Hi there ive just accquired a 6 month old b&g macaw and was hopeing for some advice on training her.She seems to be very attached to me and not my partner how do i get her used to my girlfriend? also she doesnt want to go back in her cage after playtime and wants to be on my shoulder all the time. Id like some advice on these problems please or a good web site or books on training.. Hope someone can help thank you.
b&g macaw
- Thread starter scarrzy
- Start date
Welcome to the forum,
I think I'll address those questions in reverse as the second one has a bit more straightforward of an answer.
First figure out what treats really drive her wild. For Auggie I have some dried blueberries and dried papayas which are his favorites. He really goes crazy for them and would do anything to get them. Its good to have a variety of enticing treats so some of them can be reserved for particular behaviors. In my case Auggie only gets a blueberry when he goes back into his cage on command.
In addition to finding the right reward you should consider routine, birds are masters of figuring out daily routines, often so much so that they end up knowing what we're going to do before we do. Use this to your advantage.
Every morning I spend a good bit of time with Auggie while I have breakfast, check emails, and stop in on the forums here. When I have to leave for work though he used to really make a fuss, and sometimes he still does - he has a knack of tucking himself away in a shirt pocket at the last minute hoping I'll take him with me.
I taught Auggie a command "go to your house" through blatant bribery with blueberries. I'd bring him over to his cage, give the command, then lure him in with the blueberry. I'd lure him over to one of his perches, close the door, then only give him the blueberry THROUGH the cage at that one perch. I was amazed at how quickly he learned the command. If I tell him to go to his house now he's at that perch in a flash waiting for the blueberry.
In addition however I clean and refill his water bowl right before I leave in the morning. He's figured this out so now as soon as I change his water he runs into his cage and waits for the blueberry. It's pretty handy having him know the routine.
------
As far as other training just let us know what you'd liker her to know - to do - to not do. I don't know if there are any standard behaviors for birds for 'basic training' like there are for dogs for example. Perhaps the only one is the "step up" command. If your B&G does not yet do this well we could discuss that. Let me know.
-----
Now, on to accepting your girlfriend. The easiest way to do that is to let them interact. Have your girlfriend give your bird (What's the B&G's name?) treats. Have your girlfriend do some of the training with her - perhaps she could run the training for the command to go to the cage.
-----
As far as websites and good books for training.... well in a career of animal training (almost exclusively with dogs, cats, and some other mammals - limited bird experience) I have yet to find a training book I would recommend. Training is an interactive process, you need to work with a trainer so you can ask questions and get feedback. Methods need to be tailored to the situation and books are not very good at accomplishing this.
Of course I could recommend a libraries worth of books if you want to educate yourself on the entire field of animal training, but for a go-to book that will help you train your bird I'm skeptical if such a thing exists.
The website recommendation is easy. There's this great website called ParrotForums.com
Though if you want just some great books about parrots there are plenty available. Irene Pepperberg's are worth a look (The Alex Files, Alex & Me).
I think I'll address those questions in reverse as the second one has a bit more straightforward of an answer.
First figure out what treats really drive her wild. For Auggie I have some dried blueberries and dried papayas which are his favorites. He really goes crazy for them and would do anything to get them. Its good to have a variety of enticing treats so some of them can be reserved for particular behaviors. In my case Auggie only gets a blueberry when he goes back into his cage on command.
In addition to finding the right reward you should consider routine, birds are masters of figuring out daily routines, often so much so that they end up knowing what we're going to do before we do. Use this to your advantage.
Every morning I spend a good bit of time with Auggie while I have breakfast, check emails, and stop in on the forums here. When I have to leave for work though he used to really make a fuss, and sometimes he still does - he has a knack of tucking himself away in a shirt pocket at the last minute hoping I'll take him with me.
I taught Auggie a command "go to your house" through blatant bribery with blueberries. I'd bring him over to his cage, give the command, then lure him in with the blueberry. I'd lure him over to one of his perches, close the door, then only give him the blueberry THROUGH the cage at that one perch. I was amazed at how quickly he learned the command. If I tell him to go to his house now he's at that perch in a flash waiting for the blueberry.
In addition however I clean and refill his water bowl right before I leave in the morning. He's figured this out so now as soon as I change his water he runs into his cage and waits for the blueberry. It's pretty handy having him know the routine.
------
As far as other training just let us know what you'd liker her to know - to do - to not do. I don't know if there are any standard behaviors for birds for 'basic training' like there are for dogs for example. Perhaps the only one is the "step up" command. If your B&G does not yet do this well we could discuss that. Let me know.
-----
Now, on to accepting your girlfriend. The easiest way to do that is to let them interact. Have your girlfriend give your bird (What's the B&G's name?) treats. Have your girlfriend do some of the training with her - perhaps she could run the training for the command to go to the cage.
-----
As far as websites and good books for training.... well in a career of animal training (almost exclusively with dogs, cats, and some other mammals - limited bird experience) I have yet to find a training book I would recommend. Training is an interactive process, you need to work with a trainer so you can ask questions and get feedback. Methods need to be tailored to the situation and books are not very good at accomplishing this.
Of course I could recommend a libraries worth of books if you want to educate yourself on the entire field of animal training, but for a go-to book that will help you train your bird I'm skeptical if such a thing exists.
The website recommendation is easy. There's this great website called ParrotForums.com
Though if you want just some great books about parrots there are plenty available. Irene Pepperberg's are worth a look (The Alex Files, Alex & Me).
- Thread starter
- #3
hi
Thank you for your quick response my b&g,s name is sophie, she already knows the step up command and is well behaved but the minuet i take her back to her cage she just climbs up my arm onto my shoulder and refuses to go back in there which can be a pain if i have somewere to go.
Do you think i should be in the room when my partner is spending time with her because when i am sophie just wants to be with me and will fly off my partner so she can be on me? Also i have read its a bad idea to have a macaw on your shoulder? how can i train her to stop wanting to be up there? Sorry for all the questions mate its just theres so much contradicting advice on the internet..Thank you for your help.
Thank you for your quick response my b&g,s name is sophie, she already knows the step up command and is well behaved but the minuet i take her back to her cage she just climbs up my arm onto my shoulder and refuses to go back in there which can be a pain if i have somewere to go.
Do you think i should be in the room when my partner is spending time with her because when i am sophie just wants to be with me and will fly off my partner so she can be on me? Also i have read its a bad idea to have a macaw on your shoulder? how can i train her to stop wanting to be up there? Sorry for all the questions mate its just theres so much contradicting advice on the internet..Thank you for your help.
I'll return to this thread later today, but I have to be off to work in a few minutes. In the meantime consider:
I doubt you will train her to stop WANTING to be up there. But it is not so hard to teach her that she is not allowed up there. Again birds are great at learning routines, break the routine of her being on your shoulder - and give her another option. I had to break Auggie out of sitting on my shoulder but I do let him sit on my chest... or my natural beer gut perch...
Once he learned the new routine he rarely tried to get to my shoulder.
As far as whether your girlfriend should be alone with Sophie or not I'd recommend some of both, provided that Sophie does not get aggressive towards her or causes any other real problems. Sometimes you can both be in the room with Sophie, so Sophie can learn this other person is okay. Other times Sophie and your girlfriend should be left alone - she can offer Sophie treats, and interact with her. She shouldn't try to force Sophie to interact with her, but if you aren't around I doubt Sophie would hesitate to take good treats - and eventually attention and petting from her.
It is normal for parrots, especially the larger types, to really bond to one person, and it sounds as though Sophie has to you. There is not necessarily a reason to break her of this as long as she behaves and can interact well with your girlfriend there is nothing wrong with Sophie preferring to be with you.
Anyhow, I'm off to work. I'll offer some specifics on teaching Sophie not to climb on your shoulder later in the day. There was another recent thread that addressed this same topic - I don't remember the title but you can browse around the forums - you might spot it.
I doubt you will train her to stop WANTING to be up there. But it is not so hard to teach her that she is not allowed up there. Again birds are great at learning routines, break the routine of her being on your shoulder - and give her another option. I had to break Auggie out of sitting on my shoulder but I do let him sit on my chest... or my natural beer gut perch...
Once he learned the new routine he rarely tried to get to my shoulder.
As far as whether your girlfriend should be alone with Sophie or not I'd recommend some of both, provided that Sophie does not get aggressive towards her or causes any other real problems. Sometimes you can both be in the room with Sophie, so Sophie can learn this other person is okay. Other times Sophie and your girlfriend should be left alone - she can offer Sophie treats, and interact with her. She shouldn't try to force Sophie to interact with her, but if you aren't around I doubt Sophie would hesitate to take good treats - and eventually attention and petting from her.
It is normal for parrots, especially the larger types, to really bond to one person, and it sounds as though Sophie has to you. There is not necessarily a reason to break her of this as long as she behaves and can interact well with your girlfriend there is nothing wrong with Sophie preferring to be with you.
Anyhow, I'm off to work. I'll offer some specifics on teaching Sophie not to climb on your shoulder later in the day. There was another recent thread that addressed this same topic - I don't remember the title but you can browse around the forums - you might spot it.
There is much conflicting advice on this. Some people will be absolutely adamant in telling you that no parrot should ever be on your shoulder, then others will say its fine. Very few people however take the time to really discuss the issue - for some it seems almost like a reaction of moral disgust than a thought out decision. I am not much of a fan of universal imperatives (Never let a parrot sit on your shoulder.) However, that being said, I advise not to let her on your shoulder and heres why. First off for any parrot there are risks and benefits to letting them on your shoulder - it is up to you to weigh those out and make your choice. With small parrots like conures people may have strong opinions, but the risks can be quite variable with the situation. A macaw on the shoulder though includes MUCH more risk to both you and Sophie. Again while I am not much for those universal statements I do think anyone who considers and weighs all the risks will see that a macaw on the shoulder is a very bad idea.
I remember when I first got Auggie (just a small conure) people would tell me how I should never let him on my shoulder. I thought it was a foolish warning; he did so good up there, he was comfortable there... it was part of our bond. He would sit on my shoulder and nibble my ear while we watched TV. That type of interaction was so much part of our relationship that I thought 'well if he's not allowed on my shoulder what kind of relationship could we have?' The answer that eluded me is that we could still have a great relationship, just a slightly different one.
I had to learn the hard way when instead of sitting nicely Auggie took to chomping large chunks out of my neck or face. Somehow this seems a bit inevitable when a parrot gets used to sitting on peoples' shoulders. Early on I thought "That won't happen to me and Auggie" ... turns out it just hadn't happened yet. As crazy as it sounds those incidences really troubled me; I wondered if I would even be able to keep Auggie if he would always bite when we were sitting together. Somehow I forgot about the simple and obvious solution of just not letting him on my shoulder - like the guy who goes to the doctor and says "hey doc, it hurts when I hold my arm up like this" - "Then don't hold your arm up like that!"
Anyhow, long story longer, I suspect even if having Sophie on your shoulder now seems like a good idea soon enough it will go all wrong and you'll have to teach her it is unacceptable. No harm in doing that sooner rather than latter. While conure bites are EXTREMELY painful they do eventually heal up without any permanent damage. I doubt the same would be true of a macaw bite on the neck or face. If you d choose to let her on your shoulder then please just don't be as foolish as I was - if she does start biting realize there is a very simple solution, it's nothing to stress about. But in summary I'd HIGHLY HIGHLY encourage you to just say no to shoulders.
There are a couple potential ways around this depending upon circumstances. The first is the most work (but still hardly any) but it is the most sure to work. Rather than starting by luring her to the cage as I indicated in the previous post, first just PUT her in the cage while giving the command then reward her through the cage (through the cage and away from the cage door.) Now what do I mean by "Put" her in the cage... well that can vary. Hopefully just getting her to step up onto a perch or stick and moving her into the cage on that would work.
Also when training her to go back into the cage once she gets in and gets her treat let her out again right away to play. Going to her cage on command should be rewarded every time and only followed by you leaving some of the time.
Additionally, don't let her "win." If she really fusses and wont go in the cage put her in there (worst case scenario you might towel her to get her in, but I hope that would not be necessary) and she doesn't get the treat if she puts up too much of a fuss.
Make it so that when you give her the command her getting left in the cage is inevitable, but whether or not she gets a treat is up to her.
------
If/When she gets up onto your shoulder you may want to consider using a stick/perch rather than a hand to get her down for a couple of reasons. One it is very hard to coordinate such a movement with the hand well - when you reach up with one hand your whole body moves making her unstable/insecure, and you hand is moving up where you may not be able to see well and might be flailing about a bit.... all bad news for diffusing a situation, and all much more likely to lead Sophie to panic and bite. The second reason is it is much easier for a bird to climb up from a hand to the shoulder than it is from a perch held in the hand.
Anyhow this has been quite a long post. Do feel free to keep asking questions. Note though that when I said they can learn the command to go to their house very quickly that is a relative term. It will still take patience and many days if not weeks. But once they learn it, if you maintain the routine, they will not forget it.
michaeln
New member
Ever notice in pirate movies where the pirate has a parrot on his shoulder, and is also wearing an eyepatch? Notice that the parrot and the eyepatch are usually on the same side? <grin>
That said, I enjoy having my B&G Chico on my shoulder, even though the sharp tip of that beak has actually hit my eyeball more than once.
That said, I enjoy having my B&G Chico on my shoulder, even though the sharp tip of that beak has actually hit my eyeball more than once.
Most Reactions
-
627 -
525 -
517 -
203 -
201 -
195 -
179 -
150 -
145 -
145 -
137 -
118 -
79 -
J
69
-
69
