Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
- 9,904
- 229
- Parrots
-
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Once again, I started this as a reply to another thread, and thought it deserved it's own post. (Stop me if you've heard this before.)
1. CAGs are flock birds, not pair bond birds. They'll GENERALLY go to more than one person. BUT
2. CAGs are also stubborn, and pig headed, and can be quite neurotic. They get handled on their own terms. Push it with them, and they fight you.
3. My CAG is VERY independent. And he's an instigator. He's more inclined to pluck you, than ever pluck himself. You don't want to train that out of them, either. It's the birds that lose that edge either by lack of stimulation, or having it "punished" or "controlled" out of them, that generally become pluckers. Don't break their spirits!!! That's why you got one. The independent instigator streak is a high IQ thing. Take that away from them and they can become despondent.
4. With something like a macaw, or a too, you have to set boundaries and structure the interaction. With a CAG? THE CAG will set the boundaries of the amount of physical contact and handling he will allow, and you have to gradually expand the bird's boundaries. It's the exact opposite of all my other birds...
5. This will probably come as a news flash: THEY CAN BE QUITE NEUROTIC... AND THOSE THINGS GET ETCHED IN STONE. Easy example: My CAG knows I am right handed. He will NEVER allow me to pick him up with my left hand. He will ONLY step up if you offer the right hand. IF MY HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, AND HE WAS GOING TO DIE, HE STILL WOULD NOT STEP UP ON MY LEFT HAND.
6. CAGS panic easier than my other birds. Take them outside their comfort zone, and they tend to become skittish. Inside their comfort zone, they study everything, and everyone, and then mess with every thing and everyone once they think they've got it all figured out.
7. CAGS need to be introduced to people and things more often than the other species do. Avoids the whole freak out thing.
8. CAGS need to be conditioned to accept change, or they tend not to cope with it.
9. CAGS do not do well in isolation. These are flock birds. Birds that feel isolated, feel vulnerable, stress out, and tend to pluck. It's better to put them in the center of everything where they can see everything and everyone. Quiet isn't necessarily better.
10. A CAG has a beak like a scissors. It cuts right through flesh. Tusk does not "beak wrestle" the way my macaws, or even my amazons beak wrestle and play. You get a warning, and if you don't back off, you bleed. DO NOT ACT SURPRIZED... YOU CAN TELL BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, HE MEANS BUSINESS.
11. A CAG poofy bird dance is a threat posture. Like a macaw or an amazon going "big bird" on you. It DOES NOT mean he's happy to see you or trying to get your attention. HE IS NOT PLAYING, AND HE WILL BITE!
12. CAGS that displacement bite should never be shoulder birds. Hand/arm train them. CAG displacement biting generally does not go away. You need to be aware of the triggers, and keep them away from the triggers. If he's on your shoulder, and you walk by a trigger, YOUR FACE gets bitten!
13. CAGS love puzzle toys. Things they have to figure out. They are part bat, and spend a significant amount of time upside down hanging by one toe. They also love noises, sounds, and speech. They love to learn new stuff. They might not let on that they've learned it right away... but they do learn it.
14. CAGS are VERY empathic birds. STRESSED OUT PEOPLE GENERALLY END UP WITH STRESSED OUT BIRDS.
15. Structure goes a long way to deter bad behaviors. CAGS LIKE THEIR ROUTINE. THEY LIKE THINGS KEPT THE SAME WAY MOST OF THE TIME. Don't be rigid to the point where any little change in the room upsets them, but they do like continuity more than most. Wholesale changes sometimes greatly upset them.
16. As Alex proved many years ago: CAGs are one of the most cognitive parrots out there. They are gifted with language ability. If you take the time to teach them, actually show them things, and use language appropriately and in context with them, they will pick it up in context, and use it back with you in context. CAGs have the ability to be conversational, BUT THEY DO NOT COME LIKE THAT. AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL... You get out of it, what you put into it.
17. Overbonding with a flock bird is different from overbonding with a pair bond bird. Pair bond birds naturally mate for life, and pair up. Flock birds do not. They get more stimulation, from more birds than just one. One bird is not "all consuming" for them. Which also gives them a higher need for stimulation from other birds/people. When a flock bird becomes OVERLY dependent on their person, and that person leaves them alone for long periods of time, THIS is when they feel isolated, alone, and vulnerable. THIS is when the bad behaviors start... and I, personally, believe it's one of the key components in plucking disorders. (Just a hunch on my part.)
18. ABUNDANCE WEANING AND FLEDGING are CRITICAL ISSUES for CAGS in order to develop self-confidence. THIS has been scientifically proven time and time again, CAGS that are not abundance weaned, and not allowed to fully fledge are FIVE TIMES more likely to develop plucking disorders and other neurotic self destructive behaviors...
19. Even confident CAGS can be fairly clumsy, especially when they are young.
1. CAGs are flock birds, not pair bond birds. They'll GENERALLY go to more than one person. BUT
2. CAGs are also stubborn, and pig headed, and can be quite neurotic. They get handled on their own terms. Push it with them, and they fight you.
3. My CAG is VERY independent. And he's an instigator. He's more inclined to pluck you, than ever pluck himself. You don't want to train that out of them, either. It's the birds that lose that edge either by lack of stimulation, or having it "punished" or "controlled" out of them, that generally become pluckers. Don't break their spirits!!! That's why you got one. The independent instigator streak is a high IQ thing. Take that away from them and they can become despondent.
4. With something like a macaw, or a too, you have to set boundaries and structure the interaction. With a CAG? THE CAG will set the boundaries of the amount of physical contact and handling he will allow, and you have to gradually expand the bird's boundaries. It's the exact opposite of all my other birds...
5. This will probably come as a news flash: THEY CAN BE QUITE NEUROTIC... AND THOSE THINGS GET ETCHED IN STONE. Easy example: My CAG knows I am right handed. He will NEVER allow me to pick him up with my left hand. He will ONLY step up if you offer the right hand. IF MY HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, AND HE WAS GOING TO DIE, HE STILL WOULD NOT STEP UP ON MY LEFT HAND.
6. CAGS panic easier than my other birds. Take them outside their comfort zone, and they tend to become skittish. Inside their comfort zone, they study everything, and everyone, and then mess with every thing and everyone once they think they've got it all figured out.
7. CAGS need to be introduced to people and things more often than the other species do. Avoids the whole freak out thing.
8. CAGS need to be conditioned to accept change, or they tend not to cope with it.
9. CAGS do not do well in isolation. These are flock birds. Birds that feel isolated, feel vulnerable, stress out, and tend to pluck. It's better to put them in the center of everything where they can see everything and everyone. Quiet isn't necessarily better.
10. A CAG has a beak like a scissors. It cuts right through flesh. Tusk does not "beak wrestle" the way my macaws, or even my amazons beak wrestle and play. You get a warning, and if you don't back off, you bleed. DO NOT ACT SURPRIZED... YOU CAN TELL BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, HE MEANS BUSINESS.
11. A CAG poofy bird dance is a threat posture. Like a macaw or an amazon going "big bird" on you. It DOES NOT mean he's happy to see you or trying to get your attention. HE IS NOT PLAYING, AND HE WILL BITE!
12. CAGS that displacement bite should never be shoulder birds. Hand/arm train them. CAG displacement biting generally does not go away. You need to be aware of the triggers, and keep them away from the triggers. If he's on your shoulder, and you walk by a trigger, YOUR FACE gets bitten!
13. CAGS love puzzle toys. Things they have to figure out. They are part bat, and spend a significant amount of time upside down hanging by one toe. They also love noises, sounds, and speech. They love to learn new stuff. They might not let on that they've learned it right away... but they do learn it.
14. CAGS are VERY empathic birds. STRESSED OUT PEOPLE GENERALLY END UP WITH STRESSED OUT BIRDS.
15. Structure goes a long way to deter bad behaviors. CAGS LIKE THEIR ROUTINE. THEY LIKE THINGS KEPT THE SAME WAY MOST OF THE TIME. Don't be rigid to the point where any little change in the room upsets them, but they do like continuity more than most. Wholesale changes sometimes greatly upset them.
16. As Alex proved many years ago: CAGs are one of the most cognitive parrots out there. They are gifted with language ability. If you take the time to teach them, actually show them things, and use language appropriately and in context with them, they will pick it up in context, and use it back with you in context. CAGs have the ability to be conversational, BUT THEY DO NOT COME LIKE THAT. AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL... You get out of it, what you put into it.
17. Overbonding with a flock bird is different from overbonding with a pair bond bird. Pair bond birds naturally mate for life, and pair up. Flock birds do not. They get more stimulation, from more birds than just one. One bird is not "all consuming" for them. Which also gives them a higher need for stimulation from other birds/people. When a flock bird becomes OVERLY dependent on their person, and that person leaves them alone for long periods of time, THIS is when they feel isolated, alone, and vulnerable. THIS is when the bad behaviors start... and I, personally, believe it's one of the key components in plucking disorders. (Just a hunch on my part.)
18. ABUNDANCE WEANING AND FLEDGING are CRITICAL ISSUES for CAGS in order to develop self-confidence. THIS has been scientifically proven time and time again, CAGS that are not abundance weaned, and not allowed to fully fledge are FIVE TIMES more likely to develop plucking disorders and other neurotic self destructive behaviors...
19. Even confident CAGS can be fairly clumsy, especially when they are young.
Last edited:
