Multiple Questions

[Max.zilla]

So Ive managed to start narrowing down on Maxs 'problems' and now am seeking advice on how to fix them.

First, hes a bit cage aggressive. I say a bit because hes more likely to just walk to another part of his cage than attack. If someone he doesnt know or like comes near his cage, he just backs away (though if its me he usually runs up to greet me.) Though if anyone, including me, puts our fingers or hands, or any part of us, near him he lunges and will bite. Ive been avoiding bites by using a perch to get him off his cage.

When hes away from his cage he lets me (only me, as Im the only one he likes) pick him up, scratch his head, etc. (If its anyone else, he backs away from them, squaks, lunges, etc; but only if they have their hand out to him.)

Ive read letting him spend too much time on top of his cage can lead to/worsen cage aggression? I believe his prev owners let him spend most of his time on top his cage, and its certainly his favorite place to be here too. How can I fix this? (Obviously less time on top his cage; but he gets restless in his cage as he wont play with his toys, and I havent a stand for him to sit on outside the cage.)

Also Ive read how its important to bathe parrots. I dont think Max has ever had a bath, or been misted. Everything Ive tried he was afraid of it; a mister, shallow dish, sink. What else could I try, and how can I make him less afraid of water?

And on a less serious note, when hes on my shoulder he nibbles my hair; any particular reason? Im more just curious about this, and wondering if I should let him do it.

 

[MonicaMc]

First, hes a bit cage aggressive. I say a bit because hes more likely to just walk to another part of his cage than attack. If someone he doesnt know or like comes near his cage, he just backs away (though if its me he usually runs up to greet me.) Though if anyone, including me, puts our fingers or hands, or any part of us, near him he lunges and will bite. Ive been avoiding bites by using a perch to get him off his cage.
This does not sound like cage aggression to me. It sounds to me as if he doesn't like his space invaded and backs away from the hand. When the hand persists, he can't escape so he lunges and bites.

I would suggest target training with him on his cage and rewarding him for making steps towards you while in or on his cage. Maybe having a perch on the outside of the cage or on the inside of his swing-out door? And when he's on the perch, you could try working with him on stepping up? Watch how Barbara Heidenreich works with the scarlet macaw in the following video.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GIaDDSeZKnI]Parrot Training Workshop Live Demo - Step Up Training with a Macaw - YouTube[/ame]


When hes away from his cage he lets me (only me, as Im the only one he likes) pick him up, scratch his head, etc. (If its anyone else, he backs away from them, squaks, lunges, etc; but only if they have their hand out to him.)
A socialization thing. It would take time, but it would be possible to get him to socialize with others. You can either have other people handing him treats, or, if another person will hold still for you, you could have Max step onto the other person, reward, then step back off onto you and repeat a few times so that he can get accustomed to stepping up to other people.

Ive read letting him spend too much time on top of his cage can lead to/worsen cage aggression? I believe his prev owners let him spend most of his time on top his cage, and its certainly his favorite place to be here too. How can I fix this? (Obviously less time on top his cage; but he gets restless in his cage as he wont play with his toys, and I havent a stand for him to sit on outside the cage.)
I think this is BS. If you train a parrot right, then they'll enjoy spending time with you rather than being on top of their cage. If you don't train them right, then ya, sure, they'll prefer being on top of their cage rather than stepping up/down for you.

You may find the following post from Lara Joseph informative. It talks about height dominance and how she has yet to see it because it's all about training.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...66202.165220980213318&type=1&relevant_count=1

Also Ive read how its important to bathe parrots. I dont think Max has ever had a bath, or been misted. Everything Ive tried he was afraid of it; a mister, shallow dish, sink. What else could I try, and how can I make him less afraid of water?
Yes, baths are good for their skin, feathers and a bit for their mental health (the act of bathing, preening and cleaning their feathers), but they wont die if they don't receive a bath. It may take time and trying to figure out what he likes best, but here's some ideas!

• Try luke-warm water
• Try cold water
• Try ice-cold water
• Try a spray bottle
• Try a plant mister
• Try in the sink with the water running or just some water in the bottom
• Try in the sink with the sprayer
• Try in the tub with some water in the bottom
• Try a casserole dish or similar with some water
• Try the dish with ice
• Try the dish with foot toys
• Try the dish with some leafy greens like endive or other types of lettuces that may create a "natural" bowl
• Try the dish with a vacuum cleaner
• Try in the shower with you - watching you having a blast getting wet!
• Try dancing the bird into the shower with the water already going
• Try spritzing yourself, and have fun doing it! Then spritz the bird
• Try outside in an empty cage large enough to spread wings during a nice rain shower
• Try outside in an empty cage using the hose with a mist/shower attachment

And it might help to go to YouTube and find videos of parrots bathing.

And on a less serious note, when hes on my shoulder he nibbles my hair; any particular reason? Im more just curious about this, and wondering if I should let him do it.
He see's you as a companion, if not a mate, so it could be his way of trying to preen you. Likewise, he could just be interested in your hair.

 

[MikeyTN]

I see Monica's point but I'm gonna have to disagree. IMO it is best to train when you have them away from the cage especially when there's cage aggression issues. Once they're away from the cage, you'll see a world of difference in the bird! You can allow them to go on top of the cage to play, that's fine, especially since the poster was able to perch train. You should really invest in a play stand. It really would help you with the training a lot easier. But of course you can always do clicker training to help with that issue too, but it depends on the bird, a few of mine are too smart for their own good and they want to eat the clicker as they ignore their favorite treats when the clicker is around. Once the clicker was gone, they resume to normal....lol....Don't say hide it in the hand, mine knows when I have it.

A few of my birds HATES shower, sink, everything. But I kept using the spray bottle to mist them, they got used to the idea and now they enjoy being misted. Except one that hates bath period, my lory....I have to play with him in the tub in order to even bathe him, he's like a child....lol....When you do the misting, make sure it's the light mist, not the stream or anything close to that.

 

[MonicaMc]

Training away from the cage doesn't exactly deal with the issues surrounding the cage... so training needs to be done at the cage as well. Otherwise, all the training in the world may not do a person any good if it's always done away from the cage. Training is best done in multiple areas, and this includes the cage.

Training is best done starting where the bird feels most comfortable, then slowly working your way out to less comfortable areas, rather than doing it backwards. At least, IMO.

 

[MikeyTN]

Ok, let me make an example, let's use JoJo my Eclecus Male. When I first brought him home, he would freak IF you try to stick your hand in his cage, he would lounge at you and try to bite. I got him out multiple times per day to sit with me to bond. At the same time I make him repeat the step up command. I encounter the same issue every time I tried to get him out. But it only took him 3 days to learn to step up from his cage without trying to attack or freak. At one week he was stepping up like a pro. But the trust issue lingered and it took about a month for him to trust me more. After two month he's trusting me pretty good but it took 6 months for him to be fully adjusted to me to pet him and everything. We've had them for two years on March 11th, my partner's birthday, I got them for my partner as my partner asked me about Ekkies for years. JoJo fully trust me now days and I would tell him give me sugar, he puts his cheek on my lips and I would make kissing sound and he make the kissing sound right back at me.

The main thing is I wasn't able to train him within his cage, I had to take him into a different room to train him every time. But over time he was so used to me he had no issue with me in his cage what so ever. The only cage aggression I deal with ALL the birds now days is when I'm wiping the cage bars, they hate the towel and they all attack it.....

 

[MonicaMc]

Then I would say that's a success story! But I've heard all too often of owners who cannot handle their birds in or around the bird's cage, only away from the cage. This equates out to owners who struggle frequently in getting their bird out of the cage, then away from the cage. There should never be a struggle to get a bird in or out of it's cage.

 

[SandyBee]

So Ive managed to start narrowing down on Maxs 'problems' and now am seeking advice on how to fix them.

First, hes a bit cage aggressive. I say a bit because hes more likely to just walk to another part of his cage than attack. If someone he doesnt know or like comes near his cage, he just backs away (though if its me he usually runs up to greet me.) Though if anyone, including me, puts our fingers or hands, or any part of us, near him he lunges and will bite. Ive been avoiding bites by using a perch to get him off his cage.

When hes away from his cage he lets me (only me, as Im the only one he likes) pick him up, scratch his head, etc. (If its anyone else, he backs away from them, squaks, lunges, etc; but only if they have their hand out to him.)

Ive read letting him spend too much time on top of his cage can lead to/worsen cage aggression? I believe his prev owners let him spend most of his time on top his cage, and its certainly his favorite place to be here too. How can I fix this? (Obviously less time on top his cage; but he gets restless in his cage as he wont play with his toys, and I havent a stand for him to sit on outside the cage.)

Also Ive read how its important to bathe parrots. I dont think Max has ever had a bath, or been misted. Everything Ive tried he was afraid of it; a mister, shallow dish, sink. What else could I try, and how can I make him less afraid of water?

And on a less serious note, when hes on my shoulder he nibbles my hair; any particular reason? Im more just curious about this, and wondering if I should let him do it.

Hi Cage is his safe spot and so is the top of his cage.
I think you should either buy or make a play stand for him and that way he will spend less time on his cage. For myself I got a t-stand on wheels, Bosley loves it and so do I because he can come to any room in the house. It also allows other people to take him into other rooms because they don't need to ask the bird to step up yet they can still interact with him.

Bathing is important and all the suggestions made were good ones, but as he is getting used to you even taking him in the bathroom and getting it steamy will help with grooming.

Nibbling on your hair is possibly preening, be careful with him on your shoulder. I do let Bosley on mine, but I waited a month before I allowed it. It is a priviledge so I make him ask and behave nicely when he is there. Another big thing is birds should only be allowed on shoulder if they comply when asking to get off of it. I wouldn't want to battle an amazon on my shoulder if he didn't want to leave.

 

[SandyBee]

Also wanted to add, my amazon never looks like he wants a shower when I start. He always tries to retreat. I start with gentle misting so it falls on him from above telling him he's a pretty boy. After some encouragement he start coming to the water and then I tell him he's got beautiful wings. By the time we get to that point he is spreading his wings wide, turning in every angle including upside down to get completely drenched. Make a party of it and have fun.