How to begin training my female eclectus

Rani

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Aug 30, 2010
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Atlanta,ga
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Solomon island female eclectus
Hello everyone,

I need help again! I had clicker trained my conure and he could do about 20 tricks. There were times when he was ready to play before me and would not even wait for the command and just do everything in a cycle. it was the funniest thing to watch. He knew going over and under a stick, he would say hello raising his one feet, he knew how to push a ball, also he would pull a car( I tied a small string for him to pull LOL), me would pick up beads and drop in a bowl, I can go on and on....also it felt like he was ready to do anything with me. But I feel my female eclectus is just happy sitting on the perch all day.


Now with my female eclectus (rani) I am struggling teaching her step up! It feels like I have to force her to step up. After trying to step up about 2 times she flies away and walks to the cage. No matter what room I put her in she walks to the cage. She is so so so so so quite that it bothers me. How should I train her? Any ideas welcome!
 

Quantumcat

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Feb 21, 2010
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Bathurst, NSW
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One Eclectus, Scarlett
Eclectus are a bit different to other parrots. Other parrots are enthusiastic and want to be doing stuff all the time, and show their emotions on their sleeves. Eclectus may have the same emotions they just keep them to themselves! They seem quiet and reserved cause firstly they are not so enthusiastic and more laid-back, and secondly when they are frightened they freeze rather than jumping, squawking, or flapping like other parrots.

What kind of food treat are you using? If you find something sufficiently yummy, it will be very easy to teach Rani to do everything you taught your conure. It is probably even easier finding something yummy for an eclectus, since they are used to eating fruit so you have a million things there to try, plus they get a very seed-reduced diet, so nuts and seeds will be way more appealing to them than to other parrots.

I had no idea what I was doing with Scarlett, but she learned super fast. I never used a clicker though, and always reward with sunflower seeds. She is very motivated to do tricks, I think it's just because it's the only time she ever gets sunflower seeds.

I think maybe (and I have no experience in training except with Scarlett so I could easily be wrong!) that training eclectus compared with other parrots is like the difference between training a ferret and a dog. A ferret requires rewards every time since he's smart and will quickly learn to not bother doing tricks if the rewards stop. While a dog only needs a treat while he doesn't yet know what to do, and as soon as he knows will continue doing it just to please his master, no treats needed.
 
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Rani

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Aug 30, 2010
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Atlanta,ga
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Solomon island female eclectus
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Hey Thank you for a quick reply.

I feel great to know that scarlett is doing tricks. I feel much much better now. I will give her some time and i will need to learn some patience LOL.

I have only had her a month so i am trying fruits, veggies,etc. She seems to like pumpkin seeds. I have given her cashew and almond but she does not seems to care much for the nuts. I have not tried sunflower seeds yet. I will be getting some tomorrow.

Does Scarlett like to hang out with you or atleast in the same room where you are? With Rani if i shut all the lights in other rooms and if i sit in family room with tv and one light on then she will sit near me. She will try to fly to the cage but since its dark there she comes back walking. It bothers me that she does not want to hang out where the family is. I know she will only last around us if its dark in other rooms.

I have closed the doors in my office and tried to train her step up a few times but its hard to just keep her focused as her main focus is to find the cage and run away from me.

I will get some sunflower seeds tomorrow and see how she likes them.

Thank you
chrisi
 

Cowtown

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Aug 4, 2010
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Great State of Texas
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Abby 2 year old Female Eclectus & Solomon 12 year old Male CAG & Dickens 4 year old CAG.
Just be patient.... Abby is that way when I have her out in the living room where her cage is... When I take her into the bedroom she does ok... I close the door and when she does fly off the bed I just have her step up and put her back on the bed and just talk to her.

It will take some time.
 

Quantumcat

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Feb 21, 2010
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In the very beginning (6 months ago), she bit us and growled at us and was not the slightest bit interested in deliberately being near us. I hadn't ever had a parrot before so I just accepted it as normal and left her alone when it was obvious that's what she wanted (practically all the time). It helped that a month after we moved a little white kitten came meowing at our door so we had a kitty to satisfy our need for a cuddly animal. But after a while we must have grown on her cause she does usually like to follow me around wherever I go. If I go to the kitchen, she flies to the fridge or the curtain rail (then to my shoulder to pull at my hair if it looks like I've got something yummy). If I go to the bedroom, she flies upstairs to the curtain rail (it took a long time before she figured out how to fly upstairs and downstairs), if I go to the loungeroom, she flies to her cage or onto the couch. Her default is on top of her cage. I think she feels more relaxed there than anywhere else.

I think forcing the bond is probably a bad idea, it may take much longer to develop. Let her go where she wants, and think of it as a huge bonus if she choses your knee or shoulder or even just the couch you're sitting on. If you had a stand-offish cat, you would be superbly delighted if she chose to jump onto your lap or sleep with you. You wouldn't dream of grabbing her and putting her on your lap and forcing her to stay - not only would it make her less likely to jump up in the future, but the whole pleasure of having a cat on your lap is the fact that they chose you to sit on. It should probably be the same with a parrot. If they chose you, that's fantastic! If they are there cause you are forcing them, you haven't achieved anything but an unhappy bird.

Anyway once you try sunflower seeds I reckon you'll find you have a bird extremely motivated to learn tricks!
 
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Rani

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Aug 30, 2010
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Atlanta,ga
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Solomon island female eclectus
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Greatly appreciate your input and i agree 100% with you

Thank you
chrisi
 

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