Athena

Since "the foot bite" on Monday, Athena and I have not made much progress. She definitely doesn't trust me right now (most likely due to my poor reaction).

I've tried to start clicker training. She will come to her perch when she sees the clicker but not sure if she is making the association. I had hoped to start target training, but that may have to wait.

She will let me kiss her beak through the cage occasionally, but would really just prefer sitting on her perch in the middle of the cage to be left alone. Now, when I open the door, she "runs."

Other than the clicker training, association with treats, singing, whistling, talking...any other suggestions?

When all else fails, start over from Step-One.

Also, it is alway worth reevaluating your view point: It is NEVER the fault of the Parrot! It is ALWAYS the fault of the Human. When you view everything from this vantage point, you can more quickly determine what you are doing wrong and correct it!

Do you have Step-Up in place?

SailBoat said:

When all else fails, start over from Step-One.

Also, it is alway worth reevaluating your view point: It is NEVER the fault of the Parrot! It is ALWAYS the fault of the Human. When you view everything from this vantage point, you can more quickly determine what you are doing wrong and correct it!

Do you have Step-Up in place?

Click to expand...

We do not have a step up in place. She will not allow me to put my hands in the cage.

Here is one of the best videos I've seen on target training. It's only a little over 4 minutes and it covers all of the basics. [ame="https://youtu.be/HaOicTtwIZo"]https://youtu.be/HaOicTtwIZo[/ame]

As you can see from the video, target training can lead to step-up. But in the meantime, you do want to work on rebuilding the trust that has been temporarily stalled by the towel incident. Part of this is getting her to want to come to you rather than forcing the issue.

One exercise along these lines, for instance, is to wait until right before dinner time, when Athena will be rather hungry, and place a few of her absolute favorite treats in your hand. Then open her cage door and simply hold your hand - with goodies in full view - just beyond the open door. By doing this, you respect her boundaries and refrain from violating her safe space. And you are also putting the impetus on her. She gets to choose the pace rather than having it imposed upon her. This will make her feel more relaxed.

If she doesn't take you up on your implicit offer within say 7 minutes or so, take away the treats and give her dinner as usual. ***Important: None of those special treats should be part of her meal. You want to maintain the exotic allure of the treats by keeping them from becoming common parts of the diet.

Depending on the inherent stubbornness of your bird, it could take anywhere from a few minutes, hours or days to even weeks before she takes the plunge and steps onto your hand to eat the treats. But once she does? SO worth it.

Update: She will take treats from me through the cage and will even let me play with her beak with the door open.
She still lunges at me through the bars occasionally and will not let me touch her at all. Is there a way to make an association of yummy treats and myself. She is only making the association when I have the clicker.
She wanted to step up on the bowl today that I have her treats in and come out, but I know that she still does not trust me, so I did not let her.
Also, do your babies have a time of day that they are in a better mood?
Lastly, I think I'm going to start clicker training tomorrow. Thanks anasi!

Name change: they chose Athena because she was a rescue. Should I change it because she may have a bad association?

Parrots don't care what you call them, as long as they get their treats. Absolutely find her all time favorite treat. That is your doorway to progress. Salty's is pine nuts. He would shingle my roof for pine nuts. Me personally I would knock off the through the bar stuff, your just training her that she does not have to go further to get her treat. The advice above about putting the treat in you hand, just out side the door is great stuff. Go slow, at the birds pace, it might take weeks before she gets it. And please no more towels or gloves... worst way to kill off any trust. When she trusts you enough to actually play with you introduce a small bit of towel into your play ..tug of war, peek a boo. Make the bit of towel bigger and bigger, so eventually she can be wrapped in it with no trauma. Most likely by that time you won't need it, but vet visits, where they do towel the bird, will not be so stress ful.

Amlamb said:

...Also, do your babies have a time of day that they are in a better mood?
Lastly, I think I'm going to start clicker training tomorrow. Thanks anasi!

Click to expand...

You're welcome! Keep us updated on how the training goes. Though I started with the clicker, I eventually ditched it and just used verbal praise and treats. The clicker is good as a training bridge, of course, but I was just too forgetful and a late click is worse than no click at all. Timing is important. But try it and see how it works for you.

As for times when my ekkies are in a better mood, I don't think there's any particular time that I could point out for that. Of course, neither one is quite as amiable after their bedtime. But I don't think I could pinpoint a time when they are more cuddly or anything. They're both rather consistently sweet with me.