ParrotSnakeMan
Member
- Jan 7, 2025
- 15
- 29
- Parrots
- Indian Ringneck and Congo African Grey
I’ve had my CAG over 5 months and she is around 10 months old. I got her from a breeder in my area that I’ve heard mixed reviews about since purchasing the bird. In the beginning the bird was absolutely terrified of everything and growled and trembled in fear anytime my wife or I came close. The breeder claims she was hand fed but not socialized much.
Since having her I’ve worked on target training and she will take treats from my hand and do a few simple tricks on command such as big bird ( flap wings on command ) and whistle on command. It took nearly 3 months to have her stop growling at me, she stopped growling at my wife sooner.
The bird will only step up if she flies off the perch or play gym to the floor. The breeder originally had her stepping up with this method holding both hands out and sweeping her feet from behind while distracting her eyes with his other hand. The bird hated this and flew away when he attempted this in front of me. So now I have a bird that refuses to step up for me 5 months later. I don’t need to hold her but in the process of moving the animal for cage cleaning, vet visits etc it would be really helpful if I could get some amount of cooperation instead of flying away or backing into a corner and growling.
Currently I have to get her to the point of flying away and then have her step up from the floor. Which isn’t ideal as half the time she flies into something and Im worried she going to get hurt.
She isn’t progressing much now with training. Her target training is limited to putting it right in front of her. She won’t even walk across the play gym for it. Treats aren’t a huge motivator and I’ve offered her just about everything imaginable to find the treat she likes best. Now she hasn’t taken to any new tricks in nearly two months. She will still do the tricks she knows but lately I’ve been asking for new tricks and step up and she’d simply rather not have ANY treats than comply.
I ask, show the treat and when she seems to back away I also back away. She will walk over to me on the perch and is willing to do the few tricks she learned in the beginning and wants treats. I just can’t get her to make any progress ok anything else. I tried rewarding her for letting me just touch one foot with my finger but if I even move my hand in her direction she becomes upset and may fly away.
I know greys are neurotic and you can’t force them to do anything. but I feel like my bird is more neurotic than most and in my opinion I think some of the the things the breeder was doing with her have added to it. The bird still trembles if I get too close and I’ve never even remotely risen my voice im her presence. I’ve been patient and slow and speak to her as if she were my baby.
What am I doing wrong or is this normal?
Will I be able to progress her training and eventually her step up and learn other tricks? Or do some birds just decide thats never going to happen.
Note I spend 12 hours per day with her and my other bird as I work from home and they are in my office. My other bird(IRN) is very well trained.
Since having her I’ve worked on target training and she will take treats from my hand and do a few simple tricks on command such as big bird ( flap wings on command ) and whistle on command. It took nearly 3 months to have her stop growling at me, she stopped growling at my wife sooner.
The bird will only step up if she flies off the perch or play gym to the floor. The breeder originally had her stepping up with this method holding both hands out and sweeping her feet from behind while distracting her eyes with his other hand. The bird hated this and flew away when he attempted this in front of me. So now I have a bird that refuses to step up for me 5 months later. I don’t need to hold her but in the process of moving the animal for cage cleaning, vet visits etc it would be really helpful if I could get some amount of cooperation instead of flying away or backing into a corner and growling.
Currently I have to get her to the point of flying away and then have her step up from the floor. Which isn’t ideal as half the time she flies into something and Im worried she going to get hurt.
She isn’t progressing much now with training. Her target training is limited to putting it right in front of her. She won’t even walk across the play gym for it. Treats aren’t a huge motivator and I’ve offered her just about everything imaginable to find the treat she likes best. Now she hasn’t taken to any new tricks in nearly two months. She will still do the tricks she knows but lately I’ve been asking for new tricks and step up and she’d simply rather not have ANY treats than comply.
I ask, show the treat and when she seems to back away I also back away. She will walk over to me on the perch and is willing to do the few tricks she learned in the beginning and wants treats. I just can’t get her to make any progress ok anything else. I tried rewarding her for letting me just touch one foot with my finger but if I even move my hand in her direction she becomes upset and may fly away.
I know greys are neurotic and you can’t force them to do anything. but I feel like my bird is more neurotic than most and in my opinion I think some of the the things the breeder was doing with her have added to it. The bird still trembles if I get too close and I’ve never even remotely risen my voice im her presence. I’ve been patient and slow and speak to her as if she were my baby.
What am I doing wrong or is this normal?
Will I be able to progress her training and eventually her step up and learn other tricks? Or do some birds just decide thats never going to happen.
Note I spend 12 hours per day with her and my other bird as I work from home and they are in my office. My other bird(IRN) is very well trained.
