Need info about trick training.....

[Stevie07]

:red: Hi all~Scarlett is still very hormonal and I was thinking that if we did some trick training with her it would help. The problem is that her brain is set on finding a nesting spot. If I put her on the table to train her, she tries to hop off, wants to run across the floor and get under things. She won't concentrate for even a minute for me to teach her with the clicker.
Never had an Eclectus before and am new to this hormonal behavior.
I've been reading but would appreciate any advice.
Do you think that I should just hold off on any training until hormones calm down? She's also hard to handle, has good days and bad days but she's gotten more aggressive since we got her.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Anansi]

Hey, Stevie07! I haven't experienced the whole hormonal thing with my eclectus, (he's just under 6 months) but I can tell you what I'd try.

Whenever Bixby is focused on something else in the room to the point of distraction while I'm training him, I remove the object of distraction rather than compete with it for his attention. Now, given that the focus of her attention makes such removal unrealistic, I would take her to the smallest room in the house (well, not counting the bathroom) for training. And I would prep that particular room for her. I'd find something substantial to block off her access from the undersides of couches, beds, chairs, and any other pieces of furniture in the room. Then I would let her search the room to her heart's content until she was truly convinced that there was no little hidey-hole for her. And then I would go back to training her.

If anything better occurs to me, I'll get back to you on it. Good luck, and keep us updated.

 

[Birdman666]

What kind of bird is Scarlett? Female Eckie?

How old?

 

[Stevie07]

Thanks so much, yeah I will have to take Scarlett into our heated breezeway. It's a small room and not too many things to distract her. She's just going through a bad time right now but I hear that it will pass. Hope soon! Lol!
Thanks again for your reply!

 

[Stevie07]

Hey Birdman.....Scarlett is a 13 year old female Ekkie. We just got her several months ago and the previous owner said she's never laid an egg before. Since we've had her she's laid 2 and then one single. We put dummy eggs in her cage and kept them in for 28 days which seemed to help. She's still just so hormonal, aggressive and "weird!" Lol! It's hard to do much with her because she's always so preoccupied with trying to go somewhere to nest. Just last night we moved her cage to a different spot hoping that it will help also.
Thanks in advance for any information!!

 

[Freespin]

Do you limit her food?
I think it's a good idea about putting her in a boring smll room for training. If you are able to then train her before food time while she is hungry and she may be more likely to pay attention. Keep things simple and short to start with. If you are able to catch her attention try to do a little bit and end on a good note while she is still paying attention. Then you can slowly increase the length of the sessions.

 

[Stevie07]

Very good idea! Right now she's pretty spoiled and her food is always readily available. Yes I will definitely try cutting back and see if it helps. Thanks!
Also is that your horse? It's a great pic! I used to have 3 horses at different times. My favorite was Gin Fizz, a half Arabian/half Quarter horse who was very high-spirited. Now my older daughter and granddaughter ride.
Nice hearing from you.

 

[Freespin]

Thanks, the one in my pics is an Australian bred (by a new Zealand stallion) thoroughbred who was an ex hurdle racer =) I had him about 6 or 7 years before selling him last year. I now own a couple of standardbreds. One I ride and the other is destined to be a champion racehorse who will make me millions (would be nice right!)

 

[Stevie07]

Wow! You are very lucky to have your own horses, wish I still did.
Scarlett's doing a little better hormone-wise. She gets moody mostly in the morning and seems to simmer down as the day goes on. We're limiting her lighting and I'm holding off on the training til she gets "normal" hopefully in the spring. She was at the same house for 13 years and now we have her so I'm sure this is all alot for the poor girl.
Thanks again for your help!