Catching Boomer

[Chicklette]

I JUST got a new conure, Boomer about 6 days ago. He was extremely clingy, never leaving my side when he was out. So very attached to me and he slowly started exploring things. Well now when he is out I can’t catch him and I don’t want to scare him by following him around to catch him to go on my finger. He is just doing so well I just can’t grab him now to scare him. Any help is appreciated. I have even tried treats and fruits in his cage to go home.

This is how I taught Chiquita to go home. I know it will take time to train him to go home, it just makes me nervous when he is out that i can't catch him.

[expressmailtome]

Are his wings clipped? This could help. Even if only in the begining.

Matt

[Chicklette]

No his wings are not clipped.

[LovelySydney]

A wing clip might help so youre not chasing him around for long periods of time - this can be exhausted! You dont need to give him a full clip, just a few flights. I know wing clipping is a controversial topic so of course it is your decision but I know with my lovebirds I HAD to clip them because I literally would spend 20 minutes doing the slow walk and then running and then they were tired and I was tired and it was just a mess! LOL Keep us posted.

[tielfan]

Try giving him the treat BEFORE you put him in the cage. Some birds cooperate better if they're already busy with the treat when you put them in. Others will take the treat and "run" if you give it to them in advance.

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by Chicklette

Well now when he is out I can’t catch him and I don’t want to scare him by following him around to catch him to go on my finger.

I'm glad to hear that you don't follow him around to catch him... So only let him out if you have lots of time. He needs to associate being on your finger with other things than going in the cage. So get him on your finger and give him a treat and then let him go again... Get him on the finger and take him to a different perch...give a treat. Get him on your finger and have kisses with him...give a treat.

And so on.

It will take a little bit of time - but not as much as you might expect...

Then put an almond or sunflower seed (or whatever is his favourite) in his food dish (make sure he is watching) and get him on your finger (give a treat) and take him to the cage. Let him decide whether or not he wants to get the treat.

Do everything all over again...

Soon the bird will be fine and get on your finger every-time... As long as being on your finger means (mostly) interesting things will happen and a treat may be coming....

[Chicklette]

Wow, thanks some great info I got here. I do think the treat method is the best approach. That is how I trained my IRN, Chiquita. I just get nervous letting Boomer out now because I don't want to have to chase him, that is too stressful on him. But I will take all the advice here and see how that goes. I do think he will eventually go home eventually. He LOVES apple so I could put that in his veggie clip and see if he goes home for that. I do think it will take time but it will work out.

[NotEnoughTime]

Oh - and BTW - I'm assuming he will step-up every time when presented with a finger (and perhaps the command step-up). If you can consistantly get him on your finger (at some point in time) you might want to try training him to fly from a perch to your finger... or perch to some other point...

See: http://www.flyingparrotsinside.com/ and the "target flying" link.

[MissV]

If he's free-flighted, you should definitely teach him target flying. You have a better chance of recovering him if he gets outside that way.


Honestly, chasing can be scary to a new bird...but that's become a game with Luca and I! And I'll also get on the ground and crawl after them. Promotes good excercise and they get a kick out of it. ^^

[Chicklette]

Boomer usually steps up if I put my hand in the cage. But not outside the cage when he is flying around. He used to but since he is getting used to his home here he is being more adventurous. That is a great link, thanks. No I don’t like chasing a new birds that is what makes me nervous to let him out. I would hate to be chased as well so I try not to.

Chiquita my IRN goes home on command. I put a treat in her dish and say go home and she does. Im also trying that with Boomer. But it will take lot of time. But Im DEFENITLY going to try target training. Thanks a lot for the help.