katie_fleming
Active member
Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted any pics of Jasper yet - I keep collecting them on my camera but haven't transferred them yet. I'll do a big batch on the weekend
So I have a few questions about Jasper's behaviour/my techniques/etc. I think we're off to a great start but there are some things I'd like to ask about:
For the past 2 nights I've spent about 10 minutes with him teaching him to "step up". He is doing this perfectly, and caught on VERY quickly. Sometimes I reward him with a small pellet, other times just a vocal "good boy!". I'm very happy
Last night I decided I'd try and give him a little spray bath with a spray bottle. I sprayed into the cage very lightly and he didn't seem to like it. So I brought him to the bathroom, sat in the bath tub with him, and sprayed it beside him (not touching his body at all). Didn't care. I began to slowly spray above his head to let a little bit fall down, and more on his wings and suddenly he decided he didn't like it. Started to freak out a bit, and climbed up my arm as fast as he could onto my shoulder. For the rest of the night he seemed to be in a don't-come-near-me-mood and stayed on top of his cage. What did I do wrong? How can I try again?
After work each day I take him out and hold him (he comes right to me when I open the door) but after about 10-15 minutes he runs back to his cage, climbs up and either goes inside or on top of the cage. It's like he's had his fill and just wants to watch from the top of his cage. Is this normal? I feel like he's not getting enough "out of cage" time (even though he's on top of it). I talk to him the entire night and he scrapes his beak together (I assume that means he's content? He usually has a foot up when he's doing it).
Lastly, food. He's a little pig Please let me know if this is OK from what he's eating so far:
I also want to add he's NEVER bitten me. Beaks me and sometimes applies a little too much pressure but I say "no" firmly and he lets go immediately. Last night after the bath incident he started his "warning dance" on top of his cage so I knew to give him space. I figure as long as I read his language and KNOW he will bite then I can avoid it. So far so good, but he really is gentle.
I know this is a long read but I'd appreciate any feedback! First-time parrot owner and I'm not sure if I'm "doing it right".
Thanks
So I have a few questions about Jasper's behaviour/my techniques/etc. I think we're off to a great start but there are some things I'd like to ask about:
For the past 2 nights I've spent about 10 minutes with him teaching him to "step up". He is doing this perfectly, and caught on VERY quickly. Sometimes I reward him with a small pellet, other times just a vocal "good boy!". I'm very happy
Last night I decided I'd try and give him a little spray bath with a spray bottle. I sprayed into the cage very lightly and he didn't seem to like it. So I brought him to the bathroom, sat in the bath tub with him, and sprayed it beside him (not touching his body at all). Didn't care. I began to slowly spray above his head to let a little bit fall down, and more on his wings and suddenly he decided he didn't like it. Started to freak out a bit, and climbed up my arm as fast as he could onto my shoulder. For the rest of the night he seemed to be in a don't-come-near-me-mood and stayed on top of his cage. What did I do wrong? How can I try again?
After work each day I take him out and hold him (he comes right to me when I open the door) but after about 10-15 minutes he runs back to his cage, climbs up and either goes inside or on top of the cage. It's like he's had his fill and just wants to watch from the top of his cage. Is this normal? I feel like he's not getting enough "out of cage" time (even though he's on top of it). I talk to him the entire night and he scrapes his beak together (I assume that means he's content? He usually has a foot up when he's doing it).
Lastly, food. He's a little pig Please let me know if this is OK from what he's eating so far:
- Blueberries
- Won't touch Raspberries
- Little bits of Apple (I had to eat it front of him before he'd try)
- Brown rice (cooked)
- One time I gave him a few pieces of a hard boiled egg - loved that. How much is safe per week?
- Peppers (bell - different colours)
- Cooked vegetable pasta
- Corn (corn on the cob, frozen corn heated up)
- Peas
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- I'm using up the pellets the breeder sent, they're the Radybush ones he seems to love them (used for training him the step-up)
- Using up the seed mix the breeder sent (only about a tablespoon a day)
I also want to add he's NEVER bitten me. Beaks me and sometimes applies a little too much pressure but I say "no" firmly and he lets go immediately. Last night after the bath incident he started his "warning dance" on top of his cage so I knew to give him space. I figure as long as I read his language and KNOW he will bite then I can avoid it. So far so good, but he really is gentle.
I know this is a long read but I'd appreciate any feedback! First-time parrot owner and I'm not sure if I'm "doing it right".
Thanks
Last edited: