How do you train a Ekkie that flies off??

[Miriam]

We've had Saphira for 3 weeks now. Maybe it's too soon, but I feel like I should try to work with her more so that she gets to know me and trust me. However, whenever the comes out of her cage and if she falls off trying to climb to the top play area, she will do anything to keep away from me. She'll hide under things, fly away, bite at me... If I manage to get under her feet and get her on my arm or hand she takes off. How can I teach her step up (which i've been told she knows) if she won't stay put! We built a ladder so she can climb back up onto the cage to minimize the stress for her, but on the other end I feel that that shows she doesn't need to rely on me/us to get back into her cage. Not that she ever showed she appreciated it when i finally got her and got her back to her cage.
Whenever i try to reach into the cage and ask her to step up I get bit at, over and over and she'll just try to get away to her back perch. I've tried using a perch and she bites at that. When we offer treats she bites at them and if she manages to keep a hold of it, it then usually ends up on the bottom of the cage a second later.
I'm just afraid that as more time passes without her being handled the harder it will be.
Thanks for any thoughts you might have!:red:

 

[MikeyTN]

You must clip her during training!!!! I don't clip mine cause they don't try to get away from me. They don't fly off while they're on me either so everything is all good.

 

[Miriam]

I meant to post that...my breeder "lightly" clipped her before I got her. She can fly straight but can't get lift. When I have gotten a hold of her it's usually with a towel or gloves (tried that last time) and she screams at me. Truthfully if i clipped her more I bet she would still try and end up dropping to the ground

 

[Spiritbird]

It is not a good idea to reach into the cage to get your bird out. This action may make them cage possessive. Better to open the cage door and wait for the bird to come out of the cage. If the bird does not come out of the cage at that time then wait until it does.

 

[jew1187]

I completely agree with Spiritbird on this. Don't reach in to her cage at all unless you are cleaning it, in which case she's probably not going to be in there anyways. When I got Skyler I tried the same tactics; He did't try to get away from me but the moment my hand was in the cage he was nipping at it, likewise with a perch. Allow her to come out of the cage when she is comfortable enough to do so on her own. I know it might feel like a step backwards, but until that time, I would suggest sitting next to the cage and just talking to her softly until she no longer views you as a threat and is comfortable enough not to fly away.

 

[MikeyTN]

I have to say it depends on the bird. I had a Quaker that was cage possessive. But my other birds aren't. I pickup all my birds from inside their cage and I don't have a problem. It all depends on how they were trained. JoJo goes through step up training everyday right now and he's doing great. He steps right up now when I have my hands infront of him in his cage!

 

[Miriam]

Yes, I know trying to do anything with some birds inside the cage doesn't always work. I guess I just keep trying all different angles. Inside the cage, on top of the cage, on the floor! I put a play gym we made of wood outside her cage door so she can climb out on that to play...so she doesnt just go right to the top, which is kind of high, and if I walk near her she backs up, or ruffles up.
I guess, I shall keep talking and give her time. I know it's not best to push her.

 

[Ozzy]

Ozzy is extremely cage aggressive and has torn up my hand on multiple occasions. He also does not like to be held when he is around his cage and just focuses on getting back to it. So what I do is wait for him to step out onto the perch Ive attached to the side of his cage and then have him step up and IMMEDIATELY take him out of the room the cage is in. He is a completely different cuddly, loving bird when he cannot see his cage.

 

[MikeyTN]

Ozzy, that is the best thing you can do when they have cage aggression! To get them as far away from the cage as possible.

 

[jew1187]

Ozzy is extremely cage aggressive and has torn up my hand on multiple occasions. He also does not like to be held when he is around his cage and just focuses on getting back to it. So what I do is wait for him to step out onto the perch Ive attached to the side of his cage and then have him step up and IMMEDIATELY take him out of the room the cage is in. He is a completely different cuddly, loving bird when he cannot see his cage.

I do the same thing with Skyler. If he sees his cage he will attempt to get back to it. So I normally take him out of the basement.

 

[Miriam]

I will have to try that...bring her upstairs cause you can see the cage from all of downstairs. It seems she's been plucking..dang it..I sprayed her a little bit ago and can see what she's done on her chest...when she's dry its not noticeable, her feathers smooth right over it. I think I'll take her to the vet...double dang! She already had a bad airplane ride in her carrier so I was hoping to have her more relaxed before going out in it again. She had a vet visit before coming..I have that report.

 

[JJones1719]

Hello, i would advise you to have her wings clipped by an aviary vet. If clipped correctly, your eclectus will not be able to get any lift at all. Second, how big is the cage, if it's small, some birds become agressive because they feel that they are locked up. My eclectus have a king cage that measures 5 1/2 feet high, 4 1/2 feet wide and 3 1/2 feet deep. If your cage has a play top, take it down and get rid of it. It's not a good idea to have cage agressive parrots play ontop their cage because your are feeding into them being the owner of their cage. Purchase a playgym, or just lay a blanket on the floor, get their favorite toys, toss them all over the blanket and let them play, lay on the floor with them and toss the toys around, eclectus love this. the more your hold your eclectus the better both of you will be. You must get her to bond with you or someone in your family. Best of luck. Joe