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Clingy Macaw

Discuss the methods and techniques of clicker training, target training and bonding. These are usually the first steps in training a young parrot.

Clingy Macaw

Postby Chatoyant » Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:24 pm

Hello, I'm new here and signed up to hopefully get some advice on a problem I am having with my Hahn's Macaw, Iza, and then hopefully help others when I become more knowledgeable. :)

The problem I am having is, surprisingly, that Iza is very clingy when on the shoulder. She loves to be carried throughout the house or even just sit with you on the couch, but getting her off of you when it's cage time is a chore. Sometimes she will bite the hand that comes to try and get her to step up off the shoulder (usually not hard enough to break the skin but it still hurts) but mostly she will shuffle from shoulder to shoulder to avoid the hand. We actually have better success standing near her cage and bending down so she can climb onto it, but most of the time she will shuffle away from the cage like she does with the hand. There have been times when we've just said to heck with it and left the house on our errand with her still on our shoulder because we just can't get her off. She REALLY likes car rides and walks outside.

We love having her out with us but we want to be able to put her on or in her cage when it's needed without having to fight. We would appreciate any suggestions that anyone has.
Chatoyant
Parakeet
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Hahn's Macaw
Flight: No

Re: Clingy Macaw

Postby CSLFiero » Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:20 am

Your bird wants to be with you. There is no desirable reason to be in the cage. Make the cage where she wants to be and getting her into it will be easier. I suggest stop feeding her outside of her cage and only allow her to eat meals in the cage. Next, train her to step up whenever you need and probably learn together how to grab iza safely (for her and your hand!). This will make her more pliable.

My loxley often times doesn't realize he's in the cage cause he's so busy getting fed. Before he knows it, he's full and sleepy and off to birdie dream land he goes.

They said, he still prefers to be with me and rarely goes to his cage on his own except to scavenge for food. But getting him in isn't a struggle at all. If i need him to go in during the day, i can usually target him in as well.
CSLFiero
Conure
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 137
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Jardine's
Flight: Yes

Re: Clingy Macaw

Postby Wayne361 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:19 pm

Training is a great out of cage activity that will allow you to spend time with the bird while not having bird being clingy. This will also help the bird redefine his out of time cage time with you...i.e. not always on you, but with you. Training has a lot of other benefits as well but this should help with your issues.

Wayne
Wayne361
Conure
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 220
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal Parrot
Flight: Yes


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