Shadow
Just Hatched
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 2
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Post by Shadow on Jan 29, 2005 23:08:52 GMT -7
Hi Everyone,
I need help with my 12 year Timneh....I've had him since he was 6 months old. I purchased him from a breeder but wasn't hand feed. I've had problems when I first took him home but he finally came around. He's a big part of this family but it seems in the past few years he has built allot of attitude. He nips when he's in his cage when I try to take him out, when he's out on his perch you really can't touch him. I've come to the point that I know I need to retrain him, aswell to build the trust once again with him. Is there any tips you can tell me to make this process much smoother so he can come around. His vocab is amazing, his eating habits are great.....just the aggression is geeting to me and it's discouraging.
So you're advise would mean a great deal to me.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Tony
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Post by Jane on Jan 30, 2005 2:56:04 GMT -7
As you say he has been like this for a few years, it could be that it started when he became sexually mature and he has stayed this way because he knows he can dominate you. The nipping while in his cage could be a territorial thing, as I suggested to someone else. As far as he is concerned his cage is his property and you are invading it, so he is training you to stay away. If he has not been trained to step-up, this needs to be done, you can use your hand or a stick, but try not to react to nipping or biting. Have something such as a toy or a treat in your other hand to distract him. When he is out don't try and touch his wings or back but offer him food and see if he will let you stroke his beak or the side of his face. Behaviour training involves positive reinforcement, give him praise and attention when he isn't being aggressive, when he is, tell him firmly no and give him a stern look.
Jane
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Post by Tony on Jan 30, 2005 11:54:40 GMT -7
Thanks Jane I will try this for a couple of days. What if he doesn't want to come out of the cage??? Should I use a towell process? I actually did this a couple of weeks ago and held him for about 1/2 hour scracting his head. He didn't like it for a couple of minutes but then he came around. The problem was when I put him back, he went to his normal self. It seems that these past few years have really changed him and it's going to be a tough road ahead. Is it ok to continue to wrap him in a towell to scratch his head so he gains my trust or am I doing more damange?
Tony
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Post by Jane on Jan 30, 2005 13:10:07 GMT -7
If he is not frightened of the towel and you can get him quickly this can be a good way to calm and tame a bird, but it is important not to chase and frighten him because then you will lose his trust. It sounds as if he did enjoy being held and stroked. Try gently stroking him around his eyes and on the feathers covering his ears. They usually really love this.
Jane
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Post by Tony on Jan 30, 2005 14:06:05 GMT -7
Hi Jane
Thanks.....He hated the towell thing but I was also frustrated with the fact of him biting so I wanted to take another approach of making him feel that I didn't want to harm him. He eventually didn't mind but at the same time he did bit holes through the towell. What do you recommend that I do to regain his trust if this is the case?
I'm having someone come over to clip his wings which may calm him down a bit more.
Thanks
Tony
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Post by Jane on Jan 30, 2005 14:25:19 GMT -7
If he is going to have his wings clipped this should make him easier to train. Offering food, especially soft food can help. Many mature greys still love you to hand feed something such as fruit puree or mashed potato. Either use a small utensil or if it is slightly firmer, small amounts in your fingers.
Jane
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Shadow
Just Hatched
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 2
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Post by Shadow on Feb 7, 2005 16:38:59 GMT -7
Jane
I need you're help again.... I have no idea how to handle this guy. It seems everytime I put my hand in his can he attacks me. I have a few nasty bites on my hand which I'm getting really frustrated. I don't know what to do anymore. He totally ignores the up command...when I use the perch he just tries to bite it all the time and ignore to go on it. I'm not sure where to go from here. Do you have any suggestions in what I can do
Thanks for taking the time to read this
Tony
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Post by Jane on Feb 7, 2005 16:56:41 GMT -7
You can only continue to tell him firmly "no" when he bites and maintain eye contact. If he has bitten you, totally ignore him for a while straight afterwards. Putting the cage as low as you can might help, if it is possible, because height often plays a big part in aggressive behaviour.
Jane
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