What's bluffing? And how to remedy it?

[Joshuwaaa]

When people say an IRN goes through a bluffing stage what exactly does this mean? Has anyone got through the whole stage? Does is last forever or just an individual amount of time?

When does it occur?

What are the signs?

How do you remedy, deal, aid the situation?

Thanks

 

[MikeyTN]

It's no different when a macaw bluffs. They act all bad and wanna eat you alive.

 

[Joshuwaaa]

Aaaaa poo! Holli hasn't really gone through any bluffing, but then again I only see her at moms at the moment so I guess I can't tell as much.

I am slightly concerned reading through threads that this bluffing is a make or break situation. Any tips?

 

[MikeyTN]

If your afraid to get bit cause they will try even bluffing, best to use a training stick. Most birds are rather easy to train if you know how to do it. The only difficult one I've dealt with was a U2. As you know there's different training methods you can use but one of the top methods is target training.

 

[Joshuwaaa]

Oh okay, so it isn't as horrifying as I expected? Just requires the normal patience and training needed to care for a bird haha

 

[Mekaisto]

The only people who can't handle the bluffing stage, in my experience, are people who don't know how to handle or train a bird properly

It's the usual flaring up, screaming, biting - usually worse in males, that some careful training and time can get you through

I've had a ringneck go through 1 week of bluffing, all the way up to a plumhead who bluffed for almost a month. It's not very long, and a very sweet, well trained bird waits for you on the other side.

 

[Joshuwaaa]

Oh brilliant, thank you. I'm glad it's not as bad as some think.

I have found an indian ringneck who someone seems desperate to get rid of, I was thinking of going to get him. He's a young green male by the sounds of the ad and after talking to him he doesn't seem very happy with the bird, common with parrots. As ever I will probably end up paying and taking the bird, just because I hate seeing it. Me and mom have taken in loads now so between us we will care for him haha. If my neighbours aren't bothered by him, I think il keep him here! I've been desperate for a little bird in the place.

Worst comes to worst they never go out the family, and the house me and jack are mortgaging has enough space for Holli, Loki, Cricket and any more newcomers. Thank the gods jack is so accepting.

Who needs kids when you have fids

 

[WesselG]

Of my flock of five IRN's only the oldest female went through a bluffing stage so I'm not an expert on it. Of the other four I purchased two as adults, one is a baby of 3-4 months old and the remaining male didn't seem to know what the word "bluff" means so I'm only likely to go through it again once the baby start maturing.

What I can say is that a lot of patience will get you through it as well as accepting things on the bird's terms until the hormones settle down.

 

[Birdman666]

Well, consider the name BLUFF-ing. He isn't serious...

It is actually two things. One, to a large macaw, this is a quite frequently a game. "HA HA! MADE YOU JUMP." This is how we institute beak wrestling...

BUT

It's also a way of saying this is my territory, and you are getting too close, I'm not interested in touching right now,

OR

It's also a test. PARTICULARLY WITH MACAWS THAT HAVE DOMINANCE ISSUES... They are trying to see if by doing the big bad bird routine, they can push people around, who they can push around, and how far they can push them around...

NON-DOMINANT MACAWS CAN BECOME MACAWS WITH DOMINANCE ISSUES WHERE THE "MADE YOU JUMP" GAME IS TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY BY PEOPLE, and the bird is suddenly taught that he can manipulate people's behavior to get his way by doing it, BITING MONSTERS ARE CREATED THIS WAY.

The answer? PASS THE TEST. If he lunges at you, put the palm of your hand up and beak wrestle. "You don't scare me, silly! But I'm more than happy to play with you!" THAT is what defuses the whole "macaw bluffing" thing.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHO CAN AND CANNNOT HANDLE/DISCIPLINE THEM.

THEY STUDY US... and sometimes know things we wish they didn't.

Does that help?!

Macaws are the worst offenders, usually, but they all do it.

 

[amjokai]

Thank you for all the tips, my Eccy bluffs at me sometimes... I assume that is what he is doing.... As long as he doesn't get a reaction from me he usually stops...