How to discourage bad behavior?

[Snowghost]

Awe, thanks, I just get discouraged sometimes.

 

[BertAllen]

Awe, thanks, I just get discouraged sometimes.

I know that feeling all too well.
But you know what, we aren't alone and IMHO your doing great.

 

[Snowghost]

Thanks Bert, I love reading about Tinker.

 

[Imogena]

Clean the cage when he is away from it? Give a toy to play with while you clean?

When I start to clean the cage when Edgar is away, he flies to me and looks at me with this expression that really tells me: "one more second of this cleaning and I'm biting your head of". I'm really weary of him during this time. He become quite teritorial about his cage.

 

[Rain Bow]

If he's telling you that by pysical body language, then it's best to try to get him away & pre-occupied 1st so hopefully he will not attack. I don't want to make you afraid of your floof. There are quite a few of us that have been bitten or attacked because our birdys have had a switched flipped in their heads. My guy Buddy, flew off my husband & attacked my hand while I was cleaning his travel cage. He wasn't attacking me but the spray bottle I was using. My thumb happened to be in between his beak & the spray head. I was sliced, bruised but not in need of stitches. My mistake, because I did it in the same room w/ him. Take precautions like do it behind a closed door or put floof around a corner w/ his favorite toy on a stand or in a travel cage. Likelihood of damage to you is decresased by @ minimum 50% especially if his flying to you alerts you to duck or back away.

Rain

 

[Snowghost]

Paco and I have reached our one year mark. I can't explain it. He has now just accepted me. He lets me change his water bowl, (a locked one further back in his cage) I spent the entire year being patient, talking to him and setting boundaries. When I lean in to clean his cage and he is on top of if, I raise myself up and say, "no bite". Trust me, getting slammed on top of the head by a parrot is not fun. He also hates it when I close the curtain behind his cage. I just stand up straight and tell him, "NO" I have learned he is not stupid. I do the same routine over and over. Paco cannot fly, sadley he does not know how to. I have just stuck to the same habits every day and will not let him bully me. I hope this helps. I had many moments when I was ready to throw in the towel, don't give up.