I started clicker training a young (less than 1 year old) B&G macaw Calypso. She has been learned to step-up on command targeting and A few other things I am training her.
For her treat I have been giving her pieces of almond. The size I make the pieces are the same size that I give the other birds. Macaws, Cockatoos and Grey. According to Barbra Heinrich I made them small enough that the bird will chew them up quickly and be ready for the next trick.
With working with Calypso I noticed something strange. I would click then give the treat, but the treat would 'disappear'. I did not notice Calypso chewing the treat or dropping the treat.
The other day I figured out what was happening. I did a short training session and awarded 4 or 5 pieces. I then went walking with Calypso on a harnes. She started doing the head-pumping regurgitation thing. I was quite surprised that an under 1 year bird would do that. Then I noticed her chewing something. I also noticed that when she regenerated that some of it fell on the ground. Examining what fell on the ground, I could see two pieces of almond that were about the same size as when I gave them to her.
Has anyone noticed this behavior of storing the trick treats in the crop then regurgitating and chewing them later? Is this normal? Can this cause problems at a later time?
For her treat I have been giving her pieces of almond. The size I make the pieces are the same size that I give the other birds. Macaws, Cockatoos and Grey. According to Barbra Heinrich I made them small enough that the bird will chew them up quickly and be ready for the next trick.
With working with Calypso I noticed something strange. I would click then give the treat, but the treat would 'disappear'. I did not notice Calypso chewing the treat or dropping the treat.
The other day I figured out what was happening. I did a short training session and awarded 4 or 5 pieces. I then went walking with Calypso on a harnes. She started doing the head-pumping regurgitation thing. I was quite surprised that an under 1 year bird would do that. Then I noticed her chewing something. I also noticed that when she regenerated that some of it fell on the ground. Examining what fell on the ground, I could see two pieces of almond that were about the same size as when I gave them to her.
Has anyone noticed this behavior of storing the trick treats in the crop then regurgitating and chewing them later? Is this normal? Can this cause problems at a later time?
