Please Help Train Joey

[TPrince]

I was given an umbrella cockatoo after a friend went through a divorce. Joey has a great big cage and fresh water and food every day. I have only had him a week and I have tried to have a routine. I cover his cage when he goes in by 10pm and wake up to him screaming. I open the cage and say good morning. It goes great for a while, he cuddles and talks....then I am just sitting there and he bites me. I say bad Joey and put him in time out for 5 min, then try again. Its great for another hour and bam..again... They last bite was really hard. I am lost....Please help. Thank u

[pennyandrocky]

don't open the cage while he's screaming,try timing it for before he starts your teaching him to scream to get what he wants.time outs are not going to stop the biting try to avoid the bite he should be giving signals to let you know when he's had enough of you.if he was flighted he would just fly away instead of biting. my too used to do a dance before biting when she was clipped since she's flighted she doesn't bite at all she just flies or hops away.

[terri]

Hi I get a nip when my birds are out and not giving them my undivided attention. It seems like your starting a good routine. I think birds need some structure or they end up with big heads.I dont know how old he is but hormonal male 2s can get like this during that time.[this your going to have to familiarize with and respect] Get a play gym,take him out let him on the gym.Then see if he wants to see you.Spend less time on you ,put him back before he bites.Give him a treat,set a realistic schedule you can keep up with.Remember lots of chew toys for 2s.[I think hes testing you] Love how sweet UB2s can be! Good Luck

[laducockatiel]

When he doesn't scream, reward him with a treat, let him out and give him a scratch on the head. Cockatoos are very attention seeking, but you can train him not to scream by doing this and ignoring him when he is screaming. Also, try to see what you are doing when he bites, maybe you are watching tv and not paying attention to him, so he wants your attention again and the only way to do that is to bite you. In that case, I would just play with him when you let him out, because as I said they are very dependant on attention, and play only with him and don't do anything else, so he knows you are actually paying attention to him. Also, get him/make him plenty of foraging toys, so he doesn't get bored in the cage and therefore he won't scream.

If you need any further help, don't hesitate at all to pm me or to just simply ask on this thread. Don't feel like there is no one to help you because we are all here to help.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Laducockatiel

[liz]

TPrince - can you whistle? When he is not screaming and you open the door - whistle. If your like me and can't just finda another pleasant sound for him to pick up when he wants out.

Just my 2 cents.