Hi! please help me!!

[ginabean]

Hi. My cockatoo baby is 10 years old and she is a lesser sulfur crested. She's a good bird but she will not take any kind of treat I try to give her. I'm trying to clicker train her as she's kind of a diva and bites me if I try to get her from my husband. She's not very food motivated at all. Any suggestions what to do about this? What do you guys give your birds for a reward for training?

 

[SirEdwin89]

Hi. My cockatoo baby is 10 years old and she is a lesser sulfur crested. She's a good bird but she will not take any kind of treat I try to give her. I'm trying to clicker train her as she's kind of a diva and bites me if I try to get her from my husband. She's not very food motivated at all. Any suggestions what to do about this? What do you guys give your birds for a reward for training?

Some birds just aren't very treat motivated. Ely for example who will eat about anything, will not touch any form of food as a reward. if he is out, eating (even "treats") is the farthest thing from his mind. He does however LOVE destroying things, so in place of a treat, I started using little cardboard cubes that he can shred. It's not as fast as a normal treat as I have to actually give him a minute to shred it after I give it to him, but food simply doesn't work.

I know many people have birds who prefer praise over anything, a pet on the head and a good bird, or a quick skritch under the wing is more of a reward to them than a treat.

So, is there anything in particular that your SC2 *really* enjoys that you could limit to a reward action?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Plums favourites are hemp or sunflower seeds and almonds, all of which he can have in very small quantities.

Is Baby biting because she is bonded to your husband and therefore not keen on going with you? Happy to stay put?

 

[Scott]

Cockatoos are among the more complex of parrots behaviorally! As others have posted, some are not that motivated by food and prefer handling or even verbal praise.

How long have you had Baby? Is this situation a change from when you brought her home, ie did she bond more closely with your husband? You might try a different tactic with transfer; rather than take her from your husband, have him first transfer Baby to neutral territory. Or, perhaps an unusual spot where she may be less comfortable and welcome you, such as a table or chair?

 

[ToMang07]

My (limited) experience aligns pretty well with what Scott^ said....not very food motivated, although sunflower seeds seem to be the closest thing I've found. Verbal praise and attention are certainly the #1 thing craved by a too!

 

[MonicaMc]

What is her diet?


What are you using as rewards?




As mentioned, a reward doesn't have to be a treat. It can also be a phrase, a toy, physical attention, gong somewhere, or?

The reward is what the bird makes it. It's just a matter of figuring out what that is! And the more rewards, the better!

 

[ginabean]

Hi. My cockatoo baby is 10 years old and she is a lesser sulfur crested. She's a good bird but she will not take any kind of treat I try to give her. I'm trying to clicker train her as she's kind of a diva and bites me if I try to get her from my husband. She's not very food motivated at all. Any suggestions what to do about this? What do you guys give your birds for a reward for training?

Some birds just aren't very treat motivated. Ely for example who will eat about anything, will not touch any form of food as a reward. if he is out, eating (even "treats") is the farthest thing from his mind. He does however LOVE destroying things, so in place of a treat, I started using little cardboard cubes that he can shred. It's not as fast as a normal treat as I have to actually give him a minute to shred it after I give it to him, but food simply doesn't work.

I know many people have birds who prefer praise over anything, a pet on the head and a good bird, or a quick skritch under the wing is more of a reward to them than a treat.

So, is there anything in particular that your SC2 *really* enjoys that you could limit to a reward action?

As long as my husband isn't around she loves neck and head scratches. She even " back that thing up" for them. My husband is at work most of the day so it's just me and her. But she definitely prefers my husband to me.

 

[ginabean]

What is her diet?


What are you using as rewards?




As mentioned, a reward doesn't have to be a treat. It can also be a phrase, a toy, physical attention, gong somewhere, or?

The reward is what the bird makes it. It's just a matter of figuring out what that is! And the more rewards, the better!

She eats 1/2 seeds and 1/2 fresh veggies and fruits.
The only thing she really will
Take from me is crackers but she nibbles and then drops it so I don't think she's too thrilled about them. But like I said she loves head and neck scratches. IF Hubs isn't there.

 

[ginabean]

Cockatoos are among the more complex of parrots behaviorally! As others have posted, some are not that motivated by food and prefer handling or even verbal praise.

How long have you had Baby? Is this situation a change from when you brought her home, ie did she bond more closely with your husband? You might try a different tactic with transfer; rather than take her from your husband, have him first transfer Baby to neutral territory. Or, perhaps an unusual spot where she may be less comfortable and welcome you, such as a table or chair?

I've known baby for about 3 years visiting her daily, but when we brought her home about a month ago, she really bonded with the hubs. I agree with neutral territory thanks for that.

 

[MonicaMc]

Remove seeds from her diet. Switch her seed portion to pellets.



After you change her diet, you can then try using seeds and nuts as a reward!



Try working with her first thing in the morning when she's hungriest. If she's full of food, then she'll be less inclined to receive a treat.


You might also try dried fruits and being overly dramatic in verbal praise! Just don't get her round up too much!

 

[Hangry]

I agree with all of the advice here! This is a sweeping generalization, but I think that cockatoos tend to appreciate physical/verbal interaction as a reward more so than some other species, so definitely try out those methods if that's something you're comfortable with! Keep up the great work--eventually you'll find a praise method that your baby loves Wishing you the best!

 

[Scott]

I agree with all of the advice here! This is a sweeping generalization, but I think that cockatoos tend to appreciate physical/verbal interaction as a reward more so than some other species, so definitely try out those methods if that's something you're comfortable with! Keep up the great work--eventually you'll find a praise method that your baby loves Wishing you the best!

Definitely agree with this!!

 

[Siobhan]

Rocky 'Too is not a bit food motivated, either, but he does love it when we make a fuss over him. So, when he does something we've been trying to convince him to do, I applaud and gush about what a good boy he is.

 

[JustineBird]

It might take a while for the bird to bond with the both of you. When I bought justine she bonded with me quickly but she has also bonded with my parents. She goes to them and they can pick her up and play with here with no problems. When new people come over or if I take her to a new place she clings to my shoulder and refuses to get down. Maybe your bird just needs some more adjusting time to the environment.