Training

[abphoto]

Hi All
Ive read and watched various videos and am confused as to the best way to put a bit of structure into Gino and his "out time" he's a good boy now with very little biting and ive learnt that when he comes out and gets onto my hand and "bites" me he's not actually going to bite he's just holding on to steady himself and does it quite often on my neck which did alarm me to start as i thought he was going for my jugular !! but was just stoping falling off.
The problem i have is as soon as he's out he is straight up on my shoulder and cuddles into my neck and no matter what i do to try and entice him down with food or whatever he just walks up and down my shoulders and getting him back into his cage or anywhere else is a bit of a job. Any help, or do i just persevere with treats etc. The only thing he will come down for is Cider or Wine which we don't let him drink but he gets really cross when he's not allowed, I did wonder weather i should make or buy him some pure apple or grape juice in a little shot glass so he has he's own drink.

 

[Jen5200]

Sounds like you have been making good progress so far - they definitely use their beaks for lots of things and checking to make sure they are on a “stable surface” is one of them.

One of my conures doesn’t like getting off shoulders either. I have discovered that I can get him to step off my shoulder onto a neutral stand like a perch or a chair back by putting my shoulder right up against it and telling him to step and giving a treat. I do this regularly as I move through the house (getting him to step off me onto other surfaces), and it’s just part of our day now. Then if I want to put him in his cage, I get him to step up off onto the perch and then up onto my finger and carry him to the cage. I had to get smart about it and keep my arm bent so that he can’t just run back up my arm to my shoulder though.

I tend not to do much fruit juice as I think there’s a pretty high sugar content, but I can’t imagine that a wee bit as a treat would be bad.

 

[abphoto]

Thanks Jen, tonight we've been watching the TV together and he happily sat on my knee and then fell asleep in my hand, for a minute i thought he'd died as just lied over and curled up so progress is happening and I guess he must feel safe to curl up in my hand. just to confirm he did get up and all is well lol.

 

[LaManuka]

Some in-laws of mine have a green cheek that LOVES to fall asleep in his mum’s hand, she holds him virtually in mid-air while she’s on the couch and he just goes straight to sleep, so it must be a “thing” with green cheeks!