Re- training ?

[Littlebirdie]

Hi everyone. We have a Sun Conure, Flame she is in her 20 ies, and over the past few years we have " Bonded " quite well. I started by just sitting on the floor by her cage reading a book and she started to come down to me She will come out of her cage when i ask, she will give me kisses ( nudging my cheek ) if i ask. She will take food from me and she's more than happy to sit on my shoulder while i walk around the house,she wants to hang out with me. Its taken a while to get this far. Her fav treat is a cherio !

I would like to do more training with her but, i have never taught her the step up command. The proccess of taking her out of the cage is that she comes down off her pearch, i place my hand ( flat, plam down ) by the door ( never in the cage ) she tests with her beak and climbs on my hand.
She has done this process for a long time from my partner.

This is the usual way she comes out. However, once she is out she heads straight for my shoulder. She doesnt like to stay on my had for long. The main problem is getting her of my shoulder to go back in her cage. I have place my shouder near the cage door for her to go back in.

Should i re train her to learn the step up command? Im aware now, thanks to some kind advice that shoulders are for privileged/ well behaved birdies.

I would also like to be able to have her ( as suggested ) sat on a pearch/ gym /trainning while im in the kitchen for example, but she will not go anywhere near any new pearch etc, and i can not get her from my shoulder back onto my hand!

Id would greatly appreciate any help.
Thank you

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi I have this with Plum but on the whole it is OK. If I want him on his stand it's best to go straight there from bringing him out of the cage. I also know the shoulder contortion too! The key question is, are you happy with Flame on your shoulder and is she well behaved? My friend used to have a Sunny and she used to do everything around the house with him on her shoulder. It was OK as he was trusted. Take it slow re the training stand etc and reward each time she goes on it, even for few seconds. Does she think you are going to go off elsewhere whilst on it? Stand still by it and treat and talk to her see if she gets to be a bit braver. Once she's OK with the stand it will make the step up exercise easier to do from it. It will take a while so take it easy, stay relaxed. Can you try to get her interested in small pieces of nut or fruit as a treat? Obviously you shouldn't feel you have to do it but it does make life an awful lot easier if they will step up etc to command ie at the Vets or something happens and you need to re-cage quickly. Keep us updated won't you?

 

[Littlebirdie]

Thank you plumsmum2005

I dont have a stand for her , but would love to get one, and as i would struggle to get her back off of one, i thought teaching her the step up/ step down command first would help to get her on and off of one. She wants to be with me everywhere lol. Im happy with her on my shoulder and shes well behaved when she is appart from the very rare nibble of my ear !

The problem i have is getting her off my shoulder lol.
She wont go back on my hand to get back in the cage, i have to put my sholder to the cage door then she will go in, providing she wants to, othrwise she will scoot to the opposite shoulder if she doesnt want to go back !

I posted a second post today where she actually got on to the perch i put outside the cage. I asked her to step up ( onto the perch ) and she did !! I couldnt believe it !!

 

[Littlebirdie]

Hi Plumbsmum2005, is your Plumb step up trained does he behave on your shoulder ?

I watched a video yesterday that said its easier to just use the " Step Up " command and not the " step Down" If you have your bird slightly lower than whatever your are placing them onto just use the Step up. I hope that makes sense ?!
Im hoping to do some more with flame today. With her stepping up onto the perch outside the cage yesterday, i was SO shocked, i think i put her back too quickly.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hellooo Plum does step up a bit and 90% good on shoulder. I inherited bad habits and he gets upset trying to change. I accept that his beak is his communicating tool and I get a pinch rather than a bite now to express unhappiness. He gets time out and its clear when he's overstepped the mark. I use a very stern voice to let him know I am not happy and this works well - he takes himself back to his cage!

 

[Littlebirdie]

Hellooo Plum does step up a bit and 90% good on shoulder. I inherited bad habits and he gets upset trying to change. I accept that his beak is his communicating tool and I get a pinch rather than a bite now to express unhappiness. He gets time out and its clear when he's overstepped the mark. I use a very stern voice to let him know I am not happy and this works well - he takes himself back to his cage!

Lol takes hemself back in the cage !!?? How old is he ? Flame has only ever bit once and that was an accident. I did raise my voice to her yesterday, never done it before, her face was a picture !! She always come sraight out from my hand straight to shoulder so i guess it will take a while for that to change which is fine. This sounds so silly but shes getting on now and i want her to have the best time !! Right now im sat on sofa and she is my end of the cage watching what i am doing ! Id of loved to have a companion for her but she is too old now.

Time out ? !

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hellooo Plum is 10. I have two pinch bruises from him this week. He absolutely loves going upstairs to my bedroom. It is supposed to be flying exercise for a porker but he has got round that one and now climbs the stairs instead. Stubborn little ......! For some reason my bed is the attraction and he gets all puffed up & struts round like he owns the place so bringing him down doesnt sit well sometimes - thus the bruises. Yes, we tell him he's naughty and he says go byebyes and walks off towards his cage lol. If you use a sterner voice rather than shout as you dont want mimicking shouting do you? Plum knows I mean business too and doesnt usually argue. How old is Flame. If she's good what's the harm?

 

[Littlebirdie]

Im in stitches lol, He sounds adorable not the bruises though!! I just raised my voice to Flame yesterday for the first time,i didnt shout it was enough to stop her in her tracks on the way to biting me, i saw it coming ! No, no mimicking shouting LOl . Id love to see him climbing the stairs lol. Im just about to get Flame out for a bit. Flame is in her 20 ies now.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I'm working on a video of climbing the stairs. Need hubby to help with clipping them and also getting some pics of him strutting around my bed on here. I'm not very tech enabled! Just doesn't float my boat.
He's really quick going up, reach, beak grip and claws. I've had to change my phone cover (grey) to diff colour cause he charged at me trying to take pics of him. Really doesn't like it.

 

[Littlebirdie]

I'm working on a video of climbing the stairs. Need hubby to help with clipping them and also getting some pics of him strutting around my bed on here. I'm not very tech enabled! Just doesn't float my boat.
He's really quick going up, reach, beak grip and claws. I've had to change my phone cover (grey) to diff colour cause he charged at me trying to take pics of him. Really doesn't like it.

Brilliant !! I cant wait to see them !! He He!! Just having a cuppa before i get her out, i cant have a cup of tea while she's out because she wants to get in the mug all the time !! Does Plumb have a fav treat ? Sorry for all the questions !

 

[plumsmum2005]

No probs it's good to tatter away. Yes my dinner! lol. Can't get away without giving some potato (tiny morsels) and egg. Just had to fetch him & typing one handed as sitting on my elbow so assume he's had enough of me doing this?? Plum loves tea too! Very much a mummy's boy.

 

[Littlebirdie]

Aww, bless him! Lol I havent tried sweet potato with Flame yet, i struggle to get her to eat fresh fruit and veg. She loves apple but ends up at the back of the cage when i offer anythig new ! Having said that she was brave the other day and tried a small piece of strawberry, which was hillarious! I am bit worried that Flame is too old for anything new ?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Love your signature brill!
Mash up cooked (steamed) apple in veggies so she tastes apple but eats veggies. Never to old to try! How old is Flame? Just had a part fly/climb upstairs and a strut around the bed - beating up my phone case and mimicking me sneezing. Feed it to her - pretend to eat yourself it works. lol

 

[Littlebirdie]

Love your signature brill!
Mash up cooked (steamed) apple in veggies so she tastes apple but eats veggies. Never to old to try! How old is Flame? Just had a part fly/climb upstairs and a strut around the bed - beating up my phone case and mimicking me sneezing. Feed it to her - pretend to eat yourself it works. lol

Thank you ! You wont believe the pictures ive got in my head of your Plumb doing all that !! Im sat giggling to myself !!

Flames around 21. She was supposed to be 12 when my partner got her ( we wernt together at the time ) but we think she was older than 12 at the time. Ive just put her back, she had a couple of attempts of bitting on the step up command. Didnt seem to get any progress though. She goes straight onto the perch, dont need to ask her but she wont go back on my hand. She done well though, so we had a bit of a chill out together i managed to get some pics of her. yay !!

I will try the mashed apple, thanks I got her into Cherios as a treat by sitting on the floor next to her cage- opened eating a bowl of them, it worked but god did i feel sick lol

 

[plumsmum2005]

Sometimes if you do the step up command quick, placing your hand above feet under tummy "step up", treat, place down, "step up" etc it catches them out and they just do it. Patterning. Watch the Cheerios for Flame, not sure about them? Got any nuts or apple pieces to treat with.
He's just well and truly beat up my phone cover upstairs and chased it around the bathroom floor himself, I only did minimal additions to this game. Was hoping he'd flip onto his back and foot wrestle it but not today. He did step up nicely though.

 

[Littlebirdie]

Ha! Your Plumb is SO funny !!!
I will give that a try, thank you. I really ned to get her a training post or something. The perch on her cage is really the wrong way round to get my hand in the right place.

Im pretty stingey with the cherios, i read that they were ok , ( i hope so ) i will check again. I break one into several peices and use less than half of them. She has a crumb of a piece only for training. I struggle to get her to try anything new.
Although we have just discovered she like scrambled egg! i only gave her a tiny tiniest peice !! The only thing she really loves is apple.

I bought a fruit/veg skewer to hang in the cage the weekend. Ive just got a peice of apple to place on it. Talk about impatient, while ive got the cage door open trying to get the washer thing and wing nut back on, shes come out of the cage standing on the door eating it!

Ive done up the wing nut thingy and i find myself holding the door while shes stood there filling her beak,eating the apple from the outside of the cage !! Wish i could of got a pic lol. Hmmm who's the stupid one ??!!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes you never have enough hands! Have you had a look in the Parrot Food Forum. If you have a look at the chop recipes it might give you some ideas for Flame. I now cook all our veg with no salt and then if I have to share it's OK. We have got used to it too. If you start with just a couple of things she knows mushed and add one she doesn't in lesser proportions. Does she eat pellets or seed? I no longer give Plum loose seed, he has Nutriberries and pellets and veggies. If she's resistant try offering off a teaspoon see what she makes of that? If you put it to your mouth and make um yum yum noises they usually want to know what the fuss is. Look forward to hearing updates about Flame

 

[Littlebirdie]

Yes you never have enough hands! Have you had a look in the Parrot Food Forum. If you have a look at the chop recipes it might give you some ideas for Flame. I now cook all our veg with no salt and then if I have to share it's OK. We have got used to it too. If you start with just a couple of things she knows mushed and add one she doesn't in lesser proportions. Does she eat pellets or seed? I no longer give Plum loose seed, he has Nutriberries and pellets and veggies. If she's resistant try offering off a teaspoon see what she makes of that? If you put it to your mouth and make um yum yum noises they usually want to know what the fuss is. Look forward to hearing updates about Flame

Ive been thinking of getting Nutribrries for her. Are they good ? She has a Parrot mix: dried fruit, veg, seeds, nuts. Shes gone off the dried bananna latley though, she oikes all of it out of her bowl to get to the smaller seeds at the bottom! But i think it should change to pellets ? I will have a look at the recipies

 

[plumsmum2005]

The Nutriberries work with Plum, I use Cockatiel ones as he will not eat parrot ones. I think they are too hard?
The pellets that work for me/Plum is Totally Organics again for smaller hookbills ie crumbled pellets. He will eat a little of Harrisons and this is the second go at these but a different type. The problem with seed is they pick all their favourites out and eat those first and foremost. If you give veg first before anything else she might give it a go? If she fills up on other stuff won't be bothered about the veg. Bit like having your pudding before your dinner.
He's had a right good play this afternoon, the phone case well and truly got it and kept tossing it about the floor whilst I was cleaning something nearby. So funny to watch - get the camera out - freeze!

 

[Littlebirdie]

The Nutriberries work with Plum, I use Cockatiel ones as he will not eat parrot ones. I think they are too hard?
The pellets that work for me/Plum is Totally Organics again for smaller hookbills ie crumbled pellets. He will eat a little of Harrisons and this is the second go at these but a different type. The problem with seed is they pick all their favourites out and eat those first and foremost. If you give veg first before anything else she might give it a go? If she fills up on other stuff won't be bothered about the veg. Bit like having your pudding before your dinner.
He's had a right good play this afternoon, the phone case well and truly got it and kept tossing it about the floor whilst I was cleaning something nearby. So funny to watch - get the camera out - freeze!

Well it certainly sounds like he has had a lot of fun today! I have to say, Plum looks beautiful !
Ive got thoes pictures in my head again lol.
I will sort out some pellets and Nutiberries. And try her new friut and veg before her morning feed. Ive just gone and bought a load for her, Sweet potato, carrot, cous cous brociloi etc. Tried her on a slither of sugar snap pea but she doesnt seem interested at the min.
But then shes had apple, scrambled egg , (allbeit an tiny piece ) and bit of a cherio today.
Bag of sweets or a carrot...hmmm tough one !!