Baby perching..it's all in the stick....

[parrotntn]

WOW....what a great day!
Tonite, I watched a lil tv and would love to have had Baby with me, but she is still so very skiddish. So...I met her half way. I took one of her smaller perches and put it on the BOTTOM Outside of her cage where it was just a few inches from the chair of my recliner. Showed her a pnut and she came running over. LOL.
She sat on the perch, I gave her some scritches, laughed, watched TV with my daughter. I just sort of left my hand "available" and she beaked around on it, even took my whole finger in her beak and pushed a lil on it but not hard. She could have left if she didn't want to be there, but she stayed and we just "hung out" and watched tv. It was nice.
Then, I worked her on the perch drill. FANTASTIC! I took her cage top (with her toys on it) off, put it on a rolling cart next to her cage. I then clicked her to get on the perch like I have been experimenting with her. This is different now because it's an OAK perch. Then manzanita perch was simply too slick and she felt insecure on it. My bad all around. But..anyway.
I clicked/treated her to ride the perch really well tonite. I would click her to step up and she eventually would with both feet. I'd SLOWLY travel her to the playtop. Then, do some ring tricks on the playtop. Then, click/treat her to step back up and return to the cage door. Then..I'd push the cart farther from the cage.
Eventually, I had her travelling TWELVE FEET on the perch!
Thank you Lord. She did great. One time she flew off and landed ok. I took a break then and she did fine thereafter.
Gettin there..slowly. I have had to be very creative with this gal. LOL.

Finally, I have to admit one thing: As I moved her through the air on the perch up high, I found myself making a noise like...I hate to admit this, but it was funny when I realized what I was doing and I laughed to myself. There I was with a green bird on a stick, moving her through the living room and making the noise of a tractor just like I did when the kids were little and I would throw them up in the air or play with them. Sad...but a true story..
Mark

[GlendaNS]

Awwwwwwwww!!!!! Good job!!!! put-put-puttt!

[Busguy]

LOL contgratz on your progress. I am still amazed how fast you taught Baby the ring trick.

At this rate, Baby will be driving cars in no time.

[Lisa B]

it sounds as if its going well. congrats!

[tielmama]

Love to hear about the BABY!!! Good job.