aggressive when offered treats

[Tashalee]

Hey all,
So I've stepped way back on the harness training with Crispin and started clicker training. Wondering if anyone has experienced their bird acting aggressive when offered treats? I've been working with associating the clicker with the treat but am a bit put off by his behavior. I offer millet as that's all I've discovered he likes so far...and I can offer him a long piece to nibble from so he doesn't bite me. I click, offer the treat and he fluffs up and lunges at it aggressively. He does eat it and seems to want it. Should I keep going as I am and work through this/ignore the behavior?

[NotEnoughTime]

Aggression related to food is a pretty common behaviour. My girl, for instance, would nip when she saw me opening a food container to replenish her bowls.

Ignoring the behaviour won't help. Your bird is being rewarded for the behaviour with the treat. In behavioural training a reward serves to increase the behaviour *immediately* prior to receiving the reward. In your case it is the aggressive behaviour.

What I would do is *not* give the reward if there is any aggresive behaviour. That is, remove the millet immediately on aggressive behaviour. Only when the bird behaves would the bird receive the millet (or any treat). This is a requirement in our household and it seems to work...

My advice would be to *stop* clicker training and work on the aggression for now. So giving a treat only when there are no aggresive behaviours displayed. It will only take a few sessions for your parrot to get the idea... If aggressive behaviours are displayed then the treat is withheld (moved out of sight). I turn my back on the bird as well - so that I don't provide any rewarding behaviours for the aggression.

Good luck!!

[Chicklette]

My birds have a treat dish and when Im about to give out treats Chiquita will bang her dish and flip it so it makes a big crash, it’s cute but she will also bite at times. They get so excited when they get their treats but as said you should not reward this behavior. Or it will get worse

Here is a link that may help a bit.


dealing with cage aggression - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community