Does your bird have a trigger?

[Wayne361]

As a trigger I mean something that causes sudden aggression. If so how do do you handle such episodes?
I often wear a ballcap....I found that for whatever reason if I leave it on I am ok...normal behaviour from bird. Doesnt affect training, down-time together, etc etc. IF i take cap and toss it to another chair or on floor he peels off of me or whereever he is and actively attacks hat....vicious "I want to kill you" type of attack. It is like a light switch goes off and he becomes extremely aggressive/agitated. I dont even want to handle him as I can tell he is in an aggressive state. He takes about 5 minutes to calm down and he is same bird as pre-attack.
Once I found out about this behaviour (happened twice...thought first time was a one-off) I obviously dont reinforce it i.e. dont toss hat off around him.
I am wondering if someone used to throw a hat at oscar in a previous home and this triggers a memory causing aggressive behaviour. I dont consider this to be a problem as I simply dont toss the cap in Oscars presence and thus behaviour isnt elicited.
Any similiar stories or is this just abnormal?

Wayne

[Michael]

Nope. After desensitizing my parrots for 5 years to anything and everything, and especially putting them through way more hectic situations (like carnival, outdoor freeflight, TV shows, etc), NOTHING phases them. Like really, I can't think of anything that would set Kili or Truman off. Not even each other anymore. They can get in a squabble but Kili no longer gets genuinely aggressive even over him. No jealousy. No reflexive biting. Just doing this approach long term really works. The only downside is the parrots are at a slightly elevated risk of danger cause they might not get scared of something that could hurt them so it is really up to me to make sure they are very safe.

Oh and my suggestion to you (besides following the approach) is to specifically work on all remaining triggers and eliminate or counter-condition them. Do it in steps using training methodology. Touch your cap, give a treat. Tip your cap, give a treat. Take you cap off and put back on, give a treat. Take you cap way off, give a treat. Flick your cap gently, give a treat. You get the point. Solve that trigger till the bird looks forward to you wasting treats by just handling a cap and then the problem is solved. Do this for all triggers till none are left and then you have an insanely nice bird on your hands.

[Wayne361]

Thanks Michael....makes good sense. Will do that. Its funny cause I have spent 3+ years turning him from a fearful bird to a confident bird. Desensitizing is something I am very good at because of it. I guess one can never get too cocky because seems like most things dont phase him at this point.
Will work on the hat thing to eliminate this trigger. I could only think it is from a past experience but either way will get over this hurdle to.
Once i get harness on him....making strides with consistant training, it is a whole new adventure outside. Good advice in book regarding this that I didnt see on your blogs/tutorials.

Thanks again,

Wayne

[Michael]

It doesn't have to be from a past experience. Senegals can become very aggressive toward other birds. Flying cap is about the size of a competing bird... But the cool thing with behavior management is that the reason doesn't matter much but the training make the right outcome assured.

[Pajarita]

Nope. The only thing that triggers aggressive behavior is my getting too close to the amazons' nest (not really a nest but a cardboard box) during breeding season. But even that I would not call 'aggressive' as there are no longer any real bites, I would call it 'defensive' because all the males do is fly out at my head, more a warning that anything else.

[KimberlyAnn]

Yes! When I accidentally shock her with static electricity. Thankfully it very rarely happens, but if she goes nuts over that, it's very understandable! I don't fault her one bit.

She has her moments of anger too, but she's not out to kill. She complains quickly in Greek Cheek Speak and nips at me quickly to make her point, but it does not hurt at all. This is normally when she wants something of mine and I've moved it away or who knows. Lol Sometimes we never figure out why she's angry.

Then there is "the look." Sort of like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0W ... ata_player

...when we put her football toy on top of her cage. Then she throws it off. It's connected to the outside of her cage and she plays with it, BUT IT DOES NOT BELONG ON THE TOP OF HER CAGE!

That's the reason I really do feel that birds can understand facial expressions. That look means business!