Ladyhawk
New member
- Apr 30, 2017
- 489
- 18
- Parrots
- Kizzy - (most likely) female blue-fronted Amazon, hatched on May 1, 2017; Gabby - Male double yellowheaded Amazon, hatched, April 1, 1986; died February 22, 2017
I was just getting back to where we were before I forced the harness on her. I thought I found a treat she would do anything for (unsalted pistachios in the shell) and we were about to make very rapid progress.
Suddenly, Kizzy refuses to work with the harness. Period. She flies away. No amount of cajoling or special treat can get her to cooperate. It's been three days now. Maybe I made the mistake of giving her a day off in the first place. I don't know.
I tried putting her in her cage and "working" with some fake parrots I have, making a big fuss and letting them have all kinds of treats. It was sort of a mean model / rival method. I did it once today and she got very pissed. During her cage time, she first started singing to get my attention and when that didn't work, she beat the crap out of one of her toys.
If jealousy and treats don't work, where can I go from here? I want to use positive reinforcement, but darn if she isn't a stubborn little bird. Just when I think I've made real progress with her, she proves me wrong. Right now she is outsmarting me.
Before posting this, I tried something else. Out of curiosity, I offered the harness as a toy and she beat the crap out of it. She definitely has some issues with it. I have no idea where to go from here.
Suddenly, Kizzy refuses to work with the harness. Period. She flies away. No amount of cajoling or special treat can get her to cooperate. It's been three days now. Maybe I made the mistake of giving her a day off in the first place. I don't know.
I tried putting her in her cage and "working" with some fake parrots I have, making a big fuss and letting them have all kinds of treats. It was sort of a mean model / rival method. I did it once today and she got very pissed. During her cage time, she first started singing to get my attention and when that didn't work, she beat the crap out of one of her toys.
If jealousy and treats don't work, where can I go from here? I want to use positive reinforcement, but darn if she isn't a stubborn little bird. Just when I think I've made real progress with her, she proves me wrong. Right now she is outsmarting me.
Before posting this, I tried something else. Out of curiosity, I offered the harness as a toy and she beat the crap out of it. She definitely has some issues with it. I have no idea where to go from here.