up, praise her with your voice, but maybe back off on the treats if she's expecting them every time. Target training is so useful when these annoying behaviours happen because you can use a known skill to avoid something unpleasant (like biting).

The other thing is that, if she's expecting treats and worked well for them, maybe you could simply start cutting your sunflower seeds in half with a sharp knife? That way, she can still have plenty of treats but isn't getting quite so much fat. It is awkward with Alexes because many don't enjoy being scratched or touched (mine don't, but some do - depends on the background, I s'pose).

Teach Coco to respond to vocal rewards if you can. As you give a treat, say her name in a high voice or whistle or make some sound of approval. Do it every time she does the right thing and give a reward as well. Then, slowly stop giving food treats and just use the vocal cue. If she nips, then straight to the naughty-perch! It's a shame she doesn't fly properly because you can use targetting with flight training as well. My Beaks used to swoosh through tiny openings (eg. door sightly ajar) as they flew from their perch over the front door to my hand at the back door.

Just as an aside, when her primaries eventually moult out and regrow, do think about teaching Coco to fly downward from a height. It's a learned skill and if she ever escapes you might be glad she knows how to fly down to you from a tree! When my Barney escaped, he was sitting in a tree when we found him, but had no clue how to fly down to me. We could all see he wanted to, but he took sudden flight and flew off to Woopwoop (that's Australian for 'parts unknown').

Try not to be discouraged by Coco's naughtiness. She's still such a baby and there will be plenty of bad behaviours along the way. It's your job to teach her the good ones slowly and patiently and calmly. Birds don't hold grudges (unless you really hurt them, that is), so just keep reinforcing her good behaviours for now. Don't be hesitant to ask questions and do post a photo so we can see how gorgeous she is!

Hi thank you very much for your reply. I feel so much better now and I feel like I needed to hear this. I will just keep on doing what I'm doing and I definitely need to start cutting the sunflower seeds in halves. I also will not be clipping her once her primaries grow back its just something the breeder has already done. I also have been trying to contact him without any useful replies so I gave up on him. But once again thank you and will keep in mind everything you mentioned

 

[xopaula]

Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

Thats the photo of her/him

 

[Betrisher]

Oh! Coco is utterly adorable! I'd forgotten how cute Alexes are when they're babies. Barney and Madge were about this age when I got them and I dearly remember how much fun they were, getting into everything and flolloping about while they learned to fly. Enjoy Coco's babyhood: it won't last all that long.

If you're taking bets, I'll put ten cents on to say I reckon s/he's a boy. Just my educated guess based on the head shape and I could be entirely wrong. Let me know in three years if I win anything, OK?

 

[xopaula]

Oh! Coco is utterly adorable! I'd forgotten how cute Alexes are when they're babies. Barney and Madge were about this age when I got them and I dearly remember how much fun they were, getting into everything and flolloping about while they learned to fly. Enjoy Coco's babyhood: it won't last all that long.

If you're taking bets, I'll put ten cents on to say I reckon s/he's a boy. Just my educated guess based on the head shape and I could be entirely wrong. Let me know in three years if I win anything, OK?

It does seem like the ring around the neck is showing a little as well (although not one pitch black feather yet). At least coco is unisex name ish haha. I will also just put on another thread regarding target training if you have time I would appreciate your help.

 

[Flboy]

Such a sweet one! As for destroying his toys, that is a great attribute!

 

[xopaula]

Such a sweet one! As for destroying his toys, that is a great attribute!

Thank you and yes especially that the breeder kept all the siblings in one cage with no toys. :11:

 

[xopaula]

UPDATE: She just flew to me for the first time without me calling her or bribing her. She flew onto my head which of course I took her away from haha and managed to perch on my hand for a good 5 minutes whilst I was on my laptop. HAPPY PARRONT.