Miss Rosetta Stone...

[Betrisher]

... our newest family member. She's a bit unruly and needs a *lot* of work and training, but we'll get there. We've only had her three days and she's still pretty new and disoriented. I'm in two minds whether to let her out of the cage much until she begins to feel at home (don't want to overwhelm her).

https://www.facebook.com/trish.l.brown.9/videos/10217512962195467/

Any hints or tips on settling down a six-year-old untrained corella gratefully accepted.

Trish

PS. Hope the URL works?

 

[chris-md]

What a stinker! Cute one Trish, congrats on the new member.

I think you know exactly what your doing - just keep it up and trust your instincts.

 

[Flboy]

She is a sweetie!

 

[Scott]

Love the name, Trish! Her demeanor and activity resembles my goffins! Has she done the "twirling in place" dance?

Best advice is to encourage her bonding with the entire family and encourage her activity level.

 

[wrench13]

Well it seems we have some re-establishing todo. My name is AL and my little Amazon is Salty, and we'd love to make your aquaintence. Especially with folks who live down under.

 

[noodles123]

funny name and cute cute bird!

I wouldn't duck down like that and react--- could make it a game for her. If she flew to the woman, the woman should take her off (but until you trust her I wouldn't let her on shoulders). If you don't want her flying to your shoulders/head, then when she does, move her to a non-human location (as she clearly wants to be near you guys)-- start association actions with routine phrases (narrate everything you do and tell her what you are going to do before you do it--she will learn these words over time) . The hunched position also doesn't show a lot of confidence. She may really be enjoying the back-fourth, pick me up game (esp if she likes the man a lot lol). If/when she bites, do NOT yell/lecture like you would a puppy ; you will just make yourself a human squeaky toy.


Also---I get being twitchy around that beak...it sucks being bitten. At the same time, my U2 gets cranky periodically and she usually does a test/head-jerk to see what I will do. Reading signals is good, but I try to follow through with my intentions because mine seems to get a kick out of watching me twitch--if anyone shows fear, my U2 gets a high from it and the bad behavior gets worse (and my bird is pretty dang good compared to many)- If I was going to grab the cap and she did that, I would still find a way to grab the cap. I don't believe in all of that stuff about asserting dominance, but I do believe in asserting equality--your bird wouldn't stop for you to get the cap and neither would another bird- Do not teach your bird that by beaking things, she can make you run away (that will be used against you)---Now, yes, this is a new bird etc..but she is clearly confident enough to be interacting the way that she is.....I am not saying ignore signals, but this bird seems to be testing the woman...and wincing/jerking will only add to trouble. If you can down a bottle of wine and then play with the bird initially (LOL) that may be better...then you won't react as much...I did this...not going to lie. Now I don't even bat an eye, but it is hard at first...especially once I knew what the bites were like. I know it is almost involuntary to move back, but once you trust your bird, you will be very willing to allow it to do things that you never anticipated. Until that time comes, don't let it know that you can be manipulated. Cockatoos are excellent at making things happen...

 

[Betrisher]

G'day Al and how lovely to meet you! I envy you your Salty. It's possible to find Amazons here in Australia, but they're frightfully expensive and it always seems the breeders live in another state. I've never actually seen one in the flesh.

I found our Zetta on Gumtree, where her owner had advertised her. Apparently they had too many birds and wanted a better, more active home for Zetta. I think, too, that she had got away from them in terms of training. Let's hope I can do a little better (fingers crossed)!

It's the great thing about Parrotforums: always lots of chances to make new friends! Great to meet you Al, and I look forward to talking to you again.

 

[Betrisher]

No, she hasn't done the twirling in place dance yet, Scott, but I won't be surprised if she does! I've never seen such an active birdie! Gotta rush out and buy rope, wood, chain etc etc etc to make climbing toys for her. This kid needs exercise!

 

[noodles123]

G'day Al and how lovely to meet you! I envy you your Salty. It's possible to find Amazons here in Australia, but they're frightfully expensive and it always seems the breeders live in another state. I've never actually seen one in the flesh.

I found our Zetta on Gumtree, where her owner had advertised her. Apparently they had too many birds and wanted a better, more active home for Zetta. I think, too, that she had got away from them in terms of training. Let's hope I can do a little better (fingers crossed)!

It's the great thing about Parrotforums: always lots of chances to make new friends! Great to meet you Al, and I look forward to talking to you again.

Not bad behavior compared to many...

 

[Betrisher]

> funny name and cute cute bird!

Thanks. My aim is to make her cuter by teaching her some manners.

> I wouldn't duck down like that and react--- could make it a game for her.

I know. The problem is, my daughter (Ellie) has history with our old galah. He *hated* her and bit her viciously to the point where he couldn't be out-of-cage if she were in the room. He would gallop across the tabletop just to take a chunk out of her and he would fly across the room to bury himself in her hair and try to remove it! Ell has a bit of un-learning to do too, sadly.


> If she flew to the woman, the woman should take her off (but until you trust her I wouldn't let her on shoulders). If you don't want her flying to your shoulders/head, then when she does, move her to a non-human location (as she clearly wants to be near you guys)--

Yes, great point. I'm at a bit of a loss, since Zetta is so quick. I don't get the chance to stop or move her: before I know it, she's zoomed to my shoulder, round behind my neck, down the front of my t-shirt and out the bottom! I don't want to chastise her, since I don't believe chastising works with parrots. I just need to find a good behaviour that I can reward. That's why we started with 'step up' and a sunflower seed. Also, flying across the room between people to use up some of that corella energy! Whew! She never stops!

> start association actions with routine phrases (narrate everything you do and tell her what you are going to do before you do it--she will learn these words over time) .

Yes! Where d'you suggest I start? My first priority is trying to get her to stay on the hand and not rush to the shoulder, but she's so excitable it's not clear how to begin. (NB. I don't plan to train her with all the family in the room - that's just begging for disaster. It'll be one-on-one (maybe two if I need hubby's help))

> The hunched position also doesn't show a lot of confidence.

LOL! It certainly doesn't, but Ell will be OK after a few sessions, especially if I can calm Zetta down a bit in the meantime.

> She may really be enjoying the back-fourth, pick me up game (esp if she likes the man a lot lol).

Yes, since she enjoys doing that with Matt, I plan to use it (see above) as part of her daily exercise.

> If/when she bites, do NOT yell/lecture like you would a puppy ; you will just make yourself a human squeaky toy.

Oh I hear you!

> Also---I get being twitchy around that beak...it sucks being bitten.

Zetta doesn't bite, but she uses her bill, obviously, and sometimes applies it a tad too forcibly. She'll learn. For now, we're all covered thickly in parrot-owner's scars! LOL!

> At the same time, my U2 gets cranky periodically and she usually does a test/head-jerk to see what I will do. Reading signals is good, but I try to follow through with my intentions because mine seems to get a kick out of watching me twitch--if anyone shows fear, my U2 gets a high from it and the bad behavior gets worse (and my bird is pretty dang good compared to many)- If I was going to grab the cap and she did that, I would still find a way to grab the cap. I don't believe in all of that stuff about asserting dominance, but I do believe in asserting equality--your bird wouldn't stop for you to get the cap and neither would another bird- Do not teach your bird that by beaking things, she can make you run away (that will be used against you)---Now, yes, this is a new bird etc..but she is clearly confident enough to be interacting the way that she is.....I am not saying ignore signals, but this bird seems to be testing the woman...and wincing/jerking will only add to trouble. If you can down a bottle of wine and then play with the bird initially (LOL) that may be better...then you won't react as much...I did this...not going to lie. Now I don't even bat an eye, but it is hard at first...especially once I knew what the bites were like. I know it is almost involuntary to move back, but once you trust your bird, you will be very willing to allow it to do things that you never anticipated. Until that time comes, don't let it know that you can be manipulated. Cockatoos are excellent at making things happen...

Oh yes! All excellent points and absolutely spot-on! Thanks! I agree with you about the dominance thing. It's all about obedience and compliance and you do that by habituating the behaviours, right?

When I got my Beaks, they were just babies and very tentative as they learned their environment. We never had a problem (except the day Madge leaned too far into a large glass vase and got stuck there). All our time was taken up with trick-training, since they enjoyed it and were clever enough to learn.

Zetta, however, has clearly been allowed to run riot for all of her six years, so she has established behaviours which I have to help her to forget. This is all new to me, so we'll be learning together. I'm really grateful for your input as another cockatoo owner and hope you don't mind if I call on you from time to time?

 

[noodles123]

anytime!!!
She will bite..My "too" is very gentle, but very emotional. She feeds on drama/emotion and I swear she can hear my heart lol..Sometimes her bites are related to over-stimulation.

I don't get bitten often, and never have been bitten with full strength...but just as a child has a tantrum, a cockatoo WILL bite...not as hard as he/she can, but as a means of making him/her self known.


Treat them like you would a very intelligent/gifted toddler with a fear of anything new and a love for routine and entertainment (verrrry much like autism). They don't always know what is good for them, and that needs to be taught. At the same time, they are who they are.

 

[Betrisher]

I've been bitten by lots of birds and I have to say the cockatoo bites (even the ones from the SCs) are *nothing* compared to a good old chomp from a budgie! Zetta's bite isn't too bad. My Alexandrine, Madge, caught me a beauty the other day. She's very hormonal and moulting at the moment, so I should've known better than to wag my finger in her face. Hoboy! She clamped on and bit down and I saw stars! The finger's still bruised and scabby these four days later.

Still, it was my own stupid fault for not paying attention to Madge's mood. Won't do that again in a hurry!

 

[noodles123]

If you feel that way, you have never even gotten a half-assed bite..lol...a real bite could literally break bone...at least from a U2 or Mollacan (sp?)