RiosMom
New member
Hi all,
I wanted to thank everyone for just being here as a resource! My white eared conure Rio and I have been best buddies for over a year and a half and then about 4 weeks ago...yikes. She was grumbling if I came near her cage, bit her cage/perches if I approached and bit me when she stepped up (and she was a bird that no matter what I did in her cage she accepted it). She would only do that if I had been away and she was mad at me, but this was new. I was upset and confused!
Enter parrotforum and a wonderful guy at the rescue I volunteer at. I read as much as I could, Luke suggested the behaviorworks site and I picked as many brains as I could for help. I started doing the ABC behavior program and clicker training.
In just a week of really trying to understand her and the behavior she was exhibiting, we've worked together and it's working! I moved her cage to a new location so that her routine was a bit shaken up, she gets better sleep and I have purchased a sleep cage that I will introduce soon (I have a 20 year old and a graduating 18 year old...not a quiet house!). I started taking her out in a Celltei backpack so that she expands her world more (and I get a lot of funny looks :09
. The clicker training is going well and she targets quickly, no matter where I move it from the stand. I'm teaching her to turn.
She's taught me...things I thought I knew. She's not a domesticated dog. She likes when I'm happy, but "pleasing" me is not her primary concern. I've learned that she needs more of a purpose when out (she has never played with toys). I've learned demanding is counterproductive (duh), I'm asking instead. No means no...so I come back later (unless I want a piece of my finger missing and I'm not a masochist). I've learned what springtime means and how to lessen the effects on her, and therefore me. I've learned that exercise isn't only for humans. She's taught me that I'm as stubborn as she seemed to be and that although I thought things were great, they can be better. The journey is sometimes more important than the destination.
So again, thanks for being here for me! And although Rio can't read...thanks for putting up with me and helping me to understand you!
Have a great day everyone!
I wanted to thank everyone for just being here as a resource! My white eared conure Rio and I have been best buddies for over a year and a half and then about 4 weeks ago...yikes. She was grumbling if I came near her cage, bit her cage/perches if I approached and bit me when she stepped up (and she was a bird that no matter what I did in her cage she accepted it). She would only do that if I had been away and she was mad at me, but this was new. I was upset and confused!
Enter parrotforum and a wonderful guy at the rescue I volunteer at. I read as much as I could, Luke suggested the behaviorworks site and I picked as many brains as I could for help. I started doing the ABC behavior program and clicker training.
In just a week of really trying to understand her and the behavior she was exhibiting, we've worked together and it's working! I moved her cage to a new location so that her routine was a bit shaken up, she gets better sleep and I have purchased a sleep cage that I will introduce soon (I have a 20 year old and a graduating 18 year old...not a quiet house!). I started taking her out in a Celltei backpack so that she expands her world more (and I get a lot of funny looks :09
. The clicker training is going well and she targets quickly, no matter where I move it from the stand. I'm teaching her to turn. She's taught me...things I thought I knew. She's not a domesticated dog. She likes when I'm happy, but "pleasing" me is not her primary concern. I've learned that she needs more of a purpose when out (she has never played with toys). I've learned demanding is counterproductive (duh), I'm asking instead. No means no...so I come back later (unless I want a piece of my finger missing and I'm not a masochist). I've learned what springtime means and how to lessen the effects on her, and therefore me. I've learned that exercise isn't only for humans. She's taught me that I'm as stubborn as she seemed to be and that although I thought things were great, they can be better. The journey is sometimes more important than the destination.
So again, thanks for being here for me! And although Rio can't read...thanks for putting up with me and helping me to understand you!
Have a great day everyone!
