my sweetie just gave me the best birthday present

I have just started to retrain my umbrella cockatoo. He is 16 years old and has been stuck in his cage for over 10 years because of my career and lack of keeping up his training when he was young. My bad! I'm correcting that now as I am now disabled and mostly home now.

I just read 4+ books on training parrots. I started to train him a few days ago. Using positive reinforcement, through the cage. Since he's been catching on so quickly, Today, I decided to stick my hand into his cage to try to start working towards stepping up. I wasn't expecting much... just tried to get him to touch my hand with his beak, then maybe his foot. Well, he did that after a few tries! Then, to my surprise, he stepped up, with both feet! Well, that really started off my day off right!

I realize that once I am able to take him out of the cage, it will be much different. I am trying to figure out whether to have his wings clipped, (I know that's a touchy subject here), or not. I have high ceilings, with a glass window that I can't reach to cover. However, he never flew for the first few years of his life, when I had him out of his cage a lot. I was told by a lady who has had a bird shop for at least 16 years that some birds don't know how to fly(?) I am trying to find out if that's possible? I thought flight was an instinctive thing for birds? Also wondering if I put my thumb over his toes for a while, until I can figure out if he'll fly into the windows and hurt himself. I know that that will probably get me bitten, but I would rather get bitten than risk him getting hurt.

Dahlia

Well, I am happy you have decided to pay attention to your handsom too'!! Yes, clipping wings and such can be a touchy subject here, and in my opinion I would say that you should go to each window of your house and get your (what is his name?) too' to touch each window wth his beak, let him know that they are windows. Once you do that for a while and if he still wants to fly into them, I would get him clipped BUT I would let them grow out and see if if he still flies into windws and such. (I read on a different forum and in a couple bird books that this is the best way to teach your bird not to fly into windows, other members correct me if I am wrong). Here is a good article on wing clipping that I stole from Wildheart .
Wing Clipping

I recommend you start in your bedroom. Toss him lightly towards the bed so he can practice flapping and landing.

My bird is 21 and was clipped for the 1st 15years of his life
he now has his flight feathers and all but has never flown
he loves to flap alot and will glide to the ground from his perch If he wants my attention but I still take no risks
all doors and windows are closed when he's out and he wears a harness in public

Good luck with your future training and glad this bird is now getting the attention he deserves
may things continue to go smoothly for you and all the best

greycloud said:

I recommend you start in your bedroom. Toss him lightly towards the bed so he can practice flapping and landing.

Click to expand...

I used to do that when he was a baby, but he didn't seem to catch on and I couldn't tell if he enjoyed it, so I stopped. So now I'm not sure what to do, 10+ years later. I would like it if he could fly... I have read that birds lead a much fuller and happier life when they fly. Also, it's good exercise.

I have decided to take him to the vet and have his wings and nails clipped until we both get used to having him out of the cage.

My main concern is my high ceilings, if he can fly, I wouldn't be able to reach him. So, I have to be really careful, when I take him out. I know I will eventually take your advise, I'm just not sure how I will get there. TY!

Dahlia
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Sometimes if the bird has not flown at a young age and after they are not able to fly. That is why GC suggested start out in the bedroom where he would have a soft landing.

Yes, thank you both. I know you're both right. I'm just afraid because I keep reading about people whose birds have flown into walls and windows. I'm going to ask the vet if she can tell me how to determine if he can fly. I'm guessing it will have to be done very slowly...:09:

When I was teaching my baby mockingbirds to fly, I would toss them across the room.

Edit: Making sure they had someplace nice to land, of course.

Just watch with the wing clipping (I'm indifferent to the subject, if you want it then do it, if not than don't). If the bird has never had it done before at this age it could cause feather picking, Toos tend to be a little more sensitive with physical changes.

Cockatoo bites really really hurt!

I would definitely NOT put your fingers over the toes in effort to "keep" the bird with you. This WILL lead to biting and eventually the bird WILL bite you hard enough to make you let go. If the bird wants to get away from you then it should be allowed to do so. The bird will give you subtle signs that it no longer wishes to be on you anymore and by listening to those signs you will prevent a biting issue. By using physical force then you are going to teach your bird to use physical force as well. This will carry over to not just biting you but everyone else as well. Its very important that the bird feels that it has a say in what it wants to do. If you allow the bird to make its own decisions then you will have a much stronger relationship. Allow your new physical contact to progress on your birds terms. You will be amazed at how fast it will progress if your bird feels comfortable and safe.

Remember, you have a Too. The worse thing in the world for these birds is when you don't pay attention to them. The bird has been living with you so long, its not going to forget the relationship it had with you before. I would recommend allowing your bird to come out of its cage on its own and giving time for the bird to get comfortable being out of the cage (not sure if you have a play-gym on top but that will help a great deal). Chances are that it is not going to take off and fly all over the house. Its been in the cage so long that its probably going to be nervous to be anywhere away from its cage and probably not want to leave the comfort of the cage. Over time the bird will learn that you are safe to be with as well, and will eventually prefer to be with you.

My personal opinion is to not pick up the bird from the inside of the cage and bring it to the outside (or if you do than if it moves away then leave it alone-otherwise you encourage it to bite). I would allow the bird to come out of the cage on its own, when it feels comfortable enough to do so then work on asking to step up after its already out. This will teach the bird that if it doesn't feel like being messed with all it has to do is stay in the cage or move away from you. This keeps the cage as your birds safe haven, its own personal space to retreat to. This will help your bird feel secure. Your Too is going to want contact, esp physical. By using these tatics your sort of playing hard to get, this will cause your Too to Velcro itself to you.

Good luck, patience is the key

Oooooops! Didn't look at post date, sorry to bring up an old one. :11: