Birdy Manners?

[Stephable]

Hey!

My GCC and my budgie are super good friends and love to hang out but sometimes bicker (as friends do) it's nothing serious but I worry that Momo (GCC) is bigger and stronger than Piper (budgie) and could cause harm. I want to teach Momo that being rough isn't ok but I'm not sure how to go about it. Have any of you done something like this? If so how?

Also Momo loves cuddles but sometimes when I try to pick them up off my chest or shoulder or bed they nip at me and yell. I'm wondering if there's a way to teach them that throwing tantrums because it's bedtime is not ok haha

Thanks in advance! Hopefully I can teach Momo some manners. I've heard it's important to do while they're young so their adolescence isn't too dramatic ahah

 

[wrench13]

Good luck! Never heard of ways to make birds get along if they don't want to.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

You are very lucky that your GCC and budgie are friends in the first place! My GCC is a bully towards my other birds, and often “lunges” at them and chases them away from where he is!

 

[cscphp]

Birds are birds and they will act like birds. I wouldn't worry about either of the behaviors you describe.

My Sun sometimes grouses about having to leave my shoulder but he will do it. He is entitled to complain if he is not happy.

 

[dhraiden]

I'd just like to caution that Mochi (my [presumed female] GCC) who hit puberty in late December, became incredibly territorial and aggressive towards her former cage-mate (a larger gold-capped conure a few months her junior). Biting and capable of causing serious injury!

So be forewarned, please.

AFA as your actual inquiry - teaching manners - repetition, consistency of consequence. We both put Mochi back into her cage with a firm 'NO BITE' whenever she acts out. But so far, it doesn't seem to be curbing that behavior.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Wellllllllllllllllllllll... manners learned in childhood don't always remain in aduthood, as said above.
Are they together unsupervised? I'd advise against that. When you're there, I *THINK* you could probably intervene.

Good for you, for being curious and open-minded.

 

[Stephable]

No, they're never together unsupervised. They're only allowed out together for a little while about 3 times a week so I can watch them carefully. Thanks for the info guys! I've mostly owned dogs before so I'm used to being able to train them to do or not do most things hahah.

The birds don't actually hurt each other or act aggressive they just grump occasionally. Mostly it's Momo following Piper around like a puppy and annoying her. Momo is actually getting the message fairly well most of the time and giving some space but not for long

Yeah I've been trying to put Momo back in the cage when they act more aggressively than I think is ok but it hasn't been long so I'm not sure how well it'll work.

I'm definitely going to be on the look out for behaviour changes in adolescence although I think that's still a while off, from my estimates Momo's currently about 4-6 months old. We're going to the vet on Thursday so maybe I can find out more accurately then!

I also just got a clicker so I'm going to try and start clicker training! If it works well maybe I can use it to encourage good manners too

It's frustrating as someone who has studied animal training so much when training doesn't work right away haha Gotta keep working on it.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

You don’t actually need a clicker for training. In fact, it’s an extra step to get them to understand that the clicker means they did something right! You’ll need rewards anyway, let that be the signal along with verbal praise.

 

[Stephable]

Yeah I know, but training without the clicker can be really subjective because they react to tone of voice and stuff so I thought I'd give it a try. Momo doesn't seem interested in treats so it's a challenge to train them but they do like affection. We're trying a lot of things.