Chickie refuses to fly anymore

[saroj12]

Even if I try it before the training walnuts. She races around on the table doing training which is something but not enough exercise. Don't know what to do!

 

[JLcribber]

How old is she? Hal who is/was a speed demon who could fly like a barn swallow has noticeably slowed down and has also taken to climbing and walking much more. He's getting older.

 

[saroj12]

How old is she? Hal who is/was a speed demon who could fly like a barn swallow has noticeably slowed down and has also taken to climbing and walking much more. He's getting older.

She's 12. Up until three days ago she was doing 12 atom to atom flights in one set! Then her training picked up and she's just refusing to fly anymore.
Thanks for your notes about Hal, he's adorable!

 

[WendyN]

Maybe change the treat?
Or incorporate the training with the flying.

 

[saroj12]

Maybe change the treat?
Or incorporate the training with the flying.

oh, great idea Wendy! I could set the ball on a nearby table, she already knows to fly over and fetch it, so now she will fetch it for the basketball hoop. She's crazy about the hoop! I ordered another hoop because i really liked the video of the two caiques playing basketball together that @zoo mom posted!

 

[saroj12]

I could put it in her foraging dish in the atom and she has to fly it down to the table to get to the hoop! That's advanced.

 

[Bokkapooh]

Sounds like she's too over weight. Id suggest no more seeds or nuts for a while.

 

[saroj12]

Sounds like she's too over weight. Id suggest no more seeds or nuts for a while.

I'll weigh her tomorrow, it's been a while.

 

[WendyN]

Joey loves hemp seeds. Perhaps that would work as a reward.

 

[WendyN]

...eventually, playing hoops would be her reward.

 

[saroj12]

...eventually, playing hoops would be her reward.

your suggestion was brilliant! She is fly fetching from a dish on a stand and flying back and dunking it! I'll move the stand further and further away gradually!

 

[WendyN]

You are a great trainer.
May have to keep thinking of new ways to entice her to fly.

 

[Dartman]

That's great. I have NO PROBLEMS getting Dobby to fly and once Lurch realized his wings worked again he was all over the place too. Nerd had bad flight feathers so he made short hops and walked everywhere as he knew he couldn't fly well.
It's funny that some birds that totally have no issues flying just decide to mostly walk and sit there but probably many like that never got to learn to fly as fledglings

 

[saroj12]

That's great. I have NO PROBLEMS getting Dobby to fly and once Lurch realized his wings worked again he was all over the place too. Nerd had bad flight feathers so he made short hops and walked everywhere as he knew he couldn't fly wIt's funny that some birds that totally have no issues flying just decide to mostly walk and sit there but probably many like that never got to learn to fly as fledglings

That's great Dobby flies voluntarily! Chickie learned to fly as a fledgling, but caiques have stocky short tailed bodies meant for canopy hopping and not sustained flight. Wendy's idea of making flying fun is perfect! It has a lot of potential for gradually added exercise!