Unlearning BAD behavior

[parrotntn]

*I had put this same post in Amazon Experts, then realized it might not be specific to a zon.

Cleo has a bad learned behavior. She wants to bite/beak hard SOMETIMES when she steps up. If she is in a place where she needs to be rescued, she hops eagerly onto my hand. Otherwise, she'll nip and run from my hand/finger OR the perch when approached.
She was rescued from a hamster cage in a bad petstore (Thanks GlendaNS) in Indiana so there is no telling what her history is.
She is very loving otherwise, allows me to hold her head in my hand and eats eagerly out of my hand. ROLLS on her back for some belly scratching, etc. as long as it's on a perch.
I've been able to clicker train her to bring a ring and put it in a cup, to wave, and some other things. But I cannot UNTRAIN her from this bad habit.
I will say that today I tried something a little different with the perch. I more or less "scooped her" onto it. Instead of bribing her onto the perch, I just moved with it quickly and got her onto it. Basically not giving her time to repeat that bad behavior. It actually worked pretty good.
I'm just looking for any other success stories.
Thanks!

[swanwillow]

thats what I've been doing with my cage aggressive biting ekkie female. She would bite everyone that came anywhere NEAR her cage, until me. I still get bit quite often, well, 2 times a day on average. Shes a bluff biter though. She had everyone convinced that they can't pick her up, cause that horrible beak would GET them. So, I said what? and just did it.

that was 2 months, 3 months ago.it takes time and work, and sometimes bribes (almond slivers and pomegranate) but not being afraid of the bite was my first step in helping her.

[4HAND]

Same situation with my Blue Crown Conure.I used my left hand from behind to scoot him onto the perch in my right hand.My son used a perch in each hand at first.After a few weeks I could ditch the perch alltogether.I also try to choose a time when my likelyhood of sucess is greatest,and never interupted him if he was napping,eating or playing with a toy.
Tena

[GlendaNS]

Mark, Cleo was dropped. That is why she is afraid. We didn't drop her. It will take her awhile to learn to totally trust you. If you notice in the picture of her on your arm, legs spread, crouching position. That is a bird that is afraid of being dropped. She will get over it with you. Trust just takes awhile to build. ;o)

Toweling.... She screams and throws a fit.... YOU QUIT! Battle won by Cleo!!! She is not as afraid of the towel as it might seem. She just don't like it. I have toweled her several times and she finally got to where she didn't scream and put up a fuss with me. Matter of fact, she would lay there on her back and say, "Want that"! ROTFL

You are doing a GREAT job with her!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!

Forgot to add, play the peek-a-boo game with her and a towel. Give her a towel that you don't mind her chewing up. Let that be her towel. Let her play with it while supervised. Cover her quickly and PEEK-A-BOO real excited! She loved it with me!

[tawny30]

I don't have much to add other then your babies are gorgeous :)