Training - Treat Help?

[SuperSponge]

Im trying to train my Senegal using Michael's articles and videos. I bought a clicker and some millet spray and was trying to do clicker conditioning with her through the bars (because she bites a lot) but she refuses to eat the millet spray. She hates it! I would use something smaller, like seed, but shes really territorial and I cant stick my fingers actually IN the bars. I need something a little longer (like millet spray) that I can put through the bars without her chewing my fingers off (she has this super effective lunge-and-latch-on method lol) but something she'll actually eat. Suggestions?

Thanks!

[lainmai]

Sounds like you might have a territorial issue. Are you able to remove her with gloves and try to train her in another location?

[Michael]

Sun flower seeds work like a charm. Don't overdo it, just get your birds trust and then downgrade to other stuff.

[Tarsun]

You can try nutriberries, it works good especially for target training. Parrots love it! Or you can try Ecotrition's Golden Honey sweet blossoms & seeds. You can also try plump raisins or any dehydrated fruit, my bird loves them.

[ptuga72]

Whenever I treat Scarlet with small treats (like for training), I use a plastic spoon. Scarlet is very hand-shy and bites, hard. Sometimes will even push the treat out of the way to get to my hand! I use the white plastic ones because she did not like the metal ones, but either works so I don't push it.

[SuperSponge]

Thanks for all the help! I'll try those things.

Gloves, spoons - all those accessories are totally out. My bird is terrified of basically any foreign object, she hates anything she can't identify. I was worried about the target stick, but she seems ok with that.

As for the biting, its a work in progress. Her MO is to be nice and sweet for about 5 minutes and JUST when you think 'Oh wow, shes gonna be ok today" she latches on HARD. Ive gotten some good scars from her. I know not to react, but its hard because I react more to the surprise than from the pain. We're working on it

[Kim S]

You could try a pair of tweezers to get the food near her. Maybe hang the tweezers in her cage first for a couple of days so she can get used to the thing.

I heard the beakholding method before. I tried it on Kika when he nips, but he just bites down harder. So I wouldn't try that one.