Height Dominance?

[doud96]

Anyone listen to Wings n Things on Petlife Radio with Barbara Heidenreich and Robin Shekowis? Episode 41 Parrrot Myths and Misconceptions talked about height dominance and other things. I found it very interesting.

[tielfan]

The old definition of height dominance has been disproved, meaning that height is a sign of social status and the highest bird is the boss. But a lot of birds do tend to develop an attitude problem when they're up high. In the wild height tends to mean greater security, so my guess is that the bird simply likes being up there and doesn't want to come down. Either way it can be a problem for the human! Putting yourself at the bird's level or higher frequently does help, so maybe doing this removes the illusion that the bird is in the best possible place and makes him/her more willing to move.

[Lori~D]

"I'm not a fan of that idea. I don't know if putting a bird in "fear" is a good way to reduce aggression. Even if it works I don't think the end justifies the means. And, a bird in fear is too risky for other bad behaviors depending on how sensitive the species is. I've never had to deal with aggression but I think there are better ways. For one, Melinda Johnson's "clicker training," or any method that makes use of ABA."


My bird who was demonstrating these issues is NOT afraid of me by any means. When he is in the lower cage or on the floor now he puts his foot high in the air and says "cmon buckeye" and steps up redily and is happy to come out. When he was in the upper cage he was starting to snap at me and generally not want to come at all. I ve had this similar expirience with many birds and learned it from other bird behaviorists. Now I know the differance and I have another bird who is actuallly showing Fear in the upper cage but walks over to me on the floor and asks to come up. I dont think fear has anything to do with it at all. A bird that shows fear does NOT approach you.

[KimM]

I'm not so sure I agree with the height dominance issue. Birds do feel safer the higher up they are.. I believe that's how nature made them. I have trouble once in a blue moon with mine on the top of the cage, but it's not usually a height issue.. it's usually a " I don't want to come with you or I don't want to go back in my cage issue." LOL

Sometimes if they're happy playing on top of their cages vs. their play gyms, I just leave them alone. When they're ready, they come over to me. Now if I have to have them come to me for whatever reason, I do have a stool so I can go get them on top of the cage if I have to, but I've only had to do this twice since I've had them. My boys know when Momma is serious and they need to step up to me

[SDavid]

Lori, I wasn't making any personal progress assessments and by "fear" I don't mean that the bird is afraid of you per se but that the bird is placed in an insecure position (on the floor) and would become fearfull in general of what might happen to it there. It may not of course and there's always and exception since all birds are different. It may have worked for you (or other factors could have contributed to your success) but I stick to my general view. It's not a good way for people to "adjust" a birds attitude....not with dogs, toddlers, loud teenagers, etc., running around the house looming over the bird. Sure people might enjoy the success of a seemingly calmer bird (from the human point of view) but how does that bird really feel. Is it really a better, calmer pet or just insecure....I wonder. Again, I don't mean you.....I feel you know what youre doing and as you said you know the difference. Unfortunately from talking to people I don't think most are as "in tune" with their birds feelings but are more results oriented.

This is my personal guess work, of course I'm no expert but all of us, including behaviorists, are always learning.

[Laura65177]

"Birds do feel safer the higher up they are.. I believe that's how nature made them. I have trouble once in a blue moon with mine on the top of the cage, but it's not usually a height issue.. it's usually a " I don't want to come with you or I don't want to go back in my cage issue." LOL" - KimM

Completely agree.
My bird hates being put back in his cage too, I don't think they are getting angsty because they think they can control you from down there, it's because they don't want to go back in.
My bird can be anywhere above and below, and if he doesn't want to go somewhere else he will tell me, but I tend not to listen =]

I suppose lowering them is taking away the privileged of being where they want to be (or are used to being so feel comfy), for whatever reason that may be.

It's like not giving pocket money to your kid because a 10 year old is being naughty, put them into line.

[justelvin]

Read this article, it's very informative and discusses cage top and height dominance issues.

Good luck,

The Creative Cage by Pamela Clark