training an older CAG

[Cyclone]

Greetings, I am new to the forum.

We started fostering an African Grey a few days ago. There is a chance we may fall in love with this one and just adopt him, but for now we are helping our local animal shelter by taking him in and working with him.

We don't know much about his past. He was rescued from a deceased breeder and seemingly well cared for. He was in a cage all by himself when he was taken in and appears full-grown. His feathers are in excellent condition, we had him clipped before taking him home. He hasn't said a peep since he got here. I have read and read and read about training techniques and am just a little lost because there are so many different methods and so many opinions on which are best and which are cruel. For now I just plan on being flexible.

His first day here we let him settle in and get comfortable. The second day, I couldn't help it and really wanted to test out his temperament a little further. His feet were also pretty dirty from riding in the travel cage, so I wanted to see if he would like a bath. I gently chased him out of his cage onto the floor where I had some toys, treats, etc to explore, and a casserole dish filled with water. I let my Quaker take a quick bath first so he could observe. He was a little fearful of me, but not fearful of any of the toys I had put out. He definitely knows what peanuts are and loves apples. He stood on the edge of the bath and I think he wanted to try it out but was maybe still a bit too nervous with me being there. He did let me splash a little water onto his toes for some clean up.

He wasn't terribly afraid of my hand so I let him do a little exploring. He was gently feeling my hand with his beak when I offered him toys and treats. First question: Is that not okay? Afterward, I thought I probably shouldn't let him bite my hand no matter how gentle he is. And a few times since he has given me some harder nibbles.

So about an hour of play time on the floor went well, I thought. Until it was time to go back in the cage. He either does not know how to step up or just really doesn't want to. I was forced to corner him and get a hold of him to bring him back. I didn't use a towel, just my hands (my quaker is deathly afraid of towels, which can be very inconvenient). There was lots of growling and some hard bites, though it was a quick operation. That whole process made me regret taking him out in the first place, because it probably erased whatever progress in trust we made. I have read that letting the bird settle in to his new place for several days to weeks before beginning training is a good thing. I have also read it is not a good thing, and the 'settling in' only allows him the time to remember any former bad habits. Since he is an adult bird, may have undiscovered bad habits, and I couldn't contain my curiosity and excitement, I went with the latter theory. Any opinions here?

He does seem very alert and inquisitive, especially this morning. For step-up training, I am going to offer a treat with one hand and have my other hand step-up ready. If he can get used to my other hand being there and go straight for the treat every time, I will begin bringing my step-up hand closer to his belly.

About mid-morning I opened his cage door to see what he would do. He climbed out not a minute later. He seems to really enjoy being out of his cage and was quite content. This made me happy! An hour later he climbed back in.

So, am I rushing into the training and socialization thing too quickly? Should I give him more time to 'get settled'?

Thanks,

 

[aibocyrus]

I would also be interested to see the responses to this as far as step up training and what approaches are suggested! Congrats on the new possible addition!!

 

[MonicaMc]

The second day, I couldn't help it and really wanted to test out his temperament a little further. His feet were also pretty dirty from riding in the travel cage, so I wanted to see if he would like a bath. I gently chased him out of his cage onto the floor where I had some toys, treats, etc to explore, and a casserole dish filled with water.

Chasing is not a good idea if it can be avoided. Clicker training, positive reinforcement training and applied behavior analysis are the types of training you ought to look into.

He wasn't terribly afraid of my hand so I let him do a little exploring. He was gently feeling my hand with his beak when I offered him toys and treats. First question: Is that not okay? Afterward, I thought I probably shouldn't let him bite my hand no matter how gentle he is. And a few times since he has given me some harder nibbles.

That's kind of up to you. It shouldn't be encouraged, at least not to the point that he bites.


As far as settling in for a few days to weeks vs immediate interaction? I feel this is entirely up to the bird. My mitred conure was so freaked out when I brought him home that he just wanted to cling to me. My red throated conure on the other hand, as much as she wanted physical interaction she was terrified of it and wouldn't leave her cage. I didn't force her off her cage if I didn't have to, but her desire to be with me was greater than her desire to remain on the cage so she has warmed up to me! In fact, she's not quite the same bird that she was 8 months ago!

He does seem very alert and inquisitive, especially this morning. For step-up training, I am going to offer a treat with one hand and have my other hand step-up ready. If he can get used to my other hand being there and go straight for the treat every time, I will begin bringing my step-up hand closer to his belly.

Sounds like a good plan, although I would not recommend pushing on his stomach to acquire the step up... rather, allow him to use his feet to step up. This may be easier if he's on a perch that you can place your hand on or the top of the cage.

He may very well know how to step up, but he doesn't trust you yet so is refusing to do the behavior even though he knows it.

So, am I rushing into the training and socialization thing too quickly? Should I give him more time to 'get settled'?

I know this post is a couple of months old and I hope you've made some progress since then! Based on the information in the thread, I would have said that he needs more time to settle in, but that it wouldn't hurt to work with him while he's in or on his cage.

Training doesn't have to be done *AWAY* from the cage! Training can start at the cage and as the bird becomes more comfortable with their environment as well as the humans in it, the more you can start training away from the cage, as long as the bird is comfortable!