Tiki my tiel

[scotty]

Tiki decided she would like to spend the afternoon with me ,on my lap watching T.V.when i'm done and tell her to step up she puts one foot up and then runs up my arm and onto my back and I can't get her because she goes across my back and ducks me.Any ideas how to catch her?
Scotty:shrug:

[parrotgirl]

We had the same problem with Gemini, (Tiel) We worked on this for ages, asking him to step up, when he did we would say stay and showed him a treat, giving it to him after a very short while, gradually he leant that if he stayed until we had got to the cage, he got two treats. When he would go into his cage boy did we have a party, and he got his favourite treat of all time, A Peanut!! It took a while but finally he got the idea, and now goes into his cage as he knows that he's got a peanut all to himself.:funny: He'll do anything for a peanut, but they are fatty so not too many

[Jim]

Excellent post/advice Peta.:thumbup:

I have nothing to add. Okay maybe one thing and Peta did hit on it.:) Remember to use small approximations. We always want to set the stage for them to succed and have fun.

Step-up and step-down, I use a simple up - down, are two of our best friends when living with birds. They should learn to do this in many locations and situations. Makes life wonderful!

[scotty]

Ok guys what a great idea, I tried it with popcorn and it worked :emot-danc I didn't think to much about step down Jim,but always thought about why the word step so I think it will be up and down like I use on my dogs (that don't listen either)
Thanx Scotty;)

[Jim]

Hi Scotty, Good for you! Way too go.:emot-danc

While you're on a roll :) as long as Tiki is willing, you might want to teach her to target. Oh, and btw, I'm not above a little bribery or luring to get a behavior. We're not professional trainers, at least I'm not, that needs my birds to perform precise behaviors on cue on stage.

I put the treat (popcorn in your case) in my closed fist and when they followed my hand to where it was, they got the treat. If need be let Tiki see you put the popcorn in your fist. Makes my life a little easier now that they go where I point or place my hand --- most of the time.:D Be honest with Tiki, Okay. If she does it, reward her, at least with a good bird/girl.

Again, Good for You! Give Tiki a treat from me.

[parrotgirl]

Way to go Scotty and Tiki, that is great news. I'm continuing to teach Bucc to target, sometimes it goes great other times he will turn his back and get the look "What you want ME to work for that LITTLE bit of food," lol, It takes time but its well worth it in the end.

As you work with your birds you will get to know what words work best for you, ie. STEP up/STEP down or UP/DOWN either way it doesn't matter as long as you are both happy with it. Good luck to ya. Keep us informed.

[Jim]

Peta - Maybe Bucc is a little bored with the pop machine.;) Bucc: "Ah, just another pop, I'll pass, it's not worth the effort."

I see a noticeable difference in the boys' responses when they graduate to the Slot Machine.:) I have to teach them how the new machine works though. At first a pull or two gets the jackpot and before you know it they are pulling away. My observations tell me it may even be psychological. Sometimes they don't even eat all the jackpot, they just want to play the game.:D

edit
Same is true if the jackpot is praise. At times they don't want all my good boy, happy dance, smile, sillyness - they want to play the game.

[scotty]

Well guys to night when it was time for bed Tiki was ready to put up a fight so I showed her the popcorn and she leaned over, I could swear she was going in her cage with out a fuss but she stole the popcorn and ran with it right down my back :doh: to tired to argue ,just called hubby down to get her on his finger so i could get her in,she pretended to give in but as soon as he put her near the door she hopped back on my back and ran like you know what. Tomorrows another day she wants to be out all day and even sleeps on my shoulder.Boy are my dogs disgusted:agree: It's kind of funny watching her run, almost like a cartoon:drool:
p.s. today lee my bourke got out again you should see him walking on the floor like a big deal.I put my finger to him and said up he looked at me as if to say" yea sure":funny: and flew to my sons knee and was quite content with him self. Regards Scotty:wavey:

[Shirley]

Except for Skyler, all our birds do that once in awhile, and Shelby was notorious for it! Running down my back where they knew I couldn't reach them! :rotflmao: You've got excellent advice there... and always use a treat that they ONLY get when they've done something you've asked them to do... like going inside their cage or stepping up. :goodjob:

[parrotgirl]

Peta - Maybe Bucc is a little bored with the pop machine.;) Bucc: "Ah, just another pop, I'll pass, it's not worth the effort."

I see a noticeable difference in the boys' responses when they graduate to the Slot Machine.:) I have to teach them how the new machine works though. At first a pull or two gets the jackpot and before you know it they are pulling away. My observations tell me it may even be psychological. Sometimes they don't even eat all the jackpot, they just want to play the game.:D

edit
Same is true if the jackpot is praise. At times they don't want all my good boy, happy dance, smile, sillyness - they want to play the game.

That is so true, He gets bored with things so quickly, its hard to keep up with him sometimes. He has taught me to watch his body language more carefully than just think I know whats best. He knows what he wants when he wants it, I just have to learn to pay more attention. :rolleyes:

[scotty]

Jim... I put the popcorn in my hand and let Tiki see it and then made a fist,she was on my shoulder and I closed my fist and rested it on the couch ,well she ran down my arm and was peeking in at the popcorn:rotflmao: so funny,I told her what a good girl she was and gave her the popcorn ,she brought it up on to my shoulder and ate are should I say broke it into pieces :funny: that was awsome:emot-danc .
Shirley your right I will only give her popcorn when i'm trying to teach her .
Regards Scotty:thumbup:

[Jim]

Great news and progress Scotty! It will all fall into to place now. You may want to try, in small steps, doing the same thing in different places. Like going down your arm to the 'outside' of the cage. Before you know it this will become a habit for both of you and Tiki will go 'willingly' into her cage.:agree: :)

I love treat motivated birds/animals. Praise is great and my boys work for praise. The thing is, they don't always want praise from someone they don't know/trust. Most of the time I can hand someone they don't know a few pine nuts and the boys will step-up or down for the person or go where they place/point their hand with the treat. Win-win for the person and my boys.

Keep up the great work and let us know how you 'both':D progress.