Macaw issues?

[dakisgirls]

I need some more advice people!!!:emot-danc This is from my introduction:

The blue and gold, named Poulaki (Poo-laa-kee, which is Greek for little bird), has some frustrated biting problems. He has learned from previous owners that when he bites he gets a show. Also, he has been in a cage for most of his life, which must have something to do with it!!! :mad: He can go from sweet and loving to terrible in moments, and he only steps up when he wants to. He has been around me since I was little, so he knows me and (usually) trusts me. He is going on 21 years old in July.

Poulaki isn't really a he or she, at least we are not sure. He is a female in structure, but he/she has never laid an egg. BUT his/her behavior is more like a Male's. Any tips on trick training, biting, or screaming is very much appreciated. I almost have the step ups DOWN!!!! YAAY! So I dont think much advice is needed on that.......He just isnt very cooperative is all! thanks!:dance:

[CocosMomma]

Hi, Dakis :)

Where to start... you've thrown a lot onto the plate!

First, my birds only step up when they want to also :) I only work when I'm paid. They only step up when there's something in it for them. So I make it worth their while to step up ;) Of I do not get an immediate 'yes' body language response, I back off. Just like if a friend asks me to a movie, I want the ability to say yes or no, and not have them take it personally or make demands. So I give her the same option. However, if she doesn't step up, she doesn't gain the treat. But she gets to choose if she wants to gain the treat or not.

As for biting, for me it is about watching body language. A bird has two main options for addressing situations it does not want... flight or bite. If a bird has learned that its body language is ignored, and/or it cannot get away, it will often bite immediately if presented with a situation it does not care for. Much like I do when the telemarketer calls... I'm immediately biting their head off because my experience has been that other telemarketers did not respect my 'no' for an answer. So I start out with the escalated behavior of hanging up on them. :nuts:

I don't expect my birds to step up if they choose not to gain what I have to offer. I also don't expect that they will step up because they 'love' me, although they often choose to be on me for the treat of being on me and not a food treat. But I have food treats at hand. If I watch body language and the bird doesn't want to interact and I back off, then I have gained trust by respecting that body language.

Sorry, I'm going on and on....

I've written a couple articles on body language and biting in particular - not sure if they will help you or not. Depends on where you are in your relationship with your sweet little guy/girl. I did also want to mention that my DNA sexed female has never laid an egg, and many of the larger female birds don't lay as easily as the smaller ones. So failure to lay an egg will not indicate gender. I would have promised that she was actually a 'he' because of 'behaviors', but the DNA test proved me wrong...:doh:

Here's one link - not sure if this will help at all, but just in case it might:

She Bites Me, She Bites Me Not (http://cagefreeparrot.blogspot.com/2009/06/she-bites-me-she-bites-me-not.html)

[rocky'smom]

i have cockatiel that had huge biting issues when i first got him. one of things i did was spend alot time talking to him while he was in his cage. slowly i won over his heart with a alot of love and few treats. i don't like using too many treats because they then expect treats everytime they are asked to step up or do anything else for you. rocky (my cockatiel) was loud, mean and live in room by himself when i got him. the first thing i did was put him in the main room i spent alot time in. that way he was exposed to my voice and movements all the time. he became adjusted to me much easier. work slowly with pouklei, even though he/she has known you all of his/her life, moving a stressor for some birds. it was for rocky. if possible try to work with some type of schedule, from time 0:00 to 0:00 like 1:15pm to 1:45pm daily. or whatever works best for you. another thing that has worked for me is making sure i worked with rocky in small room like the bathroom. but it make not work for you but it's worth try once.
rocky'smom

[dakisgirls]

Thanks for answering that question, Cocosmomma, that has been nagging at my brain for a while now....am I doing everything I can right? I definitely seem to be, and the rewards for stepping up have been working well. I only give him a treat occasionally, though, so he dosn't come to expect it. :) I guess when you have parrots, sometimes you get so used trying to get around their smart ways you forget the little things. :P And I'm trying a schedule with him with training, which I hope will also help. ;D