Great Clicker Videos.... but can't get him on neutral perch

[sarai7]

My newly acquired galah is 16 yrs old. Loves scratches. But won't step up. Started getting him used to the clicker. But How do I get him away from his cage and onto a neutral perch? Right now I am just luring him out of the cage a little but he won't leave to get onto the perch? I did place a ladder from the cage to the perch which I got him to take one step on. But as soon as he gets the jitters he runs back to his cage. Is there an easier way? I just don't want to try grabbing him or anything that will lose his trust.

 

[sarai7]

Well - in case anyone reads this thread I thought i'd share an update. I bought a ladder last night and a clicker. Started clicker training conditioning last night. I used the ladder to connect the perch to his cage. He was very scared of the ladder at first but by this morning I had him walking to the perch. And by lunch time I had him on my hand for the first time. It was not ideal as he did not step up. But once he was away from his cage I was able to coerced him on my hand, then I pulled him away and up to make him feel confident and then praised the heck out of him with treats. I only kept him about 30-45 seconds and let him go back. I get a strong sense that he has not been handled much and is fearful of hands.

But he is making very good progress overcoming his insecurities so hopefully he will be voluntarily perching on my hand soon. He has not attempted to bite me since the first day I had to take him from the travel cage and put him in his new cage.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Hi sorry this did not get a reply yesterday. I had a hard time with my Macaw . He would not step up from the cage. Still will not at times. I installed a perch on the door. Get him to stand on it using treats. Then he would get onto his Play stand . From there i would move him to another area. Once away from the cage he was a lot easier to deal with.

He now will step up and loves scratches. So hang in there. It took me a little over a year.

 

[sarai7]

A year is quite awhile. I'm thankful I've made a little progress in 2 days. Not sure how long it will take for him to actually feel comfortable perched on me. He is comfortable in our company just doesn't know what to think about being perched on us. BUt I've noticed that he is getting more brave every day trying new things. Very motivated by treats.

 

[Christinenc2000]

A year is long but well worth it. He actually snuggles now . Sits on my lap and plays. LOVE It when they finally trust you .

The one thing I still can't get use to is that big beak holding my fingers lol Or beaking my arm.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

My advice from my limited knowledge of parrots is to take things really slow ...dont rush things take your time and work at your galahs pace...whats his name ? I have a white Fronted Amazon who wouldnt even come out of the cage door when I got him in Jan of thos year but now he is happy to spend time outside his cage and explore a little and play and has started flying to me on command. And I can place him on a neutral perch butat first I had to put the cage out of sight to get him to perch on the play stand perch. When your Galah grows to know and trust you he will fly to you and perch on you too but these things take time and work and a whole lot of patience. You have to earn his trust and if he is afraid of hands then use a perch to get him to step up rather than your hand or arm until he gets comfortable about hands and keep working with him as you are doing for that helps to build a bond between you and your parrot. Rome wasnt built in a day and in a short period you have made remarkable progress just dont be disappointed in the days when there seems to be little or no progress because those days come too. The main thing is that you and your parrot have fun and enjoy each training session. Do you have any pics of him ?

 

[sarai7]

Christinenc2000 - thank you for sharing. I hope we progress that far. What made you decide to get a Macaw? They are a little intimidating to me, I've not had experience with them.

Birdigirl - All very good points. I gave him space the rest of today and didn't try to take him on my hand because I think that was a huge accomplishment. But I did use food to motivate him periodically back down the ladder onto his perch but he won't stay there for long, just enough to eat, then he goes back inside or on top of his cage.

Another concern I have is getting him comfortable enough that I can get him in a carrier because I would really like to get him to the vet without stressing him out. I think we can stand to wait a month or so to see if he loosens up. The only immediate need he really has is getting his nails trimmed and I highly doubt he'll let me do that and I'd rather let him be mad at a vet than at me. Eventually I hope to train him to be comfortable with it.... we'll see.

PS - his name is ACE! Took 3 days for me and my 9 and 10 year old sons to teach him. I have 2 pictures if I can figure out how to load them. But I don't have more pics because I discovered he is terrified of my phone and I need work on that with him before I can take more. He is all cocked up in the last picture I took.

 

[sarai7]

Here's a picture of Ace...
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/...obile Uploads/20160430_170147_zpspsy72xjw.jpg

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Christinenc2000 - thank you for sharing. I hope we progress that far. What made you decide to get a Macaw? They are a little intimidating to me, I've not had experience with them.

Birdigirl - All very good points. I gave him space the rest of today and didn't try to take him on my hand because I think that was a huge accomplishment. But I did use food to motivate him periodically back down the ladder onto his perch but he won't stay there for long, just enough to eat, then he goes back inside or on top of his cage.

Another concern I have is getting him comfortable enough that I can get him in a carrier because I would really like to get him to the vet without stressing him out. I think we can stand to wait a month or so to see if he loosens up. The only immediate need he really has is getting his nails trimmed and I highly doubt he'll let me do that and I'd rather let him be mad at a vet than at me. Eventually I hope to train him to be comfortable with it.... we'll see.

PS - his name is ACE! Took 3 days for me and my 9 and 10 year old sons to teach him. I have 2 pictures if I can figure out how to load them. But I don't have more pics because I discovered he is terrified of my phone and I need work on that with him before I can take more. He is all cocked up in the last picture I took.

Ace is Beautiful...lovely Adorable fella...my Mr Biggles the White Fronted Amazon was terrified of the camera at first too but I introduced it to him first from a distance and then closer and closer but it takes a while and now finally yesterday he was ignoring the camera in fact he flew over and perched on it yesterday...you are doing so much better than I did when Mr Biggles arrived I could only get him a fraction of an inch outside the cage door and then he'd fly back to his perch inside the cage. As to getting him used of a carrier cage I would get him to step up onto a perch for you first and use the same perch each time so he is familiar with it and also make sure its a perch that you can easily carry him on right into the carrier cage and the ask him to step down onto the perch in the carrier cage..Make sure the carrier cage has a great big wide door and I put my carrier cage over my boys cage and secured it there so he would see it as an extension of his cage and each time he was willing to be carried near it first on his perch and then later into it on the perch I gave him a treat...now I have got to the stage where he will go into the carrier cage and sit on the perch but I havent yet closed the door fully on him and Im just half way closing it still, my next step will be to close the door. Take your time with it and work slowly...Ace is Gorgeous and he is so lucky to have you and your two boys to give him a good home and a Great life. Enjoy him and have fun training him