Training resources

[Taprock]

We are in the process of adopting a Macaw about 25 years of age. I know he is incredibly smart and has been trained but with his current owner all he would do is ignore her commands and feint at biting. I'm sure we will need to start everything over even if he knows it. What is your go to book, website, etc. with training information?

 

[Birdman666]

I honestly never used any. I learned from working with them. (Though people keep telling me I should write a book...)

If a macaw gets it's way by bluffing or biting, you have just trained it to bluff and bite you when ever it wants something. It's honest to god that simple!

Two fingers on the beak, and or push the beak away with a closed bent fist, and or, the push/pull method stops that stuff immediately and demonstrates to the bird that (a) you are not afraid of him, and will not be intimidated, and (b) you have the ability to control him if he acts up.

Macaws require a firm hand, clear boundaries, and discipline.

Read some of this stuff:

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

There are some links in here that will get you started:

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/57693-my-baby-macaw-going-out-control.html

 

[Birdman666]

We are in the process of adopting a Macaw about 25 years of age. I know he is incredibly smart and has been trained but with his current owner all he would do is ignore her commands and feint at biting. I'm sure we will need to start everything over even if he knows it. What is your go to book, website, etc. with training information?

The other component there, is when a macaw whose bonded, no longer gets the attention he or she is used to, they sometimes get mad and act up... some of this could be the bird "punishing" the former owner for perceived slights... quite literally "I'm not gonna. I'm mad at you right now!"

 

[MonicaMc]

Barbara Heidenreich, Lara Joseph, Susan Friedman, Melinda Johnson, Karen Pryor, Steve Martin (Natural Encounters), Kelly Ballance, Hillary Hankey, Pamela Clark, Chris Shank, and others!


I avoid Bird Tricks and The Parrot Wizard like the plague!!!



Barbara Heidenreich has a great webinar on working with rescue and rehomed parrots.

http://www.parrotforums.com/trainin...omed-parrots-barbara-heidenreich-webinar.html


http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2015/01/do-animals-bluff.html

 

[Parrodise]

I am also searching for training resources and had stumbled upon "The Parrot Wizard" book. Why wouldn't you recommend it?

 

[MonicaMc]

Because Michael, The Parrot Wizard, "follows" Bird Tricks, and both have recommended starving their birds in order to get compliance. They don't consider it starving, but when your bird looses weight (even if the bird was overweight and gets to a healthy weight and that weight is maintained), and feels like they are starving, the birds can revert to baby behaviors and result in stress.

There's other reasons as well, but that's just one of them.


Barbara Heidenreich goes over weight management, which Michael thinks is the same as food management, and it's not.

Weight Management in Animal Training: Pitfalls, Ethical Considerations and Alternative Options
Weight Management Revisited



Weight management is for falconers, and when used correctly, can keep birds at a higher weight than what is considered the average healthy weight while still maintaining desired behavior.

Michael on the other hand pretty much said to get your bird 10% *UNDER* what they should weigh and to keep them at that weight. Well, when a bird loses 10% of their body weight, it's usually best to take them to an avian vet... granted, Michael does say to get the bird's weight down 2% each week, so it would be over 5 weeks that the bird would lose 10% of their body weight... but when it comes down to it, it's food deprivation. Not healthy. Not physically, not mentally.

 

[Parrodise]

Thanks for your advice! Looks like the most popular ones doesn't always mean that they give the best advices. hehe...