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rukis
Egg
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Rochester |
| question about lory behavior |
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I have a gorgeous, playful, healthy male Scarlet lory. He's my first big bird, and I've been trying to do things right. . . thing is, he's secondhand, and some of his behavior baffles me.
The only really bothersome thing is that recently he's become a little hand-shy. He's incredibly active and friendly to just about everyone once he's out of his cage, and he's not aggressive, he doesn't bite or anything like that. . . but recently it's gotten difficult to convince him to hop onto anyone's hand. He wasn't like this at all when we first got him about eight months ago, the moment you put your hand in the cage, he'd be all over it. Now it can take some coaxing.
He *will* come out of the cage almost immediately if I open the door and step back. . . but from there, he'll only jump onto someone's shoulder, not their hand. How can I coax him back to being hand-friendly again?
Also, he has a bad habit of nibbling at your neck when he wants attention, and he's on your shoulder. He's had this habit since I got him, and while it's not aggressive nibbling (it doesn't hurt) it can be very irritating and startling, especially to people not used to it. I'd like this habit to stop.
Any help would be appreciated. |
Tuesday August 15, 2006 2:53 am |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
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Hi Rukis! I've never lived with a Lory, but I don't think they are that much different, as far as the behaviour you've described.
It sounds to me like he may just need some gentle discipline. Maybe take some time out of each day to go through some step up/step down excercises with him, for a week or two, or until he is doing so on command each time, with no hesitation.
Also, I've read many times that a bird should learn that he can only come out of his cage when he is let out. Some may think it sounds a bit harsh, but I only let my sennie & my macaw out of their cages when they step up on my hand. If they don't step up right away, I close the cage door, but don't latch it, & only for a second, before offering my hand again, with the "step up" command. That's usually enough to get them to step right up.
I've never permitted my birds on my shoulder, so I haven't had to deal with that situation before, but can you bend your arm at the elbow each time he tries to go up your arm? Or block his ascent with your other hand? I would think that with persistance he would learn what you are wanting.
BTW, I would LOVE to see some pictures of your beautiful scarlet lory  |
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Tuesday August 15, 2006 3:10 am |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: question about lory behavior |
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Welcome to fluffies! How wonderful, a lory! They're beautiful aren't they?
WOuld you mind sharing photos with us in your diary or on your homepage?
I wouldn't let your lory on your shoulder anymore. I would train him to step up onto your hand. Are you familiar with the clicker? This helped me greatly with Flit, the lightning fast lovebird that used to run up my shoulder!
Good luck! |
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Wednesday August 16, 2006 7:24 pm |
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rukis
Egg
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Rochester |
The step-up method has been working well, if not slowly, over the last few days. . . but I'm not sure I'm *ever* going to break him from going on my shoulder. He was eight-years-old when I got him, and though I don't think he got as much attention as he needed at his previous home, he was obviously very set into a routine with the woman who owned him. He's got all kinds of little idiosyncrasies I don't understand, and says all kinds of things I don't really know the meaning of. I'm learning, and so is he. . . but it looks like it's going to take awhile.
I don't have a camera, unfortunately, but I'm looking around for someone who does. . . I'll try to have pictures up as soon as possible. |
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Thursday August 17, 2006 6:51 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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I'm looking forward you finding someone with a digicam so that you can show us photos of your lovely lory!
Really, birds can learn sooo fast! Flit was easily trained to run to my finger..  But then, he was quite young.. But also very persisitent to run to my shoulder!  |
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Friday August 18, 2006 8:35 pm |
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