He's home!!!

[kimn818]

So I brought my baby home about 2 hours ago. When I picked him up, I walked into the guys yard, and there he was, content, sitting on top of his cage outside. He already knows the step up command. Not step down though. I held him. Even walked around with him. Fell in love all over again. He loved the short car ride home...Once we were in the house, I tried putting him in cage to let him get comfortable. He didn't want to go in.. Instead climbing all over the sides..i asked him to step up on my finger, and he did. He was fine, but then he bit me once. . I didn't over react. Firmly told him no and he stopped.. He was fine for a couple more minutes and bit me again... This time I said no, and put him back in his cage. He is currently having a long conversation with himself. I'll post pics in a little bit. If you all have any tips on what I should differently when he bites, please let me know

 

[RavensGryf]

Congratulations!
For right now, just let him be. It's too early for training sessions since you just barely brought him home. Most likely he's a bit freaked out by everything being all new around him and biting to let you know that he's not real comfortable yet. Give him some settling in time.
Just think if a giant race just adopted "you" as their new pet human... put you into your new room and kept trying to interact with you right away, you'd probably be freaked out and not act like yourself either lol.

As he gets used to things you can start to work with him. It's only his first several hours! For now just sit by the cage, talk nicely to him, and don't pressure him to come out or step up if he doesn't want to right now. Also, for the first few days it's not abnormal for them to not "do" much but observe.

As far as "step down", their natural movements make it easier to step UP, not down. Make the perch or finger is higher than his feet, so even when you're putting him down, he's still stepping up onto the perch.

 

[kimn818]

Thanks for your reply! I kept him out for a while because he didn't want to go into his cage. But I put him in once he bit me. I asked the breeder what he would do when he would bite.. and he told me he said no firmly and put him in his cage. So I did just that so I could try and keep something familiar.. right now hes on top of his sleeping tent whispering to himself..so cute! (apparently he only goes in it during the day and sleeps on top of it at night, according to the breeder lol)..

I found that he likes sitting in his water!

Here's a picture!

 

[RavensGryf]

I think the bird should be inside the cage (for safety) at night to sleep, not just on top. Soon it will become apparent if your baby is truly being nippy, or if he's just doing it from being new and scared. He's a real cutie though!

 

[kimn818]

oh, hes in the cage.. but you know the "happy huts" s? (its a different brand with less threading)... its inside the cage. but he sleeps on top of it, not IN it. lol .. crazy bird!

 

[faeryphoebe1]

He's beautiful! Congratulations. What's his name?

 

[kimn818]

He's beautiful! Congratulations. What's his name?

He's nameless... Im hoping tomorrow something will come to me... I'm leaning toward Cozmo

 

[MikeyTN]

Awwwww....you got the little munchkin home.....

 

[Terry57]

He is beautiful! He has some amazing colours Can't wait to hear what you decide on for his name (Love Cozmo, btw)

 

[kimn818]

Another picture! He took treats from me this morning..I'm curious, the breeder said he loves spray millet.... that was a bit of an understatement...he devoured the little bit I gave him... what are your thoughts on millet? (As a treat/getting him to trust me and know I'm feeding him and taking care of him)

 

[MonicaMc]

He's cute!


As far as bites go, it's best to avoid them! The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs!

If he's bored, give him toys or something to chew on instead! You can also teach him to do some behaviors such as targeting and turn around to get attention!

 

[kimn818]

He's cute!


As far as bites go, it's best to avoid them! The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs!

If he's bored, give him toys or something to chew on instead! You can also teach him to do some behaviors such as targeting and turn around to get attention!

I want to handle him more, but he continually bites. I tell him no and make a nasty face, doesnt phase him. I go to put him in his cage and he latches on to a finger because he wants to be out.

 

[thelittleone]

Mine bites too if you try to touch him.... but if you gonna play with him or fed him with out touching him he will be ok.... did some research about how to stop them from biting and find lots of different answers... some said don't avoid it since they will see that you fear them and they going to keep doing it, best is to move away your finger by turning your hand and let the top facing them so basically they won't bad able to bite nothin since the top f your hand are smooth... some said avoid it...

 

[witchbaby]

Congratulations! Green cheeks are fantastic companion parrots, in my opinion. You're going to have a great time with your new feathered baby.

Here are some suggestions on how to deal with biting.

 

[MonicaMc]

I want to handle him more, but he continually bites. I tell him no and make a nasty face, doesnt phase him. I go to put him in his cage and he latches on to a finger because he wants to be out.

Is he biting because he's being curious? Is he biting because he's not ready for interaction? Is he biting because too much is going on within the environment and he can't settle down?

As far as the cage, why should he go back in? All the fun is out of the cage! One way to teach them to go back to their cages is to only give them their favorite foods or rewards when they go back into the cage. Once back at their cage, spend some time with them. Don't immediately put them in and walk away! Interact with them through the cages bars.


Now, back to biting.... a first good behavior to teach a bird is to target! Once a bird learns to target, you can teach the bird to step up without biting!



[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4DjiRJu5gQ"]Part 1 - Target Training B&G Macaw with Barbara Heidenreich at Rodies Feed & Pet Supply - YouTube[/ame]



[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnlHAHKmP5c"]Part 2 - Target Training B&G Macaw with Barbara Heidenreich at Rodies Feed & Pet Supply - YouTube[/ame]





And if you need a bit of inspiration, here's a great video showing what positive reinforcement can do for a bird!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbHpETj3S7w"]Green Cheeked Conure - Parrot Training and Behaviour - YouTube[/ame]