Nemo has been doing well and has adjusted. He is "kind"of getting use to his new diet. Problem is, I think he is getting way more attention then in the past year. I let him out when I come home, usually 3:30, let him chill and if sunny and warm, take him outside. Today he wouldn't come off our chair and tried to bite. Any safe way to encourage him to 'come down' without negative vibes??? Thanks in advance.
help with nemo plz
- Thread starter clofromco
- Start date
Sorry, I've not read your previous posts, but it sounds like Nemo has not had much training.....you might want to check out the various videos on Youtube about training parrots not to bite.....there are also a plethora of sites that offer training information, just thinking that what's available on Youtube & the other relevant training articles may be more extensive than what you've asked for, though I'm sure some of the members here will jump in here after they wake up & get some coffee.....good luck.....
- Dec 18, 2013
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- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
If you do a search here on parrot bites in general and macaws in particular you'll come up with a plethora of threads on ways to handle that behavior. And you can also, as Walt (weco) suggested, find any number of videos online covering the subject.
There are 2 schools of thought at the polar ends of these approaches. On one end is the belief that one should only ever use positive reinforcement in parrot behavioral training. One of the most well-known and respected advocates of this approach is Barbara Heidenreich. She has several videos you may find extremely helpful. And the member most associated with that approach, should you do a search here, is MonicaMc. She has posted often, and quite eloquently, about this approach.
On the other side of the spectrum, among our members, are Mark (Birdmann666) and Richard (Henpecked). Both have worked extensively with rescues and have rehabbed birds with severe behavioral issues.
Doing a search on both approaches would be highly beneficial to you, I believe. It definitely was for me. You can learn a lot from either side of the debate even as you get a feel for both and see which way works best for you and your fid.
Personally, I tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
In your situation, given that he is relatively new to your household, my first step would be to work on your bond with Nemo. Bribery works great! Lol! You want him to start to feel like hanging out with you is fun! When you present your arm for step up, offer a treat just beyond reach so that stepping onto your arm leads to a tasty reward. (Try to do this part between meals so that he is hungry and motivated. Not advocating withholding food, here, just strategic timing.)
You want him to begin associating you with a good time. Then he will want to go to you. You'll be his preferred place.
You also want to work on target training. This will get him used to the idea that doing as you ask will always lead to good things.
Try not to rush things. The trust will build at his pace. Going too fast can damage the rapport you are building.
If he does bite, make sure not to allow yourself an animated reaction, whether physically or vocally. Some parrots find such displays amusing and will want to duplicate the behavior. Now, this isn't to say that you should just sit there and take it, either. I've never been a fan of that approach. Instead, calmly push into the bite instead of trying to pull away. (Counter-intuitive, I know, but pulling away often makes a bad bite worse as your parrot goes from delivering a message to holding on for dear life!) Then reach over with your other hand and take control of his beak. Just above and to either side of the point of his upper beak will grant you the leverage you need over the pressure he can bring to bear. Calmly turn the beak up and away from where he has clamped on until you manage to free yourself, all while telling him "No" (or "Gentle", or "Nice", or whatever word you want to use for your chill out catch phrase.) in a stern, but even, voice.
And make sure that you don't show him any hesitation or fear. Never let a parrot know that they can intimidate you. If they feel they can control you, they'll often work that angle.
Anyhow, once he's bonded to you, timeouts will become an effective disciplinary tool. Just turning my back on Bixby or Maya really bothers them. They'll want to avoid any behavior that makes you ignore them. (Keep the timeouts relatively short to make your point. Any longer than 15 minutes and you run the risk of their forgetting why they wound up on timeout in the first place.)
Sounds like things are progressing rather well with Nemo, though. It's good that you're spending so much more time with him than he was used to in his prior home... so long as that's the level of attention that you intend to continue lavishing upon him. But that kind of healthy and frequent interaction will make for a happy parrot and a healthy relationship between the two of you. Good luck, and I hope this helps!
There are 2 schools of thought at the polar ends of these approaches. On one end is the belief that one should only ever use positive reinforcement in parrot behavioral training. One of the most well-known and respected advocates of this approach is Barbara Heidenreich. She has several videos you may find extremely helpful. And the member most associated with that approach, should you do a search here, is MonicaMc. She has posted often, and quite eloquently, about this approach.
On the other side of the spectrum, among our members, are Mark (Birdmann666) and Richard (Henpecked). Both have worked extensively with rescues and have rehabbed birds with severe behavioral issues.
Doing a search on both approaches would be highly beneficial to you, I believe. It definitely was for me. You can learn a lot from either side of the debate even as you get a feel for both and see which way works best for you and your fid.
Personally, I tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
In your situation, given that he is relatively new to your household, my first step would be to work on your bond with Nemo. Bribery works great! Lol! You want him to start to feel like hanging out with you is fun! When you present your arm for step up, offer a treat just beyond reach so that stepping onto your arm leads to a tasty reward. (Try to do this part between meals so that he is hungry and motivated. Not advocating withholding food, here, just strategic timing.)
You want him to begin associating you with a good time. Then he will want to go to you. You'll be his preferred place.
You also want to work on target training. This will get him used to the idea that doing as you ask will always lead to good things.
Try not to rush things. The trust will build at his pace. Going too fast can damage the rapport you are building.
If he does bite, make sure not to allow yourself an animated reaction, whether physically or vocally. Some parrots find such displays amusing and will want to duplicate the behavior. Now, this isn't to say that you should just sit there and take it, either. I've never been a fan of that approach. Instead, calmly push into the bite instead of trying to pull away. (Counter-intuitive, I know, but pulling away often makes a bad bite worse as your parrot goes from delivering a message to holding on for dear life!) Then reach over with your other hand and take control of his beak. Just above and to either side of the point of his upper beak will grant you the leverage you need over the pressure he can bring to bear. Calmly turn the beak up and away from where he has clamped on until you manage to free yourself, all while telling him "No" (or "Gentle", or "Nice", or whatever word you want to use for your chill out catch phrase.) in a stern, but even, voice.
And make sure that you don't show him any hesitation or fear. Never let a parrot know that they can intimidate you. If they feel they can control you, they'll often work that angle.
Anyhow, once he's bonded to you, timeouts will become an effective disciplinary tool. Just turning my back on Bixby or Maya really bothers them. They'll want to avoid any behavior that makes you ignore them. (Keep the timeouts relatively short to make your point. Any longer than 15 minutes and you run the risk of their forgetting why they wound up on timeout in the first place.)
Sounds like things are progressing rather well with Nemo, though. It's good that you're spending so much more time with him than he was used to in his prior home... so long as that's the level of attention that you intend to continue lavishing upon him. But that kind of healthy and frequent interaction will make for a happy parrot and a healthy relationship between the two of you. Good luck, and I hope this helps!
- Thread starter
- #4
Thank you both. I do not have flash player on my tab so youtube won't work. Been using "uncommon" sense and seems to be working ok. When nemo gets "snippy" I tell him not nice and walk away. He calls himself " bad, brat, bad nemo" and I go back. He is receptive then. I have been using almonds to encourage him to come inside on nice days. (Apparently he didn't get outside much and he loves being out and seeing the chickens.) Again, thank you for your info. I really appreciate your help.
- Thread starter
- #5
Anasi...it is not continual attention. He is out when I'm home. When I have undivided time I spend it with him. There are several perch areas in the house where he can be in what ever room I am working. I move him from place to place. If it is too cold outside, I put him in the sun room and tell him "I have to work."And go outside to tend to outside animals. He seems to be ok with that, just not moving from a "favorite place at the time" when needed. Working on positive re-enforcement as with all my animal family.
- Thread starter
- #9
Kind of posted this on other thread so plz don't whip me with a wet baby carrot 
nemo was very grouchy today. Don't know if is over stimulation or hormones. Thought he was coming in for head scratch while on my shoulder and he bit my coller bone twice before getting him back on his cage. Any clues??
nemo was very grouchy today. Don't know if is over stimulation or hormones. Thought he was coming in for head scratch while on my shoulder and he bit my coller bone twice before getting him back on his cage. Any clues??
thekarens
New member
- Sep 29, 2013
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https://www.youtube.com/html5
Or if you're using Windows iPhone or Android on your mobile device there should be a free app for your device to play YouTube videos.
Or if you're using Windows iPhone or Android on your mobile device there should be a free app for your device to play YouTube videos.
- Dec 18, 2013
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- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Kind of posted this on other thread so plz don't whip me with a wet baby carrot
Prepping that wet baby carrot as I type this! (Lol! But I do have to check it out. If you have indeed cross-posted, I'll have to delete the other one.)
If Nemo is still giving unexpected nips or bites, he's not yet ready to be a shoulder bird. He has to earn that privilege. Having a bird, especially one with the size and power of a macaw, on your shoulder puts you into a very vulnerable position. He is within easy reach of your face, most notably your eyes, and that is a situation that could go life-alteringly wrong in the bat of an eye.
I don't have a macaw, so I can't really speak as to whether this would be around the time when they get hormonal. It could be that, or it could be something more behavioral in nature. He might be testing his boundaries with you. I would suggest that you use your arm for him to step up, rather than your shoulder. And watch his body language. Don't allow yourself to flinch, (easier said than done, I know.) but if he goes for you get control of that beak in the manner I mentioned earlier in the thread and tell him "no" in a firm, steady tone. repeated infractions should get him on timeout.
This won't work overnight. It could take weeks, or even months if he's particularly stubborn, for you to curb the biting/nipping behaviors. Consistency is the key. There will be good days, and there will be bad. Don't let the bad ones discourage you. It's all just a part of the process.
- Dec 18, 2013
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- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Oh. To quote, just click on the Quote tab on the bottom right hand corner of whatever post you are looking to quote. If you want to multi quote, click on the MQ tab just to the right of the quote tab for every quote you want, then press quote on the last one.
- Thread starter
- #15
This is the first time he has done this. He is usually receptive to shoulders and will move from place to place and go for walks outside. Because he hasn't had this kind of attention in 2 years was wondering if he was over stimulated at the time. I know we all have good and bad days...just have to figure out his.
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,217
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
I don't remember any particular ones off the top of my head, but putting in a search with parrot biting and Barbara Heidenreich should yield you some good positive reinforcement techniques. (You mentioned leaning toward such techniques earlier in this thread, if I remember correctly.)
I wouldn't get specific about hormone/over-stimulation biting just yet, since you want to keep an open mind at this point. I'd keep the search general, so as to get more hits, and then see what pops up.
Any updates?
- Dec 18, 2013
- 22,301
- 4,217
- Parrots
- Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Usually, over-stimulation comes from interactive play. Specifically rough housing, in most cases. I doubt that just walking around with you would be a trigger for that, but I reckon someone who actually has a macaw would be able to speak on that with more authority.
My guess, though, is that he's testing his boundaries with you. Hormones wouldn't be out of the question, either.
Birdman666
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- Sep 18, 2013
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- 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.)
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Kind of posted this on other thread so plz don't whip me with a wet baby carrot
Permissive parronting.
I'm guessing he's testing you to see how much of the opinionated stuff he can get away with before you do something about it.
Pass the test and it stops. Don't pass the test, it gets worse.
There are times when macaws require a firm hand.
If he's latching on when he's on a shoulder, he doesn't get shoulder privileges until it stops.
- Thread starter
- #20
Today while bringing nemo in from a wonderful colorado afternoon he tried to bite again. What can I do to keep him on my arm. He has always done so well on shoulder until a couple of days ago. All your responses are much appreciated. I don't want to give up on this wonderful man.
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