New Bird Behavior?

[Pomlover2586]

We brought Iago home yesterday. He made himself at home fairly quickly and began eating and drinking within 5 minutes of being in his new cage. Since then he has explored the cage, slept through the night with it covered and has climbed out of the cage and onto his play perch. My husband held him for a bit earlier, but here is where things get tricky. When we try to have him step up he squawks at his and proceeds to rub his beak on our finger in a way that clearly says go away leave me alone! He's fine with you scritching his head, wings, belly etc...he just doesn't want to step up. My husband was able to have him step up by being more insistent and just forcing him to do it.....is this Ok? Should we allow him to dictate when he steps up or should we force him to do it on our terms? I don't want to traumatize him.......once he's out of the cage husband says he was just fine being held and petted.... thoughts?

[marie83]

I think reliable step up is one of the most important things to train, if only for safety reasons. I don't think force is the best way to go about it as it will likely either lead to biting behaviours or you end up with a game of chase around your home when it realises it can simply fly away. It all depends on the individual bird but on day one of step up training for the most reluctuant ones I just try encourage them with a treat, just out of reach unless they step onto my hand/perch/arm (it may take some time). Make sure what your trying to get them to step up onto is in a good position too, not too high, close, far away etc. Once they are comfortable with this and realise the action of stepping up isn't going to hurt them and even leads to a treat then I will introduce the command at the same time.
The other thing you can do is teach target training and once they have the hang of it you can then lure them into stepping up in order to reach the target (look at michaels articles for details on this).

Your bird should learn very quickly. Just keep training short and always end on a positive note. Young birds can be harder to train as everything is new and exciting to them so they have shorter attention spans, try to end a session before the bird loses concentration/interest.

One other thing, if you only brought your bird home yesterday Lago may require more time to settle in and get used to things first.

[Michael]

Definitely suggest going through the training regardless. However, if the parrot is known to be tame (hand raised weenling or rehomed from a well handled situation), I don't think it's terrible to just force it to step up if done the right way. I have handled birds I don't know and don't have an opportunity to train. They were obviously tame and handled before (most knowing how to step up for at least someone and others not at all). So there is an approach that can be used to get most tame parrots to step up without it being traumatizing to them and also without letting them set the terms. Here are some places I discuss this:

http://trainedparrot.com/index.php?bid= ... ab+Methods
http://trainedparrot.com/Florida
http://trainedparrot.com/index.php?bid= ... Bird+Store

Still, if you're keeping this parrot long term, you should do the training steps regardless how good it is at stepping up because it helps with other things. However, if it is tame and knows step up, using the above mentioned method, you can at least skip ahead a good bit and begin training outside the cage rather than doing in the cage target training.

[cml]

When we try to have him step up he squawks at his and proceeds to rub his beak on our finger in a way that clearly says go away leave me alone!

From what Ive read that sounds just like a caique? I believe brfussne calls it caique surfing ^^?

[brfussne]

When we try to have him step up he squawks at his and proceeds to rub his beak on our finger in a way that clearly says go away leave me alone!

From what Ive read that sounds just like a caique? I believe brfussne calls it caique surfing ^^?

Caiques are known to surf! Palmlover, can you describe the noise or possibly post a video of your White Belly Caique, Iago making the nosie? My Black Headed Caique is very independent and she'll let you know if she wants to step up! She has thia weird screech noise mixed with a gurggling sound that she'll make and she'll fake lunge at me when she doesn't want to step up. When she's very affectionate, she'll kinda make a squawk sound similar to a chicken while bobbing her head up and down. I'll have to post a video of her

[brfussne]

I figured I'd find some Youtube videos and post them just for references ...

Caique Surfing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EBBK7MMThg

Caique Angry Noise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvjfYFXEfCA

Caique Screaming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfnx3qPdEa0 (My BHC still sounds like this, just very much louder )

[Andromeda]

Caiques are known to surf!

Wow, I took it to YouTube and there are some hilarious Caique surfing videos to be seen.

I did not know about this behavior in Caiques. So funny!

[brfussne]

Caiques are known to surf!

Wow, I took it to YouTube and there are some hilarious Caique surfing videos to be seen.

I did not know about this behavior in Caiques. So funny!

Look up Caique bunny hop videos. Caiques are also very well known for this as well.

[brfussne]

I know this kinda getting off topic from Palmlover's original post but I couldn't help sharing these adorable Caique videos!!! Forgive me!

Caique Scooter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLp1CF0Ij4o
Caique Bicycle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d11kYR2lSY
Caique Super Market: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfhlPEkN ... re=related
Caique Park Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfhlPEkN ... re=related
Caique Recycle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXDK9wCk ... ure=relmfu

That Youtube user Onon624 taught his BHC some cute tricks!

[Pomlover2586]

Iago's noises are like none of the videos posted. The Beak surfing is a much quicker back and forth motion than those seen in some of the other videos, but at no point is he applying nay real pressure. While he makes this motion he does do a squawk/gurgle noise.....hard to describe- I'll have to try for a video.

Today he stepped up for my husband, and then stepped up willingly to me from his hand. I held him for 15 minutes or so, gave him some treats and then put him back into his cage and fed him his fruit and veggies. he is resting now in his cage.

He has some interesting vocalizations- one sounds like a piercing fire alarm, and then another lower gurgle that sounds like a velociraptor LOL

My cats have been watching him, but do not appear interested in him as food or a toy- and likewise he shows no fear of them.