Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    I own a harleyquin macaw (hand fed). He is just turning 14 months
    old. As for talking, he started to talk around 12-15 weeks. At that
    time he said "hello and whats up". Right now he's at the age where
    he's learning alot. Some times at night he tries to say phrase's
    but 60% of the time he just gergles. Keep working with him/her,
    they some times can take awhile but they'll learn. It took Spartacus
    about 3 weeks to say hello. Now you can show him a peanut and he'll
    go through his whole list till he gets that treat.
    
    B

    My B&G said Hello at about 4/5 months, it has been perfected now
    at 11 months.  She doesn't say a lot other than that, but gergles
    alot as well.  My other bird makes up for the talking part.  The
    B&G does try occasionally, and we encourage it, but I'm not too
    worried about it.  
    On another subject, I hope your B&G doesn't go through a teething
    stage like mine did.  My vet describes her as "incredibly headstrong".
    He believes she is indeed a she.
    
    Ed
    

    Thanks for the reply. Chiquita still isn't saying anything, but does
    mumble...he's 10 mos. old now. Perhaps once my grey starts, it will
    encourage him. 
    
    Question....how does one get a big bird like a B&G to sit on your
    shoulder? Chiquita loves to be petted, however, can't seem to fathom
    what I want when I encourage him to get up on my shoulder, or walk up
    my arm to my shoulder. Any hints? He seems to want to pull himself up
    with his beak, however, there's no way to do that.
    
    Thanks for responding.
    
    Nancy
    

    I guess it depends on the way your shoulders are constructed :-)
    
    My B&G was way too shoulder happy as a child anyways, so that wasn't
    a problem.  We had to break her of the habit.  BTW, she is learning
    how to say Hi now, but it sounds more like HA, or HUH...
    
    Ed
    

	Most handfeds would be happy if they could spend their entire life
	on a shoulder.  So, as with Ed, I have never had that particular
	problem.  As a matter of fact, if anyone gets within "beaking" 
	distance at our house, they have instant company.  Our problem is
	how do you convince a Macaw, they would rather not be on a shoulder.

	If there are two of you that the bird really likes, you might
	try putting the bird on the other's shoulder.  You might try
	`luring' the bird there with a peanut.  Pat Walz, in her Bird
	Talk colums often says that the way to a B&Gs heart is directly thru
	the stomach.  I know that Avalon would do almost anything for a
	Purdue Hot Wing.

	There is also a reasonably good book out by a vet on training large
	and small birds.  I own it, so I will look up the title tonite at
	home and enter it here.

	Good luck

	-dick

    No kidding about the stomach...  My macaw *loves* food.  She'll
    try anything.  She doesn't eat it all, but she'll try it at least
    once.
    
    Ed
    

    Dick,
    
    I would appreciate the name of that book. I have a few, and have them
    memorized, but I'm always on the lookout for another good one. I really
    have not trained Chiquita to do anything but perch on my arm, stay on
    his stand for extended periods of time, and enjoy being petted, which
    he does, and would like me to do for hours on end. One pecularily I
    have noticed with Chiquita, is that as soon as it begins to get dark,
    he gets very disoriented, makes all kinds of weird sounds, gets nippy,
    and basically makes himself unpopular until I put him to bed. This is a
    real problem, as it's getting dark out sooner and sooner now.
    Artificial light doesn't seem to make a difference. Do you have this
    problem? Do you think that Vitalights would make a difference?
    
    As for the shoulder, does Av walk up your arm to your shoulder? Does
    his tail get in the way? (I know, that sounds like a really dumb
    question.)
    
    Thanks
    
    Nancy
    

    Probably the bird is getting hungry, or tired.  He also may need
    to go to the bathroom.  My bird gets nippy when tired, or especially
    when the bathroom time comes!  I'm working on potty training.
    
    My bird likes to eat for about 30 minutes before going to bed, and
    she looks forward to that time.
    
    Ed
    

    My macaw gets downright pissy in the evening.  She is just tired and
    takes on the personality characteristics of a tired 2 year old child.
    I'm giving her medication twice a day right now....the morning dose
    (with a syringe) is only a small battle, but the evening dose is
    a major battle!  

	I am sorry, I have been lax about the book, I will get the name
	this evening...

	As for Avalon, he crawls up anything to get to a shoulder, which
	tneds to be a problem in the summer if one is wearing shorts.

	His tail gets in the way of everything....but he is clumsy.

	Av is a SPOILED 2 � year old, he NEVER wants to go to bed.  He will
	sleep on his gym, but get positively annoyed if he is told to go
	into his cage.

	We tend to eat late, so Av eats dinner with us around 9-9:30

	-dick

	The book is by Dr. E. Mulawka it is a TFH book.  Normally I do NOT
	recommend anything by TFH, but the book might be an exception.

	-dick

    I can't resist contributing on this topic.  I came to the conclusion
    last night that KoKo owned me.  Did you know that in the wild macaws
    spend every virtually every moment of their lives with their mates?
    With this in mind, it is easy to understand why our B&Gs want to be
    with us all the time.  It is natural for a macaw to want to eat with
    you, sleep with you, preen you (and be preened by you), etc. just as 
    he/she would with his/her mate.
    
    I am SO glad that Ed M. kept his B&G.  As I recall, it was up for
    sale at one time because he was able to intimidate the household.
    
    Chiquita is one of the best B&G names I have ever heard.  I wish I
    had thought of it first.
    
    The book Dick mentions is good by avian publication standards.  I 
    wish there were better parrot books around.  Of couse it is my duty
    to encourage everyone to read Bird Talk magazine.
    
    As far as talking, B&G's are not known for great speaking ability.
    They DO however manage a few words and phrases, but don't expect
    the clarity of an African grey.  KoKo says:  Hi!, Bad Bird! No!
    Stop it! Give me a kiss! What? Hi KoKo! and Good Morning.  Most
    of these came after he was a year old.  He said Hi! when he was
    still being hand fed.
    
    The best way to teach a bird to talk is not to try.  Just relax and
    talk to your bird when you play with him.  He will come around.
    You will notice your macaw practicing these vocalizations when he
    is peacefully resting on his favorite perch.  I LOVE these soft
    sounds....attempts at speaking.  To me, it's music.
    
    Remember to acknowledge every day, just how lucky you are to have
    a blue and gold.  Short of a hyacinth......they are the best.

    Well, thanks for the compliment on the name! I was picking up my new
    B&G the next day, and happened to be eating a Bannana with the label
    still on it....given that it said Chiquita, was blue and gold, and was
    froom Equador was enough for me!
    
    SUCCESS!!! Chiquita has begun saying hello. It's somewhat unclear at
    times, although two people visiting my house have claimed to hear it
    very clearly, and I have a few times as well. Most of the time though
    it's more like "aooo". But, still, progress is progress.
    
    I do believe that the reason Chiquita get's weird is that he just get's
    plum tired out by nightfall. I've found it helps, especially if I get
    home from work late, to have really bright lights on in the room. He
    does get nippy though. My grey, on the other h and, seems to adapt
    well.
    
    Thanks for all of your responses, and a special thanks to you Dick, for
    the Book info.
    
    Regards,
    
    Nancy
    

    I may have mentioned this, but Koko nips right before she has to
    go to the bathroom, consequently, when she gets a bit nippy, I head
    for a safe zone (i.e. linoleum, or a trash can...).
    
    Ed