CaG Chico Progress or no Progress?

[rickster]

Can i get a diagnosis please?

I brought my 12 year old Cag chico home about a week ago.His previos owner was his 2nd home and he did not like her at all.He has taken to me and allows me to pet him when HE wants petted, ..(i.e. scratch,his head, pet his whole neck and back, touch his wings and even his breast).He has regurigitated for me several times and absoulutly loves to see me coming.He wont do much for my wife but she is patient.Heres the problem.He sacred to death of sticks and when one is presented he flies off the cage to avoid it.Once hes on the ground he will willing step up for me but you can tell he just wants to go back to his cage.He wont step from teh cage to my hand he just starts his reguritatting and wimpering and lisfts one foot and then the other.If i push against his breast he backs up.The only way i can get hime in teh cage is to present the stick have him flutter down and then have hime step up on my hand.I dont like scaring him down but I dont know what else to do.Im scared i will ruin what we have built or he will get hurt flying around.Please Help.Thanks

[siobha9]

If he will step up onto your hand from the floor then that is a good start. Have you thought about starting from the floor and teaching him the step up reinforcing with treats if necessary? Then you could progress to step up from a perch or coffee table. Eventually he should step up from anywhere.

 

I would concentrate on step up onto your hand rather than a stick because you may not always have a stick handy (excuse the pun).

 

Siobhan

[lovemyGreys]

Sounds as if you have made great progress,

 

here is a good link on teaching your grey the step up ...

 

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/behavior/f/birdstepup.htm

[rickster]

My biggest concern for now is that the only way to get him off his cage is to get him to fly off.Im afraid he's not going to like me much or get hurt flying into things if i keep doing this.How do you make a stubborn grey go to bed that dosent want to go in the cage at the end of the night?<br><br>Post edited by: rickster, at: 2008/02/07 02:44

[lovemyGreys]

Try to feed him only in his cage, he will return when he is hungry, greys tend to eat before they sleep at night. Instead of the stick do you have a spare perch,sandy or cement type ? one of mine hated sticks but would step on to a perch.

[chapala]

Until you have worked more with the step-up using lots of rewards (a treat he especially likes), I find bribery works wonders. Half a walnut or an almond put inside the cage gives him a tasty reward for going in. Hopefully, that will work with him!

Reta

[Laurie]

I put my finger out there for Klaus to step up on, and if he backs up, I put my other hand behind his butt so he can't really back up.

Also, I've used bribery if I REALLY need him to go in quickly and don't have time for the whole ritual. A walnut or some shredded cheese will usually do the trick.

[judygram]

Yeah if all else fails bribery will work wonders!!!

[juju]

does he come out on your hand ? my birds name also chico is not aloud to come out if he refuses to come out on my hand . you see they like to show you whos boss . ive been breeding greys for 20yrs and i found that they all get bossy . if he doesnt come out on your hand shut the door for 6 mins if he refuses dont let him out just do it all over again . this way it will teach him not to be afraid of your hand. dont use the stick as you dont know the reason for him being afaid of it . yours julie p.s always award him when he comes out on your hand

[juju]

its me again . you said the last owner was a woman did she have the same colour hair as yours wife? if so it might take some time for the bird to realise its not that woman he hated.