I think I'm going to try to make it work

[Molcan2]

I think I'm going to try to give Rosie more time. I'm really really nervous though that she is going to start plucking/shredding. Toos take a full year, if not more to adjust (I know this and I preach this, I need to follow it). I'm just scared because of her age, I'm worried that she'll start plucking/shredding. I really don't want to be the reason that a bird starts doing this. I'm not sure if this fear is even valid. Rome came to me as a plucker/shredder and we have been through so much to stop the behavior, its such a sad thing to see.

The day before yesterday she showed interest in me. She came to the cage door and lifted her foot up, when she did that I put my arm up to her and she would step onto my arm. She would only stay there for a few minutes before stepping back off but she did this 10-12 times. When I brought her inside, after awhile she did put her open beak on my arm but didn't bite down as per her usual. So this gives me hope. My boyfriend wasn't home, just me in the house.

Today, she tried to attack me. My boyfriend was home today. She did her super cute stuff with him (dancing, flipping, rubbing his face)

I work at the hospital three days a week, when I work there he handles the birds in the evening. I'm thinking about not having him handle her on those days either and completely try to remove him from the picture all together and see how she does.

Every time I handle her I do it as if shes not going to bite, even though 3 out of 4 times she does. When she bites me she goes from just sitting there fine and out of no where puffs up and lunges. I'm going to try to remove my boyfriend from the equation and see how it goes. I think that she loves him and that he may be the triggering factor.

If that doesn't work then there is a rescue in the area that has a program. They call it a 'boot camp'. I don't really know all the details, but from what I gather the bird goes there for around a month, during this time is handled by several different people. Then the owner is reintroduced (kind of like a restart) and they try to help you work through the problems together. I figured its worth a shot if eliminating my boyfriend doesn't work.

IDK, what do you guys think? I just hope its not being selfish of me to keep her, I just want whats best for her.

 

[weco]

I think it's spring time, mating season & you're seen as competition.....how frustrating would that be...playing second fiddle to a bird ? ? ?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Spring time does make it a a little harder, especially with a galah going through puberty lol.

I think asking him to not handle her may really help, also remember trick training! It really does help to form a bond because it's FUN

If that doesn't work then there is a rescue in the area that has a program. They call it a 'boot camp'. I don't really know all the details, but from what I gather the bird goes there for around a month, during this time is handled by several different people. Then the owner is reintroduced (kind of like a restart) and they try to help you work through the problems together. I figured its worth a shot if eliminating my boyfriend doesn't work.

I think this sounds great as a last resort, I wish more places offered that.

 

[Molcan2]

Yeah that rescue is really unique. Most of their birds are fully flighted and are allowed to fly. The woman who runs it has a LS2 that flies around the rescue. Its a really neat place.

What are your suggestions for trick training?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I would suggest starting with touch training, it's very simple and is a great way to teach your bird how to use a clicker. After that it's really up to you, I taught Rosie to wave first and it only took about a hour spread out over two days. Make sure the sessions aren't too long, I always recommend people to stop when their parrot is at their best or excited about training so they are excited to start again. Never allow your bird to end the session because they are bored or full! Also be paitent and don't be afraid to go back a few steps if your bird is having trouble learning the next step to help them regain their confidence.

This is a video I did on touch training

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0yIjT4Vf0Y&feature=share&list=UU5QPzcyW6sHN0OBkffHzk7A]Touch Training - YouTube[/ame]

And this is how I taught Rosie to wave

Teaching your bird to wave
I recently taught Rosie to wave, it took about an hour and half spread out over 2 days and is her first real trick. Since then she’s almost finished learning spin and I plan to teach her a lot more. Trick training is a great mental stimulation and creates a language between you and your bird.
Step one
Assuming your bird knows how to step up, you can place your hand in a way that your bird will pick it’s foot up to step foreword and say the word that you’ll be using. The moment his foot has lifted click your clicker and reward you bird. Make sure to be enthusiast.
Step 2
Once he’s figured out that the word means to do something with his foot stop using the step up motion. Say your word and if he picks his foot up even a little this is a success, click and reward. I also taught Rosie a visual cue in which I move my hand in the way I want her to move her foot towards me, I started doing this in step 2.
Step 3
Now that your bird understands you want him to move his foot wait for him to raise it the way you want him to(or at least a little higher). When your bird does this click and be very excited about it, also give him a slighter larger reward to show him how happy you are.
Parrots become bored easily, training in burst of 15 minutes or less randomly throughout the day work the best(at least for me). A fantastic way to keep your bird interested is to stop the training session when he’s most excited, that way he will be excited to start again. Never train so long that your bird stops the session for your as this means they are loosing interest.
Tips from my experience
I had very little luck trick training Rosie until I got her on pellets. On a seed diet she had no reason to work for a tasty little treat she gets back in her cage.
Training in a room without the cage in it.
Pretending to train a person to wave in front of your parrot can help, this can get their attention and even make them a little jealous making them motivated to learn.
If you’re having trouble getting your bird motivated make sure he really loves the treat, if he does but isn’t willing to work for it try training him in the morning before he gets new food or at least when his crop doesn’t have a lot in it. Also make sure he wants to be with you, if he’s forced to go with you he’s probably not having fun.
(Source: rosiethegalah)

 

[Featheredsamurai]

If you think she may bite you rather than take the treat you can hold up a little bowl for her to take the treat out of instead. Something very small, like a little sauce bowl or a small food bowl meant for tiels/parakeets.

I use these small little stainless steal(aluminum core) bowls, I bowl nap them from the kitchen lol I used these when teaching Rosie fetch. They worked great for fetch because they make a very satisfying clank noise.

 

[BillsBirds]

My concern here is that having your boyfriend around, where she will hear him, maybe see him, with no interaction, could make her very upset. She'll probably call to him constantly when she knows he's there. She may feel rejected, and act out aggressively, to you or herself. I think you are in for a long, hard struggle. Not that I would advise against it, but, just be prepared for any possible reaction. And for the record, I'd do just as you are. I'm only pointing out that this could go in any direction.

 

[ROSIEKING]

Check out Chet Womach or birdtricks.com on the web. I've read a lot of his articles about taming and training and he seems to have a great success according to the videos he post.