siobha9 Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Liath is now playing a new game. She understands step up very well. If I put my hand up to her, she says Do you wanna step up? And steps up very nicely.... most of the time:unsure: . In the past couple of weeks when she is on her play gym and I need to put her away for meal times or whatever, she swings upside down and stays there. There is no way I can grab her and put her away, and there is no way she will step up. This only happens when she really hasnt been out for long enough. Like first thing in the morning I let them out for an hour or so until the kids are ready for breakfast, and then put them back in while they eat. She gets out again after they have gone to school. Its so frustrating because she is obviously doing it so she can stay out :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Oh yeah, Siobhan, she has you pegged all right and you are letting her get away with it if you don't push onward and make her step up. If you play along with her little game it will never end so who is the smarter cookie here, she has you right where she wants you so it is your job to show her different, right:whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 I know... I am smart, but she is smarter:blush: But how do you make an upside down bird step up? If I push her upright again and then ask her to step up, she just spins around till she is upside down again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Where there is a will there is a way, since she is out of the cage and you really need to put her back in I would just grab her body with one hand and right her up and then make her step up but then that is how I would do Josey if she did me the way Liath is doing you.:silly: :side: :pinch: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 :laugh: sorry for laughing Siobhan, it was the picture of Liath spinning upside down ! If it is only happening when she has been out for short while it may be her way of protesting that she is not ready to go back in , I'm not sure what to suggest but you know she mustn't have the upper hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 {Feel-bad-0002006A} Its not funny!!!! What should be a 2 second exchange turns into a pantomime. I have to drag a chair over to the cage. Stand up on it (which is no mean feat because I am TERRIFIED of heights:pinch: ). And try to convince my dumb bird to step up. Meanwhile she is hanging upside down and she is saying "Come on Liath, Good Girl, Come on", and I'm agreeing with her all the while. And I'll push her upright, and she says Huh? And spins upside down again. And the kids are laughing, and Oisin is laughing. And 10 minutes later she finally says "Do you wanna step up?" and steps nicely onto my hand :huh: I can't physically get her feet off the gym cos she hangs on so tight So have to stay there till she is good and ready... so please.... any other ideas? I'm dying here {Feel-bad-00020066} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 {Feel-good-0002006E}Blackmail ??? Save her favourite treat just for retrieving her in the morning :side: :silly: that's the best I've got :pinch: what i wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in your house in the mornings :whistle: :whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Me too, Tracy, I must just have it lucky or something, I never have a problem with Josey stepping up for me:whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 That's because your birds are brilliant, and mine is a defiant little..................bird:whistle: Ok for want of a better suggestion - bribery it is...will let you know how I fare tomorrow morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I can't wait to see how you handle the one with the stubborn streak in the morning:lol: :silly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 Well, to say that it didnt go very well this morning would be the understatement of the century. I filmed a short piece of my attempt to get her back in the cage so you can see what I mean by spinning. At the beginning I am going to get Oisin and you can hear Liath in the background telling him to step up... the little madam knew that it was time to go to back in for breakfast. After I shot this, I put down the camera so I could use 2 hands and eventually I got her back in her cage using brute force. The treat didnt work and I was running out of time to get the kids to school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 OK as much as i want to I'm not going to laugh :pinch: I can see from the video just what a problem you are having with Liath.Im racking my brains for a solution but i really dont know the answer Siobhan, i can only suggest a few ideas Can the gym top be removed from the top of the cage ? Do you have a playstand that you could use instead for a few days ? The main problem here apart from the obvious stepping up, is the height issue,Liath has the upper hand over you & is using it to her full advantage.She needs to be brought down to your level while she is refusing to step up in the mornings, otherwise you are going to have this constant battle everyday.I will see if i can come up with anything else for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 lovemyGreys wrote: Can the gym top be removed from the top of the cage ? Do you have a playstand that you could use instead for a few days ? Yes the top can be removed, but I don't have a play gym (unless you count the curtains!) The rest of the time she steps up from the top of the cage nicely. Its only in the mornings. I am thinking maybe I should leave her in until the kids are gone to school, but that would be 1-2 hours she would be missing out on. And she has been out before breakfast every day since forever. All ideas gratefully received. This is driving me nuts. If anyone watches this and thinks I am doing something wrong in the way I am asking her to step up... please tell me. Some little tiny detail will crack this one! Siobhan PS Thanks for not laughing!:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Siobhan i was going to suggest keeping Liath in her cage but i really dont think that's the way to go. On watching the video again i think the way you are asking Liath to step up could be polished up a little You are offering your hand at times in the wrong position & asking " Do you want to step up " Hold your finger or wrist in front of the bird, level with the bird’s abdomen directly above the feet. Make sure you are close enough that it will be an easy step for your bird. Apply gentle pressure to the abdomen & at the same time just a short verbal command " Liath step up " once she has stepped up with your thumb apply gentle pressure over her toes to stop her escaping,if need be you can cup her wings with your other hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I cannot view the video as I am at work but are you asking her to step up, I don't ask Josey, I just extend my hand and say step up or if she just sees my hand coming her way she knows what I want her to do. Sorry you are having a problem with Liath and I will try real hard not to laugh:blush: :lol: :whistle: sorry can't help it:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 Ok... I guess I can see the funny side, I forgive you for laughing Judy:laugh: I will try to be firmer with her. Its hard though, especially when she is so funny. I just went over to her now and said "Step up Liath", really crossly. And she said "Do you wanna steppy uppy?" But she stepped up:P . Its not a true test though, she has been out of the cage pretty much since 9.30 so she is happy enough to do anything and go anywhere. At this time of the day I can sit at the table, raise my hand and ask her to step up and she flies to my hand. I'll have to wait till tomorrow morning to try again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Right that's it if Judy's gonna laugh then so am i :laugh: no more serious from me :pinch: :whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarbeth Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 My experience is only with human kids, (so take this all with a grain of salt) but I am curious about the rest of their routine in the morning - like in that first hour that the birds are out, are they just playing or are they eating, too? Because maybe if you arrange it so they haven't gotten breakfast yet, you could entice them back into the cage for that if you really need to get them back in there for a bit each morning. (not meaning to starve them, but just to make the yummy part of breakfast not available until they go back into their cage for it.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyric Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hi Siobhan! Your Liath is quite the little flirt isn't she? I love how she is all kissy and sweet while refusing to do what you want. It looks to me like she is just playing a game with you- a game that she intends to win. I think you should try the bribery that Tracy suggested. Give her a big juicy grape, but only after she is on your hand. And, don't ask her if she wants to step up, tell her "Step up" in a firm voice, like you aren't messing around. Good luck tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 Yep, flirty she is for sure! I tried the bribery this morning and she wasnt having any of it.... I couldnt show you that on camera cos I needed 2 hands. I held the nut away from her so that she had to step on to my hand to get it, but she wasnt interested. Their routine is, I wake them about 6.30/7am, and take them out before they are even really awake. I get lots of cuddles from each of them while i am having a cup of tea. Then they play up on top while I tidy around, get dressed, call the kids etc. About 8/8.30 I put their breakfast in the cage and I try to put them back to bed. Oisin is a pet, he is hungry and he knows whats coming, Liath is.... well Liath is Liath! I will be firm tomorrow and see how I get on. :dry: Wish me luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 That was going to be my suggestion Siobhan, you need to be a little more firm and forceful, she is getting the best of you and she knows it, time for you to take control and if you handle it correctly you won't get bit over it either, wishing you luck;) :whistle: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldn1 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Sorry hon, laughing and green with envy here. It could be worse. My Dorian is a sucker for peanut butter filled pretzel bites, she races to her food bowl for them when we trick her in to going back inside her cage. But, even think about touching her and you're taking your life in to your own hands. Can't wait for the next installment of the story. Good luck hon. I don't have near the experience the others do but my instinct would be to not let her out during morning time for a day or two....maybe let Oisin out and let Liath see how much fun it is to be a good little birdie . But that's probably wrong, for lots of good reasons....lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 Well the next installment will have to wait a while. I slept in this morning and didnt want to have to waste time struggling to get her back into her cage. I took her out at 9.30 and gave her cuddles. Then I popped her on the play gym. Just out of curiousity I decided to see would she step up for me. I stuck my hand out and got really cross and said "STEP UP LIATH!" And she did:ohmy: I will believe it tomorrow though, because she had only just got out, and she knows I wouldnt let her out and put her straight back in again She has brains to burn my little devil! Takes after her mother you know;) :laugh: :woohoo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Why did you get really cross ? You only need to be firm :laugh: She is a clever little minx Well tomorrow is another day so you will have to update us on your morning antics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I usually have the patience of Jobe but I can't wait for tomorrow morning to see the next installment of "will she or won't she":laugh: :lol: :whistle: sorry I can't help but laugh:P Maybe with the Irish you can't be just firm, with that temper they are noted for it comes across as cross:evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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