Not so quick update and refresher: I adopted Oatty(20 mo old Quaker) about 6 weeks ago. I have successfully converted him from a 100% seed diet over to 80% Harrison's diet(thanks to everyone here!)10% seed, and 10% quinoa mash. His molting seems near end and his color is just brilliant! We've got him on a sleep schedule(9p-9a), we wheel his cage into whatever room we are in most of the time(if I'm on the phone, he isn't welcome in my work conversations, or if my homeschooled son is taking a test, he has to stay out!). He eats his quinoa mash dinner at the table with us every night. Last night we ate outside on the patio, so we wheeled him out. He even stayed on the patio while my husband and I went on our kayaks- I could hear him across our lake wolf whistling for me. He says so many words and phrases...he came to us saying step up, rrrrico, pretty bird, kisses and laughing...I've taught him to say peak a boo, wolf whistle, meow, Oatty and we are learning "How much is that Oatty in the window(bark bark)and 1, 2, 3!. He spends about 2 hours outside of the cage...which I would like to be longer but...
When he is outside the cage, he won't sit with anyone but me. If I try to set him a top his cage(with a plethora of things he likes to do) he will fly to me every time. I've been working on him waiting for me to give him the "hand" command and then he flys to my hand. However, that is still a work in progress, so when I have work to do, he has to go in his cage or he ends up on my head. I'm a life coach, most of my video/phone clients don't want to be interrupted by my bird! I also have 3 dogs(well mannered) and a (mostly behaving)cat...which all have been very nice to him, but they are nowhere near the stages of being unsupervised. I've tried a desktop perch area...he still ends up on my head or chewing up my computer screen. So...cage time is unfortunately, inevitable for him. I set new obstacles for him every day...which he plows through in a few minutes when he gets around to them. He has plenty of toys, he does like his cage, and surprisingly doesn't actually get aggressive in it.
When he came to us, he was very mild and loved to just hang out. He didn't bite anyone when we first approached him. I had half the neighborhood come over to handle him. His behavior still is mostly very nice to me, but he's very fussy with my son and husband. I do realize that he's chosen me, which I expected and take full responsibility for. However, the screeching when I leave the room is INSANE! I fully expect and love the noises birds make...but he's downright nasty about it! He knows I'm in the next room, and he thinks if he is loud enough, I will come get him(In or out he is usually happy as long as I'm near).
I've noticed that when I get him "over excited" he is more prone to bite out of excitement. For example, he LOVES to say "rrrrrico!!" in traditional excited mexcian style. He rolls his r's all the time, it's super adorable. Also when playing peak a boo...he gets sooo revved up. These are times when he loses control and randomly bites whatever his head bumps into.
I've also noticed when he's sitting on my shoulder and I'm trying to get my work done... if I am not making a clicking sound or talking to him..he'll bite me to get my attention. I don't mind him cleaning my ears...or combing my hair. The biting of my neck is getting old.
The corrective action we were taking to address the biting was to bring him back to his cage. This is not working. He bites harder to whoever is bringing back to his cage. I think he's learning that his cage is a bad place to only be when you are punished. So we have switched our tactic to a firm NO and a gentle touch(not even a tap) to the beak. He seems to be responding to that a little better, and it doesn't interfere with the time he actually gets out of the cage.
OK, Bird Pros! Is my bird spoiled? Is he going through puberty? Mating season? Do I need more OUT of the cage time? More IN the cage time? Different bite training tactic? Do I need to move out and let him have my whole house?
I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to be patient with him and let him get through his temporary insanity or if I have a real bite problem on my hands. I suppose here would be a good place to put- he's never drawn blood, but made some serious bruising.
I've always been on board with keeping his wings the way nature intended them unless it becomes a danger to his life. My original plan was to teach him some flight commands for safety and see how it goes. I've wondered if clipping him so he is unable to get to me while outside the cage will make him happier or more frustrated? That doesn't seem to fit well with my beliefs, but I'm always so open to any suggestions!
Outside of following more of a solar sleep schedule...I'm kind of at a loss at how to correct his behavior. I want him out of his cage 100% of the awake time...but he has to respect his boundaries!
I thank you if you read this far! Please, forgive my typos AND let the brainstorming commence!
When he is outside the cage, he won't sit with anyone but me. If I try to set him a top his cage(with a plethora of things he likes to do) he will fly to me every time. I've been working on him waiting for me to give him the "hand" command and then he flys to my hand. However, that is still a work in progress, so when I have work to do, he has to go in his cage or he ends up on my head. I'm a life coach, most of my video/phone clients don't want to be interrupted by my bird! I also have 3 dogs(well mannered) and a (mostly behaving)cat...which all have been very nice to him, but they are nowhere near the stages of being unsupervised. I've tried a desktop perch area...he still ends up on my head or chewing up my computer screen. So...cage time is unfortunately, inevitable for him. I set new obstacles for him every day...which he plows through in a few minutes when he gets around to them. He has plenty of toys, he does like his cage, and surprisingly doesn't actually get aggressive in it.
When he came to us, he was very mild and loved to just hang out. He didn't bite anyone when we first approached him. I had half the neighborhood come over to handle him. His behavior still is mostly very nice to me, but he's very fussy with my son and husband. I do realize that he's chosen me, which I expected and take full responsibility for. However, the screeching when I leave the room is INSANE! I fully expect and love the noises birds make...but he's downright nasty about it! He knows I'm in the next room, and he thinks if he is loud enough, I will come get him(In or out he is usually happy as long as I'm near).
I've noticed that when I get him "over excited" he is more prone to bite out of excitement. For example, he LOVES to say "rrrrrico!!" in traditional excited mexcian style. He rolls his r's all the time, it's super adorable. Also when playing peak a boo...he gets sooo revved up. These are times when he loses control and randomly bites whatever his head bumps into.
I've also noticed when he's sitting on my shoulder and I'm trying to get my work done... if I am not making a clicking sound or talking to him..he'll bite me to get my attention. I don't mind him cleaning my ears...or combing my hair. The biting of my neck is getting old.
The corrective action we were taking to address the biting was to bring him back to his cage. This is not working. He bites harder to whoever is bringing back to his cage. I think he's learning that his cage is a bad place to only be when you are punished. So we have switched our tactic to a firm NO and a gentle touch(not even a tap) to the beak. He seems to be responding to that a little better, and it doesn't interfere with the time he actually gets out of the cage.
OK, Bird Pros! Is my bird spoiled? Is he going through puberty? Mating season? Do I need more OUT of the cage time? More IN the cage time? Different bite training tactic? Do I need to move out and let him have my whole house?
I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to be patient with him and let him get through his temporary insanity or if I have a real bite problem on my hands. I suppose here would be a good place to put- he's never drawn blood, but made some serious bruising.
I've always been on board with keeping his wings the way nature intended them unless it becomes a danger to his life. My original plan was to teach him some flight commands for safety and see how it goes. I've wondered if clipping him so he is unable to get to me while outside the cage will make him happier or more frustrated? That doesn't seem to fit well with my beliefs, but I'm always so open to any suggestions!
Outside of following more of a solar sleep schedule...I'm kind of at a loss at how to correct his behavior. I want him out of his cage 100% of the awake time...but he has to respect his boundaries!
I thank you if you read this far! Please, forgive my typos AND let the brainstorming commence!