Behavior quesiton

[Fiwi]

Our first 2 days with Emmett have been pretty good. He's really bonded to me, I think. He'll let me scratch his head which the bird farm said he really doesn't like. He also likes to rub his beak on my hand. He's eating well too.

The only thing that has concerned me is his behavior toward my daughter. He's fine if I hand him off to her, but twice when she's gone to his cage play top and asked him to step up, he's bitten her! Not hard, but def. aggressive in nature. Needless to say, I don't let her do that anymore, but I'm wondering how I should discipline him and if I can expect this behavior to improve. My daughter moves very slowly around him so I was surprised when he did this --especially since she's handled him many times.

 

[roxynoodle]

Maybe he's just going to need some more time to warm up to her. Or because she is a child maybe he doesn't see her as a flock leader, but rather someone he is ahead of in the pecking order. When she goes to reach for him, is he higher than she is? Many birds consider themselves more dominant if they are higher than the person is. If he is higher than her, it might help to get some kind of platform for her to stand on that puts her taller than he is. Strangely, that can totally change the dynamics. Often it is the women and children who get bitten if a bird is on top of it's cage and higher up than they are. Then everything totally changes when they do something to make themselves taller like stand on something. I would try that.

 

[Fiwi]

You confirmed everything I was thinking about! He is higher than her, but when she used a stool and was higher than him it still happened. Must be her small size. He's fine with her if I hand him off so we'll stick to doing that for awhile. Thank you for your reply!

 

[osnyder]

Sorry to kidnap this thread!-- but in terms of my issues with Stitch, I've been wondering if his behavior with me is partly related to my height. He has so easily warmed to my husband, who is fairly tall. When I stand by him when he's on the door of his cage as he often is, he's sort of at shoulder level, and even higher if he's on top. Should I get a little stool and keep it there for our interactions??

Thanks and apologies to the OP! Maybe this will help both of us

 

[Fiwi]

Sorry to kidnap this thread!-- but in terms of my issues with Stitch, I've been wondering if his behavior with me is partly related to my height. He has so easily warmed to my husband, who is fairly tall. When I stand by him when he's on the door of his cage as he often is, he's sort of at shoulder level, and even higher if he's on top. Should I get a little stool and keep it there for our interactions??

Thanks and apologies to the OP! Maybe this will help both of us

No apology necessary! I would definately try the stool.

 

[roxynoodle]

I can have this problem as well being on the shorter side. If Pete is on top of his cage, he will act like a stinker and not get on my hand. Anywhere else on his cage he steps right up! If I had a macaw or something I'd build something I could step up onto.

I wonder though if her getting on top of the stool is a little scary to him? If she gets up on it easily, maybe not, but if it is a bit of a struggle, maybe it does.

If anyone is interested they do sell a small set of like 2 steps for helping people to mount horses. They are plastic and come in different colors and don't take up a lot of room. Anywhere that sells horse supplies should have them. They are called mounting blocks. My parents even bought one for their old dog to help it get into the car after I told them about them. I don't know if you would see them at Tractor Supply but any of the large, online dealers should have them. Or maybe even ebay. I'll see if I can find you a link.

 

[roxynoodle]

I found 2 step and 3 step ones:

Horsemens Pride 2-Step Mounting Block Blue

Horsemens Pride 3-Step Mounting Block Black

I'm sure with some searching you will find various companies that make them and different prices.

 

[Fiwi]

I haven't gotten a permanent cage yet and was considering this one to help with the issue. What do you all think?
Pet Bird Cages: Prevue Deluxe Parrot Cage with Playtop at Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[roxynoodle]

It's an interesting design. If that playtop is easier for everyone to reach, I think it's a good idea.

 

[Pedro]

Our first 2 days with Emmett have been pretty good. He's really bonded to me, I think. He'll let me scratch his head which the bird farm said he really doesn't like. He also likes to rub his beak on my hand. He's eating well too.

The only thing that has concerned me is his behavior toward my daughter. He's fine if I hand him off to her, but twice when she's gone to his cage play top and asked him to step up, he's bitten her! Not hard, but def. aggressive in nature. Needless to say, I don't let her do that anymore, but I'm wondering how I should discipline him and if I can expect this behavior to improve. My daughter moves very slowly around him so I was surprised when he did this --especially since she's handled him many times.

I have already posted this link today but what the heck here it is again

Reading Your Parrot's Body Language - For Dummies

IMO you haven't allowed Emmett enough time to adjust to his new environment. Even though he has been hand reared you & your family are strangers to him & he is feeling uncomfortable. The reason your new baby is reacting to your daughter is because he is scared, simple. He also probably gave her a warning before he bit her but she didn't notice. Watch the feathers on the back of the neck, he will fluff them up. It has nothing to do with how tall or short you are, this bird is at the moment out of his comfort zone. He is biting out of fear.

With eclectus parrots you have to gain their trust. That could take a few days to a few months. I would advise to just leave Emmett chill out for the moment, let him take in his new home. Don't be to much in a rush to have him do things he doesn't want. Talk to him. Let him come out of his cage on his own & at his own pace. Usually when they are comfortable & have settled into their new home they become much easier to handle. But you have to also bare in mind that Emmett may never be fond of your daughter.

I checked out that cage your interested in & i am not a fan of cages with play stands on the top. They are fine if you have control over your bird & they will readly step up when asked from a high point. If they are not trained to step up every time they are asked then this type of cage is useless because they will go to the highest point so you can't get them. I prefer to have a flat top cage & a seperate T stand, they are excellent for training & are only waist high.

 

[Fiwi]

Our first 2 days with Emmett have been pretty good. He's really bonded to me, I think. He'll let me scratch his head which the bird farm said he really doesn't like. He also likes to rub his beak on my hand. He's eating well too.

The only thing that has concerned me is his behavior toward my daughter. He's fine if I hand him off to her, but twice when she's gone to his cage play top and asked him to step up, he's bitten her! Not hard, but def. aggressive in nature. Needless to say, I don't let her do that anymore, but I'm wondering how I should discipline him and if I can expect this behavior to improve. My daughter moves very slowly around him so I was surprised when he did this --especially since she's handled him many times.

I have already posted this link today but what the heck here it is again

Reading Your Parrot's Body Language - For Dummies

IMO you haven't allowed Emmett enough time to adjust to his new environment. Even though he has been hand reared you & your family are strangers to him & he is feeling uncomfortable. The reason your new baby is reacting to your daughter is because he is scared, simple. He also probably gave her a warning before he bit her but she didn't notice. Watch the feathers on the back of the neck, he will fluff them up. It has nothing to do with how tall or short you are, this bird is at the moment out of his comfort zone. He is biting out of fear.

With eclectus parrots you have to gain their trust. That could take a few days to a few months. I would advise to just leave Emmett chill out for the moment, let him take in his new home. Don't be to much in a rush to have him do things he doesn't want. Talk to him. Let him come out of his cage on his own & at his own pace. Usually when they are comfortable & have settled into their new home they become much easier to handle. But you have to also bare in mind that Emmett may never be fond of your daughter.

I checked out that cage your interested in & i am not a fan of cages with play stands on the top. They are fine if you have control over your bird & they will readly step up when asked from a high point. If they are not trained to step up every time they are asked then this type of cage is useless because they will go to the highest point so you can't get them. I prefer to have a flat top cage & a seperate T stand, they are excellent for training & are only waist high.

Thank you, Pedro. Great points all well taken. I watched Fiona when she tried to get Emmitt down and he didn't puff at all. Regardless, she knows not to get him on her own anymore. Emmitt has been trained very well. He knows and understands the step up command very well. We're slowing everything down, giving him more time to get to know us. He doesn't give me any trouble when I ask him to step up. I like the idea of the T stand, though.

 

[roxynoodle]

I've been pondering things here. When a person is confident (not assertive though), animals feel calmer. I am wondering if a child projects that confidence that everything is good and fine. If she is tentative or nervous at all, Emmitt probably knows that, and thinks there is a reason to be nervous. That will be overcome in time though as they get used to each other and comfortable with each other.

 

[Fiwi]

I've been pondering things here. When a person is confident (not assertive though), animals feel calmer. I am wondering if a child projects that confidence that everything is good and fine. If she is tentative or nervous at all, Emmitt probably knows that, and thinks there is a reason to be nervous. That will be overcome in time though as they get used to each other and comfortable with each other.

Thank you. She wasn't nervous at all at first, but she must be now. I've been speaking with the bird farm where I got him and tomorrow we are going in with Emmitt for a training session b/c he was aggressive with her again this morning. I had gotten him from his cage, spent some time with him, then handed him off to Fiona. They sat happily together on the couch and then out of nowhere he bit her. No warning. She was just sitting there with him. The bird farm owner thinks it's b/c of how he's bonded with me and when I'm around he doesn't want anything to do with her. I hope he comes around.