Flight training

[Riverpet100]

So I have a 20 year old macaw. He has never flew before, and has no idea how to. I have been training him, but he is hesitant, I want to eventually free flight him. Any advice?

Diamond~
Eco~
Laddie~
Petunia~
Mituna~ Lovebird
Sollux~ Lovebird
Coconut~
Creek~

 

[Kiwibird]

Keep trying but you may have to just accept him as he is- non-flighted. We've had to do that, albeit a bit unwillingly as we'd love our bird to do what birds do and fly. Our amazon has also never flown to speak of and at 20, is unlikely to ever learn (despite our best efforts and multiple attempts to train over the 9+ years we've had him). To him, it's normal to climb and/or ask humans for rides. I don't think flight crosses his mind, ever, as a means of getting from point a to b. The few sporadic times he's tried have not exactly gone well for him either... Much like infant/toddler humans, parrots have developmental milestones in their development as chicks/juveniles and if they never reach those, it's unlikely they'll learn with an adult brain. Birds start to fly about the time they wean. Instinct drives it at those ages. If their instinct has been overruled by human intervention (clipping and step up training), they develop different mentally than birds who fledge. The older they get, the more difficult it becomes for them.

 

[SailBoat]

Deep within a Sticky Thread near the top of the Amazon Forum is a Thread titled: I Love Amazons - ... Within that huge Thread of over 30 segments is one that targets 'Re-Fledging Older Amazons.' You will find it useful in developing flight muscles.

As Kiwi's mom indicated, there are NO guarantees!!!

It is very important to first visit your Avian Vet for a 'detailed' cardiac and cardiovascular examination, which includes the air sacks, flight muscles, and a detailed full spectrum blood testing. As a starting point, you must state that you plan to begin wing flapping activities to be followed by possible flight training.

You will also want to have your CAV (Certified Avian Vet) teach you how to listen to your MAC's heart! You will need to identify an at rest and active states. Failure to not be attentive to your MAC's heart rate could result in over stress your MAC.

If your plan is to someday, Freefly your MAC, you will want to have a Micro Chip inserted! Also, it is very important to know what predators are common in your area. We have a large number of Red Tail Hawks and your full flighted Amazon will never Freefly here!

It is a very long way from here to where you are thinking. Years of active train and a huge growth in you knowledge base.

 

[itzjbean]

There are things you can do to encourage him to try to fly, though there are no guarantees he will, you can try to get close. I used to follow Gotcha the Cockatoo on youtube and he is also a parrot that never learned to fly properly, his owner has had success by trying to entice him to jump onto her arm with treats and encouragement. you could also do this, or get a T stand for him to start on and then try to get him to jump to either your arm or another nearby perch, eventually you can increase your distance from him so your macaw can go from stepping up onto your arm to leaping onto your arm from two feet to flying clear across the room to you. It is possible but will require lots of work!

 

[chris-md]

Many ways to accomplish this. Steven (sailboat) had great success with his method.

My eclectus refused to fly also, unless startled. Here’s how I got him to fly. Target Twain first, then do this

[ame="https://youtu.be/DomDr-dXZtU"]Evolution of parrot flight recall training, a tutorial on how to recall train your parrot - YouTube[/ame]

 

[SailBoat]

My method targets getting them to a point that they can fly. Chris really takes it to the next level!

Chris's Video is Great!

Many ways to accomplish this. Steven (sailboat) had great success with his method.

My eclectus refused to fly also, unless startled. Here’s how I got him to fly. Target Twain first, then do this

Evolution of parrot flight recall training, a tutorial on how to recall train your parrot - YouTube

 

[Riverpet100]

I have been using The Parrot Whispers method. Diamond was willing but got a little frustrated when he could cheat his way into getting to my arm because it was to far for him to setup up. As I was trying to get him to jump.

 

[Riverpet100]

I want him to be able to come outside with me, as I am teaching other people about macaws and need to bring him with me. But he doesn't like harnesses, and I don't know his complete flight ability. I think he cant fly as the people I got him from was uneducated of his needs for 20 years. I have a bond at this point. But when taking him from the building he lives in to the house, I am afraid he will fly. I don't know if he can or not. He hasn't tried to fly in his room. But he has glided from the table.

 

[ChristaNL]

Thanks Chris -it's nice to have a face with the name as well I love the calm way you show the steps to take.

SailBoat- wonderfull: just the link/topic I was searching the macaw-section for...I need to go amazon!

Thank you Riverpet, for asking!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I'm glad you're bonding and loving this bird. I'm also glad you're here, and very glad you're getting such wonderful support and advice.

Welcome!

 

[chris-md]

Thanks christa . I’m not the most camera savvy, but I didn’t particulately care. I wanted to help people in my position - bird never learned to fly, how do I teach? and one of the hardest things to do on a forum is explain any sort of training process in a way that lands with a questioner. There are so many in-the-moment nuances and correction that you can’t really convey.

So many people as this question, so I made this video to explain one of the ways to accomplish this. There are many ways to accomplish this. Steven (SailBoat) has an interesting method that has worked really well for him - I’m still waiting for him to video that

 

[Riverpet100]

Hi everyone. Just a little update; Diamond has been harness trained. He has also been flying outside with his harness. He always just glides down, never really flys. Other than one time that he was trying to show off to my friend and he flew from his perch and landed on my arm. He never does that. But Diamond and I now have a very tight bond and we are still working. I don't think he will ever get to the full free flying experience. But he can still do his recall training outside and enjoy the sun. He is just one of those birds that get easily frustrated. I am just happy that he is happy and healthy and has some freedoms, of course, nothing compares to the freedom of freely flying. But what he does now makes him happy and thrive. So thank all of you for the wonderful advice. I have tried some of the advice and it really helped with his recall training. All this training has also brought our bond very tight and I am like his god, LOL. So Thank yall so much!!!

 

[ChristaNL]

Thank *you* for an update
Glad you two are still together and closer than ever!