Flight training...

..Amy..has never really flown,never fledged proper and I think it is time for her to experience what birdie's were ment to do..FLY.

Now that it is getting cooler here,she wont be going many places without being in a carrier.
She has a full set of long sleeves on both arms now,and I don't clip her in winter months,so this is the optimum time to try and teach her.

We started last night. Her on her perch stick. I held it and dropped it quickly,telling her as I did this to go "flap flap Amy" At first she didn't know what to do lol.
After 5 or 6 times,she got the idea and started to flap and I praised her loud and clear. She fluffed up and started to chatter. I only did this for maybe five minutes praising her every time.
By the last 2 or 3 times,she knew exactly what to do. Each drop was a flapflapflap and chatter chatter chatter..seemed like she was enjoying it!

I just did a session a few minutes ago..just for a few minutes..not going to push her at all. I didn't even have to tell her to flap. It wasn't just one or two flaps either. She flapped for the length of time I did the "drop"
More high praises and more poofiness and chatter!
I believe she is liking this program!
Maybe within a few months,she'll be making short flights from her house to me!



Jim

Nothing quite like 450 + grams coming straight for you ready to give you a Big Feather Face Hug! There are few things better than that in is world!

FYI: Always remember to check her breathing. Any signs of even mild panting and its time for a break!

Have Fun!

I have my Bingo on a diet. when I weighed him he was at max weight for a YNA.
once I get him down in weight I thought I would start exercising him with the hop of teaching him to fly.

Good for you Jim! Amy is a smart one, surely a solo flight is in the near future.

Good luck to you and Amy! I have had no luck in flight training Kiwi, who was also not taught to fly as a chick. Hopefully Amy is more motivated to train than Kiwi is Kiwi only likes trick training when he's interested, and sits there like a lump when he's not

Hey, the hope is flight - but the goal is heart healthy Wing Flapping! If you only get Wing Flapping, that's okay! After all if they mess-up and step-off the edge of the cage, there is enough training that, with hope they choose to use it! And if they do, they have the maps built in to limit hitting something!

Lots of hopes in that I know, but with Amazons, every hope is a good hope!

And maybe with this "one-on-one" training session she'll forget all about BB's digs!





Jim

Congrats on the quick progress. Soon enough and you probably won't even need to drop your arm anymore, just have to ask if she wants to flap!

AmyMyBlueFront said:

And maybe with this "one-on-one" training session she'll forget all about BB's digs!





Jim

Click to expand...

That, or she will just start flying to BB's digs instead of walking XD

Go Amy, go!

Yay Amy!! Good job!! You can do this, you are a bird and YOU WERE BORN TO FLY!!

Nice! I'm really excited to see how this progresses, Jim! I'll be watching this thread with great interest! After so many years it will be something of a challenge, but definitely a worthwhile endeavor.

SailBoat said:

Hey, the hope is flight - but the goal is heart healthy Wing Flapping!...

Click to expand...

Awesome quote! And Steven is absolutely right! After so many years, it really comes down to Amy's temperament as to whether or not flight will ever happen. But you are doing your part, and the most important part here is the heart health that the wing flapping will promote.

But that said, if she does start to fly it will be like the opening of a whole new world... for both of you!

Good luck! I tried doing this with Gabby when he turned twenty and I did everything wrong. I wish I'd had been on this forum. Maybe I could have read SailBoat's article about re-fledging an adult Amazon and with proper exercise, Gabby would have been healthier. I don't want to go too far down that road because 1) it hurts and 2) it doesn't help. The best I can do is make sure I don't make the same mistakes twice. Kizzy gets plenty of exercise through flight. It still scares me, but she loves it! An Amazon taking joy in flight is lovely to see. Maybe Amy will get there; maybe she'll be happy with a few wing flaps. Regardless, it will be good for her.

One thing to keep in mind: Amy's bones aren't as soft as a fledgling's. When Kizzy was learning (much easier for a baby), I created a padded room for her, flexible bones or no. It helped me feel much more confident while she went through the "crash test dummy" phase of learning to fly. Now she rockets around the house. I wish I had a really large area where she could fly as fast as she would like to. She's definitely a speed demon.

Good luck!!!!

SirEdwin89 said:

That, or she will just start flying to BB's digs instead of walking XD

Click to expand...

At that point Amy has won the war!

It's good to hear things are going well, it would be nice for her to fly but like above a good flap is your goal and for her to gain the necessary knowledge not to faceplant the floor if she stumbles and instead flutter down.

It would be awesome if she does learn to fly, it's such a good feeling seeing them zip around enjoying themselves swinging in and out of hallways in the home, and flying circles in the air squeaking with delight

Well Amy and I did some more training tonight...just for five minutes or so..
She was sitting on her doorway and I asked her if she wanted to do some flapping as I waved her perch stick at her as I sat on the couch.
c'mon Amy lets do some flapping..and dang if she didn't climb down her house and walk over to me..I swear she understands me.
Anyway...five minutes of full flapping,no panting..some little amazon noises..it seems to me she is enjoying it lol.

More tomorrow!




Jim

Please remember that this is a stepped process. It is better to have Amy complete two 2.5 minute cycles with fifteen to twenty minutes between. The goal is to build muscle not to exhaust the muscle.

Are you able to place Amy's chest to your ear?

SailBoat said:

Please remember that this is a stepped process. It is better to have Amy complete two 2.5 minute cycles with fifteen to twenty minutes between. The goal is to build muscle not to exhaust the muscle.

Are you able to place Amy's chest to your ear?

Click to expand...

Steven, She'd probably let me do that.



Jim

We did a few minutes of flapping,and I had camera in hand...and guess what?? Yep...you're right! She barely participated lol...they must KNOW they are being video'd
So..with camera off, we came into the office and I said lets try this again..on the down stroke she kind of lost her grip on the perch and actually flew softly down to the floor no crashing and lightly touching down on the carpet
High praises and a couple kisses on her back.
I think she is going to learn fairly quickly.
I do have a short vid session of the not-so-good flap session i'll try to post later.

Awesome job Amy!!


Jim

A little training tonight...as we walked into the computer room,with Amy on her stick,I did the drop thing with her. On the third drop,she jumped off the perch and gently waved her arms,and made a very graceful landing about two feet in front of me,lightly touching down.
She is learning pretty quickly and seems to be enjoying herself

Just a side note..I ask her if "she is ready"...then I say "ok,ready? one...two...three" and I drop her.
She actually looks at me as I count down lol...I think she is anticipating the drop and is preparing herself..what a smart girl (guy)!


Jim

Great job Amy! I think you two will get there eventually, and when she does, it will be a beautiful thing! (Humans teaching birds to fly lol)

Keep it up Jimmy boy! Try working between perches. Dumb question: have you target trained any? You saw my video I believe. Target training is going to be key to your success here