Can't keep biting Cockatoo off shoulder

[mason]

Hi, I'm working on getting my new bird to stop biting. The problem is I can't keep him off of my shoulder. As soon as he gets on my hand, he climbs up there and there is no getting him down without getting a good chomp on my hand. It's making any training session nearly impossible when I can't keep him off my shoulder. He had his wings clipped when I got him but he's still able to fly....and he insists on flying right to my shoulder as soon as he's out of the cage. Any suggestions?

 

[mtdoramike]

You may want to have his wings re-clipped, they may be growing back in. Also, get yourself a good stick at least 12" if not a tad longer and start stick training him/her. My Senegal will get stubborn every now and then and will not want to come off my shoulder. She will even climb down my back, sliding, dragging her nails as she goes to get a grip. I started stick training her about a month ago and now, as soon as she see's the stick, she knows it's time to come off whether she wants to or not.

She has also gotten better about it since I started using a stick. I have only had to use it twice in the past few weeks, where I was having problems removing her from my shoulder every couple of days. A BIG PLUS to this is, it makes it SO MUCH EASIER getting her into the pet carrier. I tried unsuccessfully to get her into the carrier to go to the pet sitters before i went on vacation. I tried to use my arm to get her into the carrier for a good 30 minutes. Finally it dawned on me to try the stick. First try BAM, I was able to get her off the stick, into the carrier and close the door on the carrier.

 

[Crackers]

Hi Mason,

Everyone will have their own different way of dealing with these issues but if you do not have a solid training program, other issues will crop up. Training is not for just teaching tricks.

I suggest finding a good training technique that you like. I personally use Good Bird Inc. www.goodbirdinc.com. I receive her newsletters and I follow her on Facebook.

I always suggest Good Bird Inc. www.goodbirdinc.com.

I suggest reading
Good Bird!
A Guide to Solving Behavior Problems In Companion Parrots

&

The Parrot Problem Solver.
Finding Solutions to Aggressive Behavior
By Barbara Heidenreich

I also suggest the following videos to get you on your way:
Parrot Behavior
and Training #1

&

The Basics of Parrot Training A Live Workshop
She also has an e-book for teaching the Step up command which I highly recommend in your situation.

With these resources, Barbara directly targets your situation because several parrot owners have gone through the same things that you are. She will show you how to correct these issues in a gentle manner that will gain your birds trust.
I do not know Barbara personally. I am just a parrot owner that has great success with her methods on different type of parrot behaviors.

Sorry this doesnt directly fix your problem but I think you could benefit from a good training program. You both will be much happier.

 

[MikeyTN]

Like Mike says, get him re-clipped again so he can't fly onto your shoulders. To get him off your shoulders, use the perch trick! Get him step onto a perch instead of your hand. That way you don't get bit. If he still tries to go from the perch onto your hand, cause we know he's gonna try to get right back on your shoulders. Use another perch, as he's walking towards your hand from the perch, block his way with the other perch and tell him to step up. Keep doing that process. If he persists, tip the perch ever so slightly where the end your not holding is higher then the end your holding. Anytime he tries to lounge towards you, he probably wants back on that shoulder. Tell him "no" and you can use his name if you want after the no. And push the perch away from your body. I have my Cockatoo completely trained on a perch. She steps up the moment she sees the perch infront of her, I don't even have to ask her to step up, she knows. Same thing with my mean Cockatiel, he bites hard!!!! He will step onto a perch with no issue. He's free inside his aviary with a girl friend so I didn't bother to train him too much. He is my only mean bird now!

Good luck, if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[mason]

Thanks for all of the tips!

I think we're making some progress. He seems to be getting more comfortable with my hand. His wings were only clipped on Monday but I'm guessing they didn't clip them enough? He's still able to fly pretty far across the room. I don't really mind him being able to fly but I think training right now would be much easier if he can't.

I'm also beginning to understand what y'all mean by the term "velcro bird" lol

 

[Pedro]

I keep my Too off my shoulder at all times. I keep my elbow bent & my forearm at waist height so as cocky can perch on my arm & is in my view at all times. He is fine with that & has learnt over the years not to even try to get on my shoulder. Don't rush with the training you have many years together & i think first & foremost is to build trust without it you won't get to far with positive training.

 

[mason]

I keep my Too off my shoulder at all times. I keep my elbow bent & my forearm at waist height so as cocky can perch on my arm & is in my view at all times. He is fine with that & has learnt over the years not to even try to get on my shoulder. Don't rush with the training you have many years together & i think first & foremost is to build trust without it you won't get to far with positive training.

Thanks. He's not "mine", I'm just fostering him. Just would like to do what I can to make it easier for him to find a good forever home.

 

[MikeyTN]

Your fostering without knowing about Cockatoos?

 

[mason]

Your fostering without knowing about Cockatoos?

Well, I have done A LOT of reading/research etc. and I've had birds all my life. But this is my first time with a "big" bird. Gotta learn somehow, right?

 

[echoskybound]

My new baby GCC is my first bird and I've had this problem too. He didn't even know step up when I got him, I've been training him. I've been holding a pencil everytime I handle him. When he starts climbing my arm, I say no and put the pencil in front of him so that he needs to climb onto it, then move the pencil away. He's getting to the point where he hears the "no" then starts moving back towards my hand, which I've been rewarding. I'm also working on training him to let me grab him, starting with rewarding him for letting me put my hand on his back, and now he lets me pick him up. This lets me grab him off of my boyfriend. He's still obsessed with my boyfriend's hair though and won't step up when he's on his head. My problem is that he doesn't know that this training applies to everyone, he thinks it's only me.