So, some of you already know that I have two African Greys now. Two years old TAG - Edgar, and four months old CAG - Akira. They are both amazing. Akira came to me last sunday morning, so she lives with me less than a week.
The interesting thing was that Edgar showed no signs of aggresion towards Akira when she came. He was curious. He wanted to watch her. She was and still is a little wary of him.
She, which is quite obvious, was a little wary of me as well. Till yesterday. Yesterday something clicked. I don't know what, why, but suddenly Akira started to respond to trainig. Before she was responding but very hesitantly. She would step up on my hand, but before she did it, she would give it a lot of thought. From yesterday she steps up with the same certainty as Edgar does. She does targeting like a pro, and she flies to me when I call her. I'm amazed, really, how quickly it went.
Edgar became a super polite bird. I mean, he always is more or less polite, and quite gentle with his beak now, after long training of controlling the beak. But during this week he was an epitome of politeness. I ask Edgar, please step up, Edgar steps up immediately. I ask come, Edgar flies to me without any though. I ask touch (for targeting), he does. I think, he was a little nervous and decided that following known set of rules will keep him safe. Yesterday and today he is more himself. Still very nice bird, but not so polite. It was becoming a little scarry to tell you the truth. I thing he is getting used to new situation now so he presents his old normal self.
The very funny thing is that Akira loves peanuts. Edgar doesn't. But now I offer to him the same foods as I give to Akira, even though I know that most probably he will throw it away. So I offered a peanut in the shell. She obviously took it and was happy. Edgar also took it. She peeled off the shell and ate the nuts. Edgar peeled off the shell and threw away the nuts. And this is the way they are having peanuts now. Every day.
Another funny thing happened today, during Akira's training session. Edgar was training first, then he went to his cage and it was Akira's turn. We were training "step up". After each step up, I asked Akira to sit on the chair, which she did. So "step up", "sit", "step up", "sit". And suddenly Edgar started repeating from his cage: "sit". He waited when Akira stepped up and when it was time to sit he gave the command with me.
I train with Edgar two kinds of training now. First one is the basic (step up, come, and targeting), so Akira can watch it. And I think it works. Every day Akira watches how Edgar is doing step up and targeting, how i praize him and reward him and I thing it makes easier for Akira to get the concept. The second kind of training with Edgar is his usual training session if he wants it. I don't know if it is possible or not, but I think Edgar wants to show off in front of Akira, because he is looking if she watches.
They of course live in separate cages and most probably it will stay this way. I didn't take them outsite together, still too early, I think, so they go out separately.
The only problem I have now is that Edgar loves landing on Akira's cage. Akira on the other side... well... she doesn't love it at all. She goes all puffy and gets angry at Edgar. It is the same the other way around. Akira lands on Edgar's cage and he gets angry. I put thick blankets on the tops of both cages and for Akira it is enough but Edgar tries to look through the side bars. So I'm watching Edgar like a hawk to prevent disaster.
I think if I let them out together the problem with cages would solve itself. If Edgar lands on Akira's cage when they both are out, Akira would explain to him why he should't do it. I don't believe they would fight. But for now I don't feel comfortable with letting them out together just yet.
If any of you has any advice how should I procede, please, oh please share it with me. I will be very grateful.
The interesting thing was that Edgar showed no signs of aggresion towards Akira when she came. He was curious. He wanted to watch her. She was and still is a little wary of him.
She, which is quite obvious, was a little wary of me as well. Till yesterday. Yesterday something clicked. I don't know what, why, but suddenly Akira started to respond to trainig. Before she was responding but very hesitantly. She would step up on my hand, but before she did it, she would give it a lot of thought. From yesterday she steps up with the same certainty as Edgar does. She does targeting like a pro, and she flies to me when I call her. I'm amazed, really, how quickly it went.
Edgar became a super polite bird. I mean, he always is more or less polite, and quite gentle with his beak now, after long training of controlling the beak. But during this week he was an epitome of politeness. I ask Edgar, please step up, Edgar steps up immediately. I ask come, Edgar flies to me without any though. I ask touch (for targeting), he does. I think, he was a little nervous and decided that following known set of rules will keep him safe. Yesterday and today he is more himself. Still very nice bird, but not so polite. It was becoming a little scarry to tell you the truth. I thing he is getting used to new situation now so he presents his old normal self.
The very funny thing is that Akira loves peanuts. Edgar doesn't. But now I offer to him the same foods as I give to Akira, even though I know that most probably he will throw it away. So I offered a peanut in the shell. She obviously took it and was happy. Edgar also took it. She peeled off the shell and ate the nuts. Edgar peeled off the shell and threw away the nuts. And this is the way they are having peanuts now. Every day.
Another funny thing happened today, during Akira's training session. Edgar was training first, then he went to his cage and it was Akira's turn. We were training "step up". After each step up, I asked Akira to sit on the chair, which she did. So "step up", "sit", "step up", "sit". And suddenly Edgar started repeating from his cage: "sit". He waited when Akira stepped up and when it was time to sit he gave the command with me.
I train with Edgar two kinds of training now. First one is the basic (step up, come, and targeting), so Akira can watch it. And I think it works. Every day Akira watches how Edgar is doing step up and targeting, how i praize him and reward him and I thing it makes easier for Akira to get the concept. The second kind of training with Edgar is his usual training session if he wants it. I don't know if it is possible or not, but I think Edgar wants to show off in front of Akira, because he is looking if she watches.
They of course live in separate cages and most probably it will stay this way. I didn't take them outsite together, still too early, I think, so they go out separately.
The only problem I have now is that Edgar loves landing on Akira's cage. Akira on the other side... well... she doesn't love it at all. She goes all puffy and gets angry at Edgar. It is the same the other way around. Akira lands on Edgar's cage and he gets angry. I put thick blankets on the tops of both cages and for Akira it is enough but Edgar tries to look through the side bars. So I'm watching Edgar like a hawk to prevent disaster.
I think if I let them out together the problem with cages would solve itself. If Edgar lands on Akira's cage when they both are out, Akira would explain to him why he should't do it. I don't believe they would fight. But for now I don't feel comfortable with letting them out together just yet.
If any of you has any advice how should I procede, please, oh please share it with me. I will be very grateful.