Cage Aggression

[SamsMom]

I own a 25 year old Catelina Macaw named Sam and she's ALWAYS been cage aggressive with everyone. With me she has improved in leaps and bounds but still every now and again she tries to remind me it's HER cage, to which I gently remind her it's OUR cage

My concern is when strangers are near the cage she lunges and bashes her beak off the bars, scaring the company and effectively making herself seem crazed.

I've very recently started trying to clicker train Sam and it's very slow going as both me and her are new to it - but the idea I gather is to click and reward when her reactions stop, yes? So I get someone new to stand near-ish her cage to where she starts reacting, wait til there's momentary silence and acceptance, click and reward? Just wanting to make sure I get this right before teaching it to her wrong!

Then once she's ok with strangers let's say 5 feet from her cage with no reactions, make it 3 feet and do the same? I'll never expect her to tolerate stranger's fingers in her cage but I need her to not frighten them for simply walking past to sit down.

Here is where I want to mention that Sam is a VERY quiet macaw. No problems with honking or screaming, she's not bound by anxiety when I leave or come home, only really makes noise at night when she has her out of cage time...and when there are strangers around! You cannot have a conversation in front of her without straining to hear each other.

Sam's cage is in my bedroom as I live with 2 room mates - neither one is a "bird person" but both do not mind her...she is NOT friendly with either of them. Because she knows they are scared of her, she purposely intimidates them. They're teaching her this aggressive behavior gets her what she wants, more space! Therefore her cage and out of cage time is spent primarily in my room (large room) but I take her downstairs to the rest of the house a couple times a week for a couple hours at a time.

ANYWAY - back on topic, is my understanding of clicker training correct? I'd like to start to resolve her cage aggression, and then eventually address her aggression toward strangers - nobody in my life has been willing to help me correct this behavior problem but I'd like to start to address it!

Thank you and I look forward to all advise offered!!!

 

[SamsMom]

*bump*

 

[suebee]

i can't really offer any advice on clicker training, as my nut basically does as she pleases and i just avoid confrontational situations with her, nut can be cage aggressive, like last night i removed her food bowl fron her sleep cage, she lunged as i went to remove it, an then flew on me an bit my face to make her point!!!

but i do agree with you trying to get sam use to other ppl being about, as no doubt at some point you'll have your own place and family etc so his accepting change is a good thing

lucky for me nut is rather nice to new ppl, but i still warn them of her biting, she's had a few chunks from various friends, but they come back for more still as she is too dam charming an sneaky

i would warn them of sams reactions and tell them NOT to react to him when passing
and as for conversations, i feel sam just wants to join in, so have your conversation an inbetween chat to sam

 

[BHCowner]

this is one thing i would not accept with my bird. When i first got my caique i made sure to gain his trust fast. Once that was coming along nicely i was always putting my head hands and arms in the cage with him to play to get him use to the fact that it is also my domain as well as his....he is not cage aggressive but i have the other problem that he is aggressive to anyone new. My mum and nan / aunt who are in my house a lot have a good relationship with him. But nobody new can touch him. They have to spend a lot of time with him and me playing so he can learn to trust them and not bite.

This is obviously not possible with a macaw and i hope you sort it out, but it will probably take a lot of time for the bird to come round. Make sure you keep talking to him and involving him in conversation so he knows you are not there to threaten him or his area.

 

[Abzeez]

I don't have cage aggressive parrots. I am constantly in their business, moving stuff around and sticking my fingers between the bars. Not teasing them, but just letting them know its not a bad thing. My ringneck attacks the blanket every morning when I remove it. Eye pins and gets all puffy. I think it is because he was abused by children in his younger years, but it only lasts a moment and then he is singing and talking away to me. I guess I don't really know how I would deal with a cage aggressive parrot.

 

[Spiritbird]

I have one suggestion for a cage possive bird. Place a perch on the inside of the door. When you need the bird to come out hold treats near the perch and when the bird is on the perch just slowly open the door and the bird is out of the cage. Do not forget to give the bird the treat. This method works for me.

 

[lene1949]

Clicker training is a great way to train birds... They get the concept fast and most really enjoy it. Once the bird knows what's happening it can be used to control aggression and also reduce fear.

Have you looked at clicker training forums for birds? There is one called birdclick and they are very helpful.

 

[MikeyTN]

I have one suggestion for a cage possive bird. Place a perch on the inside of the door. When you need the bird to come out hold treats near the perch and when the bird is on the perch just slowly open the door and the bird is out of the cage. Do not forget to give the bird the treat. This method works for me.

That trick didn't work for me! Mine knows when your opening the cage and she runs off. What worked was doing perch training for me. Clicker training is a good way to train. But I believe as long as you've got the bird to the point he loves coming out to play, there should be no cage aggression! Cage aggression is usually caused by leaving in the cage for too long of period, abused, and scared. You must get the bird to trust you 100% but do take baby steps!!!!

 

[SamsMom]

Thank you all very much for the tips/ideas!

I have to clarify - Sam is NOT cage aggressive with me. I have 100% trust to the point where even little nips are non-existant. I can go around, on and IN her cage with her and she is nothing but accepting! It's with strangers that she lunges at the bars and honks and whatnot. She'll challenge me every now and again when I'm right in her cage cleaning or changing toys around, but very few and far between.

But how do you fix a problem that doesn't concern you? How do you convince someone to chance a macaw's beak when you're pretty sure she'll try to nip?! Difficult at best but I've got one of my room mates starting to help - she's been my best friend for 4 years and we've got a start but Sam's just learning what clicker training is. At least it's a start...

Thanks again for the replies

 

[MikeyTN]

My macaw does the same thing. I am his main person anyway, my partner doesn't want to have anything to do with him cause of his big beak. Plus he's tried countless times going after my partner. The only thing my partner can do is feed him and give him treats. Plus clean his cage. To go into his cage is a no way nor to touch him in any way. I just give up on the issue of getting Willie used to other people cause everyone is terrified of him except the dogs whom Willie loves a lot! He will kiss them and let them give him kisses. He tolerates dogs over another human or bird! He is THE only bird I trust with my Huskies!!!

 

[Remy]

I think I'd try exposing him to people more. Invite friends into the room and let them get used to each other. I wouldn't encourage them to try physical contact, but to be near the cage, and trying to include Sam in the conversation a bit. Just hanging out with her nearby. Maybe offering treats (on a stick maybe, for safety reasons?), and praise.

For the record, I'm pretty nervous with macaws. Their beaks are scary! I don't mind getting close to them, but I've been nipped enough times that I'm not comfortable trusting them with that anymore (unless I was with a proven tame one, haha). Puck bites are bad enough, lol.

 

[SamsMom]

Ironically treats on a stick will be instantly attacked. She won't care what's on the end of it - if it's on a stick of any kind she wants to kill it. I don't know what training was done for the first 16 years, she's always been this way.

I tried teaching her "up" onto a stick years ago so my sister could bring her out of her cage. Tried teaching it from her trick perch, from the couch...doesn't matter. All sticks are the devil and will be full out attacked as such. Needless to say we gave up with sticks.

Will try and bring her around new people more - though company doesn't often visit in my bedroom but I can bring her downstairs more.

We have a vet visit coming up on Monday - her left eye is blind, we tried drops and whatnot years ago but now there's a small area of white over the pupil and it's more bloodshot. Will take her in for testing to find out what it is Monday...kinda nervous!

Thanks for all the tips and advise!

 

[lene1949]

I would probably start from scratch with a bird this old... By that I mean, start target training her... Being aggressive with a stick is the perfect excuse...

As soon as she bites the stick, click and give her a treat... repeat half a million times... By then you should be able to move her around the cage by just placing the stick in different spots... After you've done this she has probably worked out what clicker training is.... Then you do the same with step-up, either to a perch or your arm.. Do this even if she already steps up...

There are many books on clicker training... Also have a look at Karen Pryers website.

After 25 years is won't be a quick fix... Don't ever scold her for attacking - she's doing it for self preservation.