What was it like when your parrot was a baby?

Parrot Youtube Channel · by **Michael** » Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:02 pm

They're really clumsy when they fly.

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http://trainedparrot.com/Recall
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by **CaitlinRice413** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:22 pm

by **terri** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:41 pm

My birds did have a similiar things they went through when they were younger.Like when they were just weaned [2months] they were very needy[lots of baby begging] louder when they were doing their evening call .But sweet when being held .Then at 4months and on when they become more confident look out.They were testing everything-hard nips,being stubborn about doing what they want and being scared of new foods.Just be consistent [like when he was nipping your neck]he will eventually learn.I know its unnerving when your new bird is doing something thats not good.Its like OMG is this how its always going to be.I have a older rehomed amazon [now for 3 weeks]that has been a big challenge.What I wished I had done in the begainning is water bottles,more cooked food,a variety of pellets ,harness training,trimming their nails , FOUND A GOOD VET and not spoiled them so much

What I did like is the schedule that their on and in return they have become great birds and seem happy.I enjoy how different each one is.All in all its your time to train him.

by **marie83** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:27 pm

I've only had 2 from a baby. They were harder work than the ones I've had as adults in the early months but that said none of the birds I got as adults were tame.

Tico my 'tiel was always begging, not always for food either, if you stopped scratching her head she would be there sounding like a little wind up toy until you scratched her again but she would be doing that noise pretty much the entire time she was out her cage and shoving her head into your hand. I finished hand rearing her myself as her parents abandoned her.

Ollie was pretty much the same but without the noise, he would constantly be trying to get in my hands for a fuss but he was ridiculously nippy with it to the point I was wondering if I had made the right choice in getting him. He was co-parented by his breeder and came to us at 7 weeks old and fully weaned. We never had any begging behaviours from him.

Neither bird was clumsy or wary of new things, nor were they in to everything like a toddler- that came later on. The only clumsy bird I've had is Harlie my 'tiel but I think thats due to her being kept constantly in a tiny cage as a youngster with those stupid dowell perches.
Both birds definitely lost concentration on things quickly compared with when they matured and my other adult parrots.

*edit*
This is what tico used to do but alot more full on than this bird is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_vFyvECYoQ

by **friend2parrots** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:55 am

my Bourke parakeet Toby, being an Australian grass parakeet, hails from a natural habitat of grassy desert/savannah, where they have been observed in the wild darting about in the grass, running around looking for seeds. i didnt know this when i first got my Bourke as a baby. but i always used to wonder why he would run across the house (and i mean literally, RUN, on his little two feet, as fast as a puppy) in a state of excited zeal. as a handfed but weaned baby in my house at age 8 weeks, he was absolutely fearless, outgoing, and just RUNNING all over the place exploring every single inch of the floor space, even though he could fly as well, and had flown a lot at the breeders in their aviary. it was just so amusing to watch!

Ringo on the other hand went through that sweet, "I'm so shy but I know you love me" baby-parrot phase from age 3 weeks to about 5 weeks. this is when he had the "i'm still getting to know the world, so I'm going to look around everywhere with my big beautiful baby parrot eyes and shyly take a look at you while I'm at it" expression. i had the pleasure of knowing him since he was 2 weeks old, a tiny little fuzz ball without even pin feathers, only down, although of course I couldnt bring him home then. both Toby and Ringo were parent raised but the breeder allowed me to handle them for an hour or so each day. it was lovely to watch both babies grow, to see them at 4 to 6 weeks start getting all the little pin feathers. Toby never sought to fly to me when he fledged, he was too curious and interested in exploring. but with Ringo, it seemed that his whole reason for wanting to fly was to fly to me, and that melted my heart. he used to follow me around the aviary on foot, and only later did he try to fly to me. at 6 weeks to 7 weeks, he grew brave enough to try to fly, and that was when he fledged. i could see the nervousness in his eyes when he was fledging, and it was amazing to see that transform into confidence as he learned that he could in fact fly to me, rather than walk. it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, to watch Ringo's feathers come in, and to see him learn how to fly. he did not master flight fully until he was at least 6-8 months old. Toby was a MUCH better flyer, and did a lot to teach Ringo the right way to fly, to avoid dangers, windows, and walls, and to teach him parrot-confidence.

Between Ringo and Toby, for the first two and a half years, Toby was the leader and the self-appointed teacher. Ringo observed what Toby did, and copied it. if Toby was cool with something, then Ringo would be cool with it. That all changed when Ringo reached maturity. oh boy did I see a reversal of power dynamics. From then onwards, Ringo appointed himself master, leader, and (a relatively benevolent) boss of the entire flock, including my husband! it was quite cute to be honest to watch the transformation in his little GCC mind - to see him come into his own like that, and start showing Toby that he ALSO knew what's what!

by **friend2parrots** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:55 am

just wanted to add a couple of things as far as training went:

I taught both birds three commands (without a clicker, just command and praise with a little head scratch and sunflower seed) when they were young: step up, go to cage, and come. these were just to manage their movements and exploration. i taught these when they were about four months old, before that, Ringo was just too wide-eyed and unfocused and learning how to fly properly, and Toby was just too active to sit still, running and flying all over the house in his mission to explore. i think what you would call their upbringing is "coparenting" as marie refers to it - the breeder let the babies stay with the parents, with the exception of taking the baby out to handle and give occasional hand-feedings. so i think when both birds came home, they did not have that immediate acceptance to my home-a new place- that a completely handraised baby would have had. it took them some time to get their bearings.

by **CaitlinRice413** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:34 am

What was it like when your parrot was a baby?

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