Macaw "too cuddly"

[kittyhazelton]

Ok, yes this seems like an odd question and just looking for some ideas out there.
Working on some basic target training with my birds. My IRN is loving it, chasing stick everywhere, and I feel is ready to move onto the next trick.

The macaw is a fairly new bird to me and we've finally reached a good bond together. She's super-friendly & cuddly, knows step-up, waves hi, does a "pretty wings" trick where she lifts up and stretches her wings.
The problem I'm encountering with her during training is that she tends to be uninterested in the training task and more interested in trying to climb onto me or my lap (she was a big shoulder-rider when i got her and I've been slowly curbing her of that habit) Often she isn't interested in the treat reward at all and more interested in trying to snuggle up to me.
Any suggestions on trying to get the bird less "needy" I guess. I'm waiting for her flight harness to come in the mail at which point I'll be taking her out and about for more socialization in public. Part of it I think is that she's been clipped for quite some time and she acts like she wants to be picked up to go anywhere, I'm hoping that once she starts flying again that will help her feel a little more independent. Would love some suggestions on this.

[kittyhazelton]

really? nobody has any suggestions?
Yeah, I guess it does seem rather rare that someone would complain about a bird being TOO CUDDLY, lol.

[donald1954]

Hi,
I have one bird that was so cuddly too. Infact, my son could not go anywhere without Momo. It could be a problem, when you have to go somewhere one day, like in hospital ( what I dont hope) or something that you have to be away from home for a couple of days. The bird could suffer. We decided to get her a compagnion. This bird was sold to us as a male, after a while we did not believe it, they didnt like each other and ask the vet to do another test. A female! So, we could not give one of our birds away, now we have 4. 2 male, 2 female. LOL. The cuddly problem ist gone since, but Momo ist still very much bonded to my son. We keep them in a big aviary, when we are not in, with a possiblity to seprate them, wehn necessary. So far all fine. When we are in the house, they are on freeflight. Maybe an option for you? Dont worry, they stay very friendly. LOL

rgds Karin

[kittyhazelton]

Hi,
I have one bird that was so cuddly too. Infact, my son could not go anywhere without Momo. It could be a problem, when you have to go somewhere one day, like in hospital ( what I dont hope) or something that you have to be away from home for a couple of days. The bird could suffer. We decided to get her a compagnion. This bird was sold to us as a male, after a while we did not believe it, they didnt like each other and ask the vet to do another test. A female! So, we could not give one of our birds away, now we have 4. 2 male, 2 female. LOL. The cuddly problem ist gone since, but Momo ist still very much bonded to my son. We keep them in a big aviary, when we are not in, with a possiblity to seprate them, wehn necessary. So far all fine. When we are in the house, they are on freeflight. Maybe an option for you? Dont worry, they stay very friendly. LOL

rgds Karin

Fortunately, she's cuddly with EVERYONE and I've involved my boyfriend with a lot of the daily interaction to make sure that she stays that way. Part of why I feel she'll make a great educational bird is that she's so social with everyone she meets. I just have some specific training plans in mind that are hampered a little bit by her clingyness. Ah well, at least she has the "come" command down 100%.