Mel
New member
I was very fortunate to have the Editor of Talking Bird Newspaper (an Aussie mag) and bird expert/consultant over for dinner last. I just thought I'd share a few things he said that I found interesting
We were discussing Chicka's plucking iissues, he told me Gang Gang Cockatoos are reknown for chewing & plucking themselves. To combat this they load thier cages up with so many branches from natives they have to chew through them to get around thier enclosure. It takes thier minds off chewing themselves and keeps them from being bored. I'm going to give this a go with Chicka since she is still plucking in a few areas - will let you know how it goes.
His thoughts on clipping wings was not to (both mine are), he thinks it safer for them to be able to fly if need be. He said one of the big problems is when the clip starts to grow out many owners don't realise and all of a sudden the bird can get enough height to fly up. Birds know how to fly up but few have been taught to fly down - esp clipped. He said most owners to get thier birds down from a height in the home climb up or get a stick for the bird to step onto. He thinks every bird should be taught to fly to you. I know this has been discussed before but if you missed it - hold a treat in one hand and the bird in the other and have it hop from hand to hand to get the treat while giving a command, initially close together then slowly increase the distance.
He told me a story of a Macaw his friend bred. She sits on the ground and interacts with the babies while they are still in her care. One of the birds she sold flew up into a tree, the distraught owners called her about what to do as they hadn't taught it the recall, she sugggested sitting on the ground, as soon as the owner did the bird recognised this from when it was a baby and flew straight down to the owner.
While on Macaws he said the same breeder saw footage of Macaws raising thier young, the parents feed the babies around the clock every 2 hours, even at night. She started doing the same thing with her chicks. He said they are the most beautilfully feathered, robust looking Macs he has ever seen.
On toilet-training, again I know it's been discussed but if you missed that one 2 he said it takes a lot of dedication but get say a red sheet of paper, whenever the bird shows it's about to poop put the paper under him/her and give a treat after the deed is done. Do it enough times the bird learns that if it needs to go, head to the red paper, have a few sheets around the house so it has some options when out of the cage
I could have picked his brain all night. He said next time he's in Sydney he'll pop in again
We were discussing Chicka's plucking iissues, he told me Gang Gang Cockatoos are reknown for chewing & plucking themselves. To combat this they load thier cages up with so many branches from natives they have to chew through them to get around thier enclosure. It takes thier minds off chewing themselves and keeps them from being bored. I'm going to give this a go with Chicka since she is still plucking in a few areas - will let you know how it goes.
His thoughts on clipping wings was not to (both mine are), he thinks it safer for them to be able to fly if need be. He said one of the big problems is when the clip starts to grow out many owners don't realise and all of a sudden the bird can get enough height to fly up. Birds know how to fly up but few have been taught to fly down - esp clipped. He said most owners to get thier birds down from a height in the home climb up or get a stick for the bird to step onto. He thinks every bird should be taught to fly to you. I know this has been discussed before but if you missed it - hold a treat in one hand and the bird in the other and have it hop from hand to hand to get the treat while giving a command, initially close together then slowly increase the distance.
He told me a story of a Macaw his friend bred. She sits on the ground and interacts with the babies while they are still in her care. One of the birds she sold flew up into a tree, the distraught owners called her about what to do as they hadn't taught it the recall, she sugggested sitting on the ground, as soon as the owner did the bird recognised this from when it was a baby and flew straight down to the owner.
While on Macaws he said the same breeder saw footage of Macaws raising thier young, the parents feed the babies around the clock every 2 hours, even at night. She started doing the same thing with her chicks. He said they are the most beautilfully feathered, robust looking Macs he has ever seen.
On toilet-training, again I know it's been discussed but if you missed that one 2 he said it takes a lot of dedication but get say a red sheet of paper, whenever the bird shows it's about to poop put the paper under him/her and give a treat after the deed is done. Do it enough times the bird learns that if it needs to go, head to the red paper, have a few sheets around the house so it has some options when out of the cage
I could have picked his brain all night. He said next time he's in Sydney he'll pop in again
Must have been a very interesting dinner! Next time can I come? 
