Bonding.... maybe?

[Shine]

Well, I think we may be bonding....Woohoo!
When I first got him, he would stand on his cage door and step up for me. Then, he started going straight to the top of his cage and would bite me if I got close or tried to get him to step up. It got kinda ugly for a week or so and I did a bit of bleeding! But, the other night he came back down to the cage door and stood there looking at me, saying 'step up.' I went and picked him up and he stayed on my shoulder for a couple of hours and simply wouldnt get down! It was almost funny! Then the next day, he came looking for me twice and sat on my shoulder for another hour or so. Its been that way ever since. I'm not bothering him if he is on top of his cage, but he is spending less time there and seems to want me to come get him and he hangs with me till I put him away for the night!

I kinda feel like hes bonding with me, but not sure. Is he?

Also, he is obsessed with my glasses. When he is on my shoulder he is constantly grabbing at them and I just tell him no! He doesnt seem to be listening!

I am pretty happy with our progress at this point, I hope it continues! Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated!

 

[Kentuckienne]

It does seem that he wants to be with you, congratulations! Only, be a bit careful ... It isn't far from your glasses to your eyeball, and you could lost an eye in an instant to a displacement bite. It might be a good idea to do some training, and make sure that he doesn't bite, and that he learns to control the pressure of the bite, before you allow him on your shoulder. There is a very good thread, a sticky at the top of the Macaw forum, by Birdman666 about "Big Beak-o-Phobe's guide to Macaw beaks" which is good advice for any bird species, not just macaws. It sounds like your relationship is in a very good place!

 

[Shine]

Thanks Kentuckienne. I think he has had some bite pressure training. He is generally very gentle and if his beak use gets a bit hard, I tell him to be gentle and he stops and is much easier after that. So maybe? I do need to work on some training stuff though. I read through a bunch of the threads on training and plan to start working on it soon. First off is step up. He does need that!

I read on of Birdman666's posts and hes a smart guy! Taking his advice to heart! I want my Fidget to be my bestie for very long time!

 

[SailBoat]

Please remember that 'Step-Up' is the Foundation of Training! And, verbal praise is the reward! The reason the reward is always verbal for Step-Up is that you may not have a food or other reward tool with you when you need Your Parrot to Step-Up!


Step-Up Training:

Step-Up is something that is not once trained and than move onto other training. It needs to be reinforced repeatedly month after month, year after year. If a Step-Up does not occur, it is your fault, not the Amazon's fault. Many other behavior responses can be traced back to the loss of Step-Up control.

The Step-Up request is critical in and of itself! Yes, it sets the foundation for all other training. But more importantly,'when' you must move your Parrot (Example: Emergencies, Medical, Fire, etc...), regardless of your emotional state or the Amazon's he will Step-Up!

Getting an Amazon to Step-Up, as part of you're normal working with your Parrot, starts as does everything, with you observing your Amazon. If your Amazon is Sleeping, out in the AmaZone (possible day dreaming), playing, etc... You need to assure that you have the attention of your Amazon as you are moving to them from across the room or the house. As you get closer you should be communicating with your Amazon to set the stage for a Step-Up, i.e. Okay Now, We Need to Move, etc... Now once in front of your Amazon, you need to clearly state: Step-Up!

Humans tend to stray away from a clear Step-Up and are surprised when the Amazon does not Step-Up!

Verbal Rewards should always follow the Step-Up! Once again, Humans tend to stray away from the Verbal Reward!

Training does not start when you are in trouble, that's too late.

1. Assure that you have the attention of your Amazon!
2. Communicate that a Step-Up is coming (do not use Step-Up from across the room)!
3. Once in front of the Amazon, clearly state: Step-Up!
4. Verbally Reward the Step-Up!

That is the foundation for training and the request!!!