Socializing: The One Person Bird May 31, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Orlando, Florida
Pals: Military Macaw “Cash”

 

Meet Cash, our 2 year old military macaw (male). When we got Cash, we got two other macaws at the same time; Jersey and Chayko (female and male, sister and brother, blue and gold macaws). Because there were three birds, Dave and I split the bill. I mainly worked with Chayko right away, while Dave mainly worked with Cash and we both gave Jersey work together (Jersey was the easy one!).

 

Cash was the most timid of the three macaws and wanted nothing to do with us. Dave worked with him (using the Power Pause method) and eventually, Dave was Cash’s favorite person in the whole wide world!

 

Well, although Dave could do anything with this bird, no one else could come near him, including me! This was a problem, as we wanted to use Cash in our Saipan dinner show called Magical Flight. For Cash to be able to go into the show, he had to be handle-able by more than just Dave alone (trust me, we tried it!).

 

Since most people aren’t too thrilled at the idea of getting bit in the training process; I got to work with Cash first. We decided to indoor flight train him as his feathers grew in (clipped from the breeder) from me to Dave. He was very reluctant to come to me at all, but with coaxing of peanuts, he did. He didn’t care about peanuts or treats with Dave, when he was with Dave, that was his treat. So we used Dave as the reward in our training process.

 

If you have a one person bird, more than likely, that one person is the bird’s reward. So use that and incorporate it into your training to make it as positive as possible for your bird.

 

When Cash stepped up on my hand, he got a seed or peanut. If that wasn’t what he wanted at the time (and sometimes it wasn’t) and he was too busy looking for a way to get away and back to Dave, Dave would come over and love on him while he sat on my hand. This was a way of rewarding Cash for sitting on my hand.

 

As Cash became more and more calm with coming to me, he’d get more and more love and reward from Dave. We started by standing real close to one another, then eventually I would move a bit farther and a bit farther away from Dave. I would hold on to his toes with my thumb, and when he calmed down I would lift up my thumb letting Cash fly directly to Dave as his reward.

 

Now this training and socializing technique worked two fold as Cash not only loved Dave, but also loved flying. From this point, we just moved further and further apart until I was the one flying Cash from the very back of the theater! He then learned and associated me, with Dave and with flying. He knew if he held out long enough, that eventually he’d get to fly to Dave! What could be better?!

 

On my harness blog you can view a video of Cash flying from me (I’m also the one filming) to Dave. I can now get Cash out of his cage, take him out on walks, and more. He doesn’t love me as much as Dave, but he is no longer a “one person bird”. We used this training and socializing technique with all the cast and crew backstage. Since Cash had warmed up and learned from doing it with me, it didn’t take him long at all to realize it was going to be the same with everyone else. Cash quickly became the easiest bird for anyone (no matter who they were) to handle backstage, on stage as well as off stage.

 

So if you have a one person bird who shows the same signs as Cash, try this socializing method for yourself and please share your results!

 

It’s also a good idea to introduce one new person a day to a one person bird (or an ex-one person bird) just to continue socialzing him or her on a frequent basis.

Key Largo Conch House: Romeo May 21, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Lacey, Washington
Of: Congo African Grey “Cressi”

 

I just spend a wonderful seven days vacationing in Key Largo, Florida. While there, I went to eat at the Key Largo Conch House 2-3 times! In the entry way of the restaurant, there is a big white cage. This is Romeo’s cage, a 4 year old Congo African Grey parrot.

 

Now, I was really excited to meet Romeo since the last time I was in Key Largo, the cage was empty. His owners take him home every night from the restaurant and I was there too late. This time, though, I came for lunch!

 

Romeo reminded me so much of my own grey, Cressi, who is only 6 months old. He was sitting happily content and all poofy when his owners came near or any sort of familiar face. He was a bit shy but not scared - he just didn’t want to show off his talking abilities around me yet.

 

I was so happy to see someone else had a grey that was not entirely plucked or insanely phobic of strangers. His cage placement was perfect for him and he was outside on the porch as well, in the shade but still catching the light breeze and the soft sunshine. He had gone through his fresh veggies and fruit for the day as I saw bits and pieces left in his dish. Another thing I was thrilled about - he wasn’t a seed eating bird! In fact, Laura (his owner) went on to tell me his favorite dishes from the restaurant. This African Grey not only eats well but eats full blown beautiful looking meals! I think Cressi would be envious to find out she wasn’t getting a variety of cooks making her meals every day!

 

Romeo really had it made. Anyone who wanted into the cute little restaurant had to walk by him and almost every single time, they stopped to say hello to Romeo. He was constantly getting interaction from all sorts of people and was always visually stimulated by his environment. His wings were also another thing to be proud of - when I looked at them I actually thought he was fully flighted but Laura said he’s just barely clipped so he can still fly pretty well but it doesn’t look bad, either. I loved that his wings weren’t just snipped to bits like most.

 

The Conch House is family owned by Laura and her husband Ted, along with their two kids. We met them all and it was the daughter who talked the family into getting the bird in the first place when she was around 15 years old. She is now heading off to college and mom gets to keep Romeo in the mean time and the two have grown quite attached but Romeo was open to anyone as he gets properly socialized every day. This was one African Grey that was not in any way, a one person bird or had any problems whatsoever. I’ve never seen such a content grey before. And I was so happy to meet him and his wonderful owners.

 

Romeo’s owners are a great example of people who truly did their research before buying this bird. They knew it would live over 60 years and they knew it couldn’t live on pellets or worse, seed, for all its life. They really read up and they’ve done an amazing job at giving this bird a proper and healthy home. If Cressi liked older men, I think she’d be interested in Romeo!

Taking Your Bird on Walks May 1, 2008

 Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Orlando, Florida
Pictured: Military Macaw “Cash”

 

Almost every night around 5-6pm, Dave and I have been taking our military macaw, Cash, on walks. There is a gas station about a half mile or more down the road and a sidewalk leading all the way to it. We walk to the gas station and back; stopping in between to just take a break and sit with Cash as he examines his surroundings. We do this using a harness and leash and Cash stays on Dave’s hand or mine the entire time. He’s become aggressive since leaving Saipan as he isn’t handled by tons of different people every night anymore which I think he came to like.

 

Also, the boarding facility we use has personnel that are pretty afraid of him so I have a feeling he doesn’t get as good of treatment as say, Bondi, our rosie who loves everyone and is super easy to manage.

 

The walks have been stimulating his senses and his eyes practically pin the entire time. He becomes more talkative (unless a stranger stops to say hello, then of course he is silent!) and happier. We perform short flights every time we stop which he does on his own will. He loves flying from me to Dave. In fact, in some cases (or most I should say) he wants me to just put my hand there so he can jump off of it to Dave because that is how we first flight trained him - it was from me to Dave, always. If Dave is out of town, Cash is likely to fly to me but if he has a choice between us - Dave is always the winner! And that’s okay, I really don’t mind. We play different roles with the birds and there are times when they prefer to be with one of us over the other and I get my share of cuddles!

 

The point of taking Cash on walks so much recently is that it is making him more social slowly. He sees people riding bikes or jogging by. He isn’t spooked by joggers with their dogs or people across the stress, or cars going by. He is doing really well getting used to the outside environment (the only thing he needs to get over is the fear of squirrels!) and he is becoming more and more relaxed around people. I’ve been bringing peanuts with us on our walks and he hasn’t been willing to take them from strangers yet but I think he will soon and I am so excited to see his progress with becoming more and more social.

 

Of course, there is a serious danger in taking your birds on walks. Especially if you have a shoulder bird. Predators tend to go after prey that are easier to catch meaning they need to be on the ground or just stationary which is perching shoulder bird is. It’s much easier to snatch than a healthy, flying bird is. So be careful, cautious and always be checking the skies and listening for the calls of predators.

Socializing Birds of the Same Size April 17, 2008

 

Photo by Dave
Location: Orlando, Florida
On back: Congo African Grey “Cressi” and Galah “Bondi”

 

I recently joined a really great parrot related forum called HappyBirdy.com. A user named Cheryl asked for advice on how to properly socialize her six birds and I ended up writing to her about how I socialized my Congo African Grey, Cressi, with my Rose Breasted Cockatoo, Bondi. They are of the same size and are now living happily in a cage together. 

 

Here is how I accomplished this, taken from my post at HB. 

 

Anytime you bring a new bird into your flock, it must go through a 30 day quarentine. This is essential to maintain the current health of your flock. Cressi was kept in a separate air source from our other birds. Our other birds were kept in our Florida room. So for a period of 30 days, Bondi and Cressi merely saw one another through glass doors. 

 

After that period, we introduced Cressi to the florida room to join the flock. She was in a separate cage of her own and we began to take her and Bondi out together and into our entry way of our house. It is a wide, open area with plenty of room for them to fly and play. 

 

When introducing new birds to one another, I always make sure to do so in a non-territorial area that is wide open. Birds tend to take onto the “Fight or Flight” moto. I have found that birds that are clipped are less likely to socialize as fast than a bird who is fully flighted. This is because the clipped bird feels like it only has the option to fight if something goes wrong. In my situation with Bondi and Cressi, they are both fully flighted as were they at this time of introduction. I have done this with clipped birds and will save that talk for a later entry… 

 

I believe for the bird to know that it can get away if it feels too threatened is a huge benefit for the bird to feel comfortable in getting closer during the socializing process (at least from what I have realized in my own personal experience doing so).

 

 First, I find the right place to introduce the two birds. I would not try to introduce all your birds to one another at once. There’s no way you will catch everything that happens and it will just be a personality overload!

 

 With Cressi (CAG) and Bondi (Galah) they were competent fliers and of the came general size. We have a very open entry way in our home and chose to use it for the socialization process. Neither bird was dominant in this area and it had enough room in it for either one to fly away to safety.

 

 All birds will be comfortable at some point - it is finding that point. Some birds will prefer to be merely 2 feet away from one another, while others will need a good 20 feet just barely within sight. Work from your birds comfort zones, always gently pushing but not forcing. A breakout will happen if your bird is made to be too uncomfortable so it’s important not to force the friendship.

 

 We kept Cressi and Bondi in separate cages at first. They saw one another and began to mimick each other’s sounds. We would have them out together and they would fly. We have various railings in our house (it’s two story) and they would always fly to opposite railings in the beginning. Eventually, they began to get closer and closer and enjoy one another’s company more and more thus bringing them closer together. We made sure neither had the chance to strike the other and never rewarded or comforted when aggression was present.

 

 I also found it worked to love on one and let the other walk up and love that one too. I got Cressi and Bondi to stand so close they were touching feathers doing this and they didn’t care about the other bird’s presence because they were both receiving equal love and affection.

 

 This didn’t happen within a couple days I may point out - this is a process that can take months depending on your birds.

 

 Once Bondi and Cressi were comfortable outside of their cages and flying around, we introduced them at the same time to a brand new cage. And when I say at the same time I really mean at the exact same time. Dave handed Cressi onto a long perch that stretched across the cage which is what I did with Bondi at the same moment. The environment was new to both birds and neither felt comfortable or “at home” so there were no territorial, dominance or aggression issues whatsoever.

 

 Also, when I say these two birds were comfortable together outside of their cages, I really mean that too. Check out the following image to see how comfy I mean these two got! This is where the birds need to be if you’re going to plan on housing them together. Also, the housing needs to be big enough for them to be able to get away from the other bird - always. I’ve raised related birds who love one another but even siblings get sick of each other sometimes and it’s bound to happen. 

 

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Orlando, Florida
Cuddling: Galah “Bondi” and CAG “Cressi”

 

 Dave and I each stood holding one bird and placed them in the cage on a level perch at the exact same time. The environment was new to both of them so there was no territorial or dominance issues at all to deal with. There are 4 food dishes, 2 on each side and we felt that if they had a bickering, the less dominant bird could still get to food since it was all around available.

 

 However, it’s funny… Bondi and Cressi have their “sides”. Bondi chose the left side, Cressi took the right. They share the entire cage but when you go in there at any given time and they aren’t eating - they are on their sides!

 

 Bondi has this habit of pacing when she is eager to come out and she only paces half way! It’s like there is this invisible wall in the cage which can be pretty comical. I need to get it on video because words do it no justice…

 

 Here is a video of Bondi and Cressi recalling to me together…

 

 

I hope this helps at least begin your journey to socialize your birds together. I think the most important aspect is for neither bird to feel dominant during the process.

 

 The whole idea with socializing is to reward your bird (whether with a treat or attention - depending on what is a reward to your bird) for getting close and showing a calm demeanor with the other bird. If they both get rewarded for the same behavior, they will catch on that the other bird is okay to be around and may eventually begin to enjoy its company. The clipped birds I socialized were 3 macaws (two blue and golds and a military) and once they were socialized, they still preferred to be on their own, doing their own thing. Each bird will be different. 

 

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Orlando, Florida
Shown: Galah “Bondi” and CAG “Cressi”

 

Above is a photo of Bondi and Cressi sharing a cage together as they are now properly socialized.