October

4th month

2006

Training Issues

Laker has become so bold that he either is frantic to get out or he sulks in the corner of his cage if I don't let him out.  Today was a good example - He thought that he should be out sooner so he bit me when I let him out - very bad-tempered!   Then he refused to go back in the cage - instead he lands on everyones head or scolded me from the top of his cage.  Once I try to get him to enter his cage he just grabs the cage edge & up he goes to the top or side - very sneaky

Looks like we'll be doing some more serious training.  I don't want an unhappy bird - & I want a little respect myself!

 Techniques that have worked so far

Persistence & Repetition	Holding off on his Millet treat until he is to go to his cage.
Holding a hand mirror with him on my thumb - looking at himself contentedly while being transported to his cage.	Avoiding being Bitten Saying, "Excuse Me." & waiting for him to back off so I can do whatever.
Eating New Things First I have to be eating  - then he just has to come & check it out - This is working well. Obviously my diet has to add more fresh vegetables if we are to make progress in this area. He's great with cake, cookies, Carrot Cake & Apple Pie.	Oct 26th update Saying: "Lets go" & followed by a move to another room or place.  He's actually gettin it! Saying: "Come Here" & he either flies to our hand or to our head.
Lots of Flying Time He is much happier if he gets his flying time - usually once a day or more.  He will get antsy - scolding me from his cage or bobbing his whole body, just to get my attention.  He is so excited wheni bring him into our large room & open the cage.  He waits until I sit down & then he swoops around the room many times - he is very graceful & loves to get really close.

	New toy A hanging wooden 'rings' that he loves as a swinging bridge.
	Here he is in Full Molt Sitting on his beloved wooden bridge. He has lost a lot of Feathers for the last 3 wks & we have a fine collection of very pretty ones -toobad the striped ones are too small to keep. His punk look is kind of cute but the poor baby is very itchy.  Off to the bathroom in the mornings for a misting.  He rubs his head on his rope perch.

Big Molt - lots of Feathers everywhere Here are some of his feathers The long Indigo one is his tail feather that normally is the top tail feather but sometimes he changes it to his White one. The Blue & Yellow feathers are the short tail feathers - they are all like these. The Pale Blue feathers are body feathers, but they do get this long right next tothe tail. The White feathers are his flights.

I got all the paint off him - but the flexible ladder & cage are spotty.

Wet Acrylic Paint Recently I have let Laker out when I'm painting.  He flies raound the room & lands on me or his cage.  Unfortunately one day he landed on top of the red paint.  For a moment we both looked at eachother & then all pandomonium broke loose.  I tried to catch him - an unlikely scenario as he hates to be touched.  So red paint went everywhere on & in his cage - no where else except my hands.  Finally I convinced him to step up onto his wooden spoon & off to the bathroom for a very wet shower.  I'l post photos when I get them re-sized.