Bird in a box

Mindy

New member
Nov 9, 2017
114
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Michigan
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Finnegan the Timneh, Chicky the Cuban Amazon and Fanny Featherbottom the house chicken.
Hi everyone! My unsexed 10 year old Timneh LOVES cardboard boxes. I put empty cereal boxes, etc. on top of his cage to shred. When he has a big box-like a 12 pack of pop cans size-that he can get into he gets very territorial over it...he won't accept treats in the box, comes to the edge in attack mode if you approach. He is not flighted because he is a light to moderate plucker so it's not as if he can actually get to me so it isn't a problem for me, but I'm wondering if it's ok to let him have them? He does not have that type of reaction at all when the box is in the cage (I know because at times I have to pick up the box with him in it to get him inside :D)

I bought him at six months from a pet shop, I take full responsibility for him being a little neurotic since I trained him way too quickly and way too forcefully and I just want to be certain I'm not doing something wrong for him.

thanks!!!
 

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
Our grey Buzz loves cardboard boxes. We put one on its side in the bottom of his cage and he hangs out inside and shreds it. He also loves to shake it and bang it around. Buzz does have a bit more attitude when on top of his cage. We have thought it's the height advantage that makes him feel tougher and act more aggressive.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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Apr 14, 2015
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Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
It's MINE!! Leave it alone!!!! CHOMP! :eek:






Jim
 

clark_conure

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Jul 14, 2017
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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
I was about to say along the lines of what amy said...until your bird is fully trusted not to bite you, or you have done bite pressure training I wouldn't let him have boxes as it would negatively impact bite training. By pulling back you're literally encouraging him to bite more.

But then I re-read and you got him as a baby and have had him ten years. I don't want to mean but you (self admittedly) may have skipped a few things along the way. I wouldn't say you need a reset or anything but anything that provokes a real bite...(I consider fake wrestling biting fine with my bird) is not acceptable behavior.

Your new here and your reaching out which is VERY GOOD! I commend you. I'd do a search for clicker and target training I think it's a sticky on the training thread. Read that and come up with an idea to work with him through his bad behavior. A play bite is fine, but a hostile bite is not acceptable, especially over a box.
 

DRB

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Jan 23, 2016
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75
Ohio
Parrots
Perjo - Female CAG hatch Nov 2015
I hope someday to see Perjo walking in and out of a box but right now a box bigger than a wallet would scare her have to death.
 
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Mindy

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Nov 9, 2017
114
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Michigan
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Finnegan the Timneh, Chicky the Cuban Amazon and Fanny Featherbottom the house chicken.
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He used to be afraid of everything, too : )
 
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Mindy

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Nov 9, 2017
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Michigan
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Finnegan the Timneh, Chicky the Cuban Amazon and Fanny Featherbottom the house chicken.
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I was about to say along the lines of what amy said...until your bird is fully trusted not to bite you, or you have done bite pressure training I wouldn't let him have boxes as it would negatively impact bite training. By pulling back you're literally encouraging him to bite more.

But then I re-read and you got him as a baby and have had him ten years. I don't want to mean but you (self admittedly) may have skipped a few things along the way. I wouldn't say you need a reset or anything but anything that provokes a real bite...(I consider fake wrestling biting fine with my bird) is not acceptable behavior.

Your new here and your reaching out which is VERY GOOD! I commend you. I'd do a search for clicker and target training I think it's a sticky on the training thread. Read that and come up with an idea to work with him through his bad behavior. A play bite is fine, but a hostile bite is not acceptable, especially over a box.
That's a great point. I have actually clicker trained him and he knows he's not supposed to bite but I've never even heard of teaching him to play bite nicely. I think I really took away his self confidence by forcing him to do things while he was young that he wasn't ready to do, I approached it like training a dog which was a huge mistake. I have now tried to mend my ways and let him dictate what type of interaction we have but it's possible I've gone too far the other way and let him get away with negative things out of guilt.
 

clark_conure

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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
Clark has learned some things I was able to change his behavior on. you just need to set the ground rules and LIVE those rules. No half measures. otherwise the ongoing joke that "yeah the parrot your new owner".....which isn't really a "joke" it's mostly true.....well it can't be true for biting....do you have any ideas so far or need suggestions?
 
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Mindy

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Nov 9, 2017
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Michigan
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Finnegan the Timneh, Chicky the Cuban Amazon and Fanny Featherbottom the house chicken.
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Clark has learned some things I was able to change his behavior on. you just need to set the ground rules and LIVE those rules. No half measures. otherwise the ongoing joke that "yeah the parrot your new owner".....which isn't really a "joke" it's mostly true.....well it can't be true for biting....do you have any ideas so far or need suggestions?

I'm torn, he's got more confidence now and I don't want to take that away. I've read a lot of things that say if you get bit you weren't paying attention...that being said he makes it real clear that when he's in his box he wants to be left alone. He doesn't bite in other circumstances. If you think I need to take action what would it be?
 

clark_conure

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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
interesting topic.....if I entered my birds cage without permission, i'd accept that bite...but after 2 years now the cage isn't an issue he expects me to pick him up whereever he is as soon as I get home.

In this case, it's a box....not a cage, not a nest...I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS THE RIGHT ANSWER IN FACT ANYONE ELSE STEP UP...TELL ME I'M WRONG!!! BUT i WOULD DUMP HIM OUT OF THE BOX. Biting is not to be tolerated... box time is a prividge like being on the shoulder....you have to set the ground rules.

Aggressive biting behavior is bad....dogs get put down for biting a neighbor... and birds are smarter than most dogs.


Honestly that would be my responce.....dump him out of the box, then bring the box up next to me....make him walk back....he can have the box when he understands...it's your box! and not something to fight over.
 
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GaleriaGila

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Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Boxes stimulate the Rb's nesting/roosterly/territorial/aggressive behaviors (they breed in deep tunnels in limestone cliffs which they dig). I rarely let him get near them... well... except for photo-ops! May I share? :)

mFz268X.jpg
 

clark_conure

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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
galeriagila you kinda undermining what i'm....nvm yeah fine birds love boxes.....give him a plethora of boxes....

LOL yeah birds love boxes but even galeriagilla admits it's territorial. You need to decide where the line is.
 
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Mindy

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Nov 9, 2017
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Michigan
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Finnegan the Timneh, Chicky the Cuban Amazon and Fanny Featherbottom the house chicken.
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galeriagila you kinda undermining what i'm....nvm yeah fine birds love boxes.....give him a plethora of boxes....

LOL yeah birds love boxes but even galeriagilla admits it's territorial. You need to decide where the line is.
Lol I think she was saying not to give the box because it makes them territorial. Your response was hilarious...so defeated.
 
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Mindy

New member
Nov 9, 2017
114
2
Michigan
Parrots
Finnegan the Timneh, Chicky the Cuban Amazon and Fanny Featherbottom the house chicken.
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So I just went over and made him step up from inside the box, he did the high pitched beep he does when he's mad at me but did step up. I think from now on I'll stick to the smaller boxes that he can chew but not nest in, best of both worlds : )
 

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