The next level

So my macaw Toby and I are doing great. He steps up most of the time and if I need him to listen and he's being snarky I just pick up the stick and he immediately jumps right up on me. The stick never comes near him.

My confidence has grown a lot because he does try to lightly peck at me if he doesn't want to step up and it doesn't bother me. If he walks away nicely I let him stay on his tree. If he pecks I pick up the stick and then he hops on nicely. I look at it like, ok if you're not in the mood and nicely walk away the fine. If youre not in the mood and strike at me then I will make you get up so you don't learn biting makes me go away.

And I think maybe this is what people mean about the military being nippy. There is nothing behind the nip though. It's just a tap.

So.....my question is.....how do I bump our relationship to the next level. I see all these pics of macaws on their backs and letting their owners play with their wings etc. how do I get there? His nails are getting sharp and I can't see myself trying to file them at this point. I also can't see myself trimming his wings either.

I really think he has the potential to be that kind
of bird. I'm just curious how I go about it.

I've had him about a month now.

Thanks!!

Beak-ey.

They communicate more than some of the other species with their beaks. [Scarlett's being most beak-ey... then buffons, then militaries. At least in my book.]

He's using his beak to communicate with you. Him walking away from you is his nice way of saying "not right now". Him pecking at you is a lesser extent of that. Full on biting would be the worst of it.

As far as he's concerned, he's perfectly happy where he's at and you have not given him a better alternative to stepping up. I mean, what's in it for him? Why should he step up? Does he know that stepping up equals good things?

If you have to introduce a stick to him in order to get him to step up (regardless of whether or not it comes near him!), I don't think he understands that stepping up equals good things... only not stepping up equals bad things.


It's better he learns to step up because he wants to, not because he has to. This doesn't mean that you allow him to get away with things, rather you teach him that doing as you ask him to always equals something good!



All the things you ask about can be taught via positive reinforcement training. Barbara Heidnereich and Lara Joseph are two great trainers! Heck, Barbara Heidenreich even has a video on teaching parrots for the veterinary exam!

Nails are easy. Show Toby the nail clippers/filers/dremel and reward him for remaining calm. Bring the tool slightly closer. Reward. Bring tool slightly closer still. Reward. Repeat, repeat, repeat. You can then teach Toby to accept being touched by the tool and rewarding him for it. Then teach him to accept you using the tool and reward him for it. You might only be able to groom one or two nails at first, but that's ok! You can work on teaching Toby to accept it over time.

Wings - teach him to spread his wings for a 'big eagle'! You can capture his behavior of him holding his wings back, stretching them, then you can shape the behavior of him opening his wings and holding it.

Laying on back - if Toby is ok with you touching his back with your hand, you can teach him to lean back by slightly making him go backwards, then bring him upright and reward. Slowly lean him back a little further, bring upright and reward. Repeat. Likewise, you could also have him leaning against your chest and just lean your body backwards a little, go upright, reward. Repeat in small increments until he's comfortable fully laying on his back.

Thanks Monica!!! That is great advice! I will start working on that.

He is such a special guy!! I'm so in love with him. Moreso than if id bought a baby just because I feel he needed someone. Now he's a total hoot. Such a personality.

I'll look up those videos!

Welcome!

The video I'm talking about is a DVD that you can purchase from Good Bird Inc (or any other place) by Barbara Heidenreich. (I haven't seen it myself)


She shared a video of a cockatoo at a zoo getting a vaccine - force free. It also only required one person to give him the shot! The cockatoo stood on a perch (either constantly receiving treats or with a clear plastic cup over his head.... he likes either option!) while the person would insert the needle from a syringe into his breast and push the plunger. It was all smooth, slow and the 'too acted as if nothing was happening! The interesting thing about this? The zoo didn't get this 'too until he was in his 30's or 40's! So it was definitely a new behavior that was trained!

BTW, Barbara Heidenreich just recently posted a blog about nail trimming with some good info on how to do the behavior of training birds to accept getting nail trims!


Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Tips to Train a Parrot to do a Difficult Behavior?like Nail Trimming