Bunch of Parrot questions

[yoelleoy]

I was only going to ask one question, but then realized that I got a bunch more that I would like to ask, so I will just put them all in one post.

Firstly, there have been a few silverfish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverfish) popping up in my house, so I was thinking of getting one of those traps with poisons that is used for cockroaches. I am worried that the poison they have could hurt my little guy. So are those traps save for birds as long as they don't start biting at them?

Second question, my bird is pretty new, have had him since March 3rd this year. I can't get him out of the cage (tried and went horribly, made a post before of what happened) so I am trying to get him to perch on my finger first. I tried target training him, but he is stubborn and if he doesn't wanna move he just wont move. I tried pushing a bit on his chest, doesn't work either as he just moves to the side. I also tried my own little training where I put my finger under his foot and raise it up, it works but he wont put both feet on. I have managed to get him twice on my finger with the trick above (I pushed his other foot from behind so he would perch with both feet on my finger) both times he would be happily perched on my finger eating his millet, then after about a minute get a glance of what he was perching on, freak out and fly back to his perch and give me an angry stare. Now he knows the trick so that option is out. So question is, any other tips on how to get him to perch on my hand?

Final question, my bird is a lovie, I was thinking that if he ever got too lonely I should get him a bird friend. I don't know his gender (assuming male from his behaviour) so getting him another lovebird seems like a bad idea. I was thinking of a budgie. So question is, is is a bad/good idea to get him a bird friend, and if yes, how do you go about it?

 

[ParrotLover2001]

I wouldn't house a lovie with budgie. I have a lovie, 2 budgies, and a cockatiel. My lovie gets along with no one, she use to like my male budgie, until he got hormonal and started chasing her, now she likes no one!

If you spend enough time with him he wouldn't need a bird friend. So, whether it's a good or bad idea to get a bird friend depends on the bird you've already got.
Some might accept another Bird, others won't.


Sent from my Galaxy s8

 

[Scott]

I have tons of "silverfish" in my home, mostly in areas with paper, such as the kitchen and bookshelves. Might be wrong, but don't think they are particularly harmful to birds. Never seem to hang out in or near the cages.

Socializing and making friends with a bird can be a one step forward, two steps back affair! Sometimes it is necessary to return to the beginning and try a slightly different technique. Check out some of the following for advice:

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/3100-bond-forming.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html

I have no experience with budgies/lovebirds but have heard similar advice as ParrotLover2001 suggested.

 

[Kentuckienne]

We get bugs in the house because we live in a rural area. I buy big batches of sticky traps and put them all over. Bugs stick. No poisonous bugs to be eaten by birds.

 

[StChelle]

On the step up, my Eclectus is like that. Been working with him and I can get him to step up on my wrist by making him come get a pumpkin seed or birdie bread. No where near stepping up on command but is much progress from where he was. Have had him about a month now

 

[Jottlebot]

Hi, I've read your previous posts about Jojo. It does sound like you've got a tricky character on your hands! ...no pun intended. ..

I have a few questions.
You said you ordered him from a pet shop. Do you know how old he is? If you bought a youngster do you think that's what you got? I'm wondering if he's lived a long time without human interaction and so has no motivation to attempt to bond.

Also how is he fed? I'm surprised that he isn't interested in target training, although lovies are so little they probably get full quickly and so their motivation will reduce. I wonder if you can remove/let him eat all his food before you try training so he's hungry and maybe only do 5 repetitions at a time so he doesn't get full? Do you reward with something he doesn't have in his usual food?

My final thought was maybe you're not staying with the same step of training for long enough? If you're trying to move him on too quickly he'll just get confused and not know what you're asking for or how he can work for a reward. So he probably won't bother trying.

 

[plumsmum2005]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverfish



Silverfish consume matter that contains polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin in adhesives.[4] These include book bindings, carpet, clothing, coffee, dandruff, glue, hair, some paints, paper, photos, plaster, and sugar. They will damage wallpaper in order to consume the paste.[15] Silverfish can also cause damage to tapestries. Other substances they may eat include cotton, dead insects, linen, silk, or even their own exuvia (moulted exoskeleton). During famine, a silverfish may even attack leatherware and synthetic fabrics. Silverfish can live for a year or more without eating if water is available.[2][4][16]
Silverfish are considered household pests, due to their consumption and destruction of property.[2] However, although they are responsible for the contamination of food and other types of damage, they do not transmit disease.[4][17] Earwigs, house centipedes, and spiders are known to be predators of silverfish

Thought about getting a pet spider LOL. Would not recommend any poisons to rid these creatures in order to protect your bird.

 

[yoelleoy]

Hi, I've read your previous posts about Jojo. It does sound like you've got a tricky character on your hands! ...no pun intended. ..

I have a few questions.
You said you ordered him from a pet shop. Do you know how old he is? If you bought a youngster do you think that's what you got? I'm wondering if he's lived a long time without human interaction and so has no motivation to attempt to bond.

Also how is he fed? I'm surprised that he isn't interested in target training, although lovies are so little they probably get full quickly and so their motivation will reduce. I wonder if you can remove/let him eat all his food before you try training so he's hungry and maybe only do 5 repetitions at a time so he doesn't get full? Do you reward with something he doesn't have in his usual food?

My final thought was maybe you're not staying with the same step of training for long enough? If you're trying to move him on too quickly he'll just get confused and not know what you're asking for or how he can work for a reward. So he probably won't bother trying.

Well I do not know his exact age, but I know for sure that he is less than a year old. I had some friends who used to take care of parrots take a look at him and they said that he was very young.

The way I feed him is he has two bowls full of seeds and always a piece of fruit for him to eat. (I am planning to convert one of the feeders to fruit/veggie only from seeds, he just started eating fruits). When I train him I reward him with a few bites out of a millet spray, depending on the thing I asked him to do I vary the amount of bites I let him take. (ex coming over to let me touch his beak would be 1 bite while letting me touch him around the neck would be 3 bites) He will always eat the millet if I put it in front of him, but if he has to move he wont go for it. Just this week I finally managed to get him to move from one side of his perch to another to get the millet, now trying to get him to move to another perch for it.

Also I am pretty sure I sticked with the same step up training, however as I said he learned the trick I was doing on him, so now when he sees me put out the finger he will maybe put his foot on for 5 seconds before moving to the side.

 

[plumsmum2005]

On the step up, my Eclectus is like that. Been working with him and I can get him to step up on my wrist by making him come get a pumpkin seed or birdie bread. No where near stepping up on command but is much progress from where he was. Have had him about a month now

Sorry to go off topic but would love to know perhaps in new post how your two get on, be really interesting.