Earning Back Trust – Alexandrine Parakeet Rasta Learns Tricks

Photo by Dave Womach
Location: Athol, ID
Shown: Alexandrine parakeet “Rasta” going into his cage to his perch via touch training 

 

 

Since cage training Rasta (teaching him to go back into his cage willingly via touch training which took about 6 training sessions total) I’ve been thinking… what’s next? I know Liam would love for Rasta to learn some tricks so that has been my new focus with him.

 

Usually, I would start with teaching ...

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Introducing Cats Into a House With Pet Birds


Oscar - my mum's new addition to the family.

 

I pretty much live in a zoo. Multiple birds, dogs and cats permanently own me, there are also a few goldfish and the odd passing rescue waiting for re-home. Most of the time, we all get along beautifully but it has taken work to get to that point.

 

My mother recently added to the zoo, by adopting a shelter cat. It wasn’t an easy decision whether or not to take on ...

 

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Build Your Own Bird Aviary – Here’s How!

Custom aviary for pet parrots built in Florida

 

While filming our One Day Miracles DVD series, we got to meet some fantastic bird people. One couple was Gandolph’s owners, the Holzman’s, who were looking to get their African grey parrot to fly to them on cue as they were building an outdoor aviary and wanted him to come in at night.

 

After fixing their problem in one day, I asked Michelle to keep me updated with the progress of their aviary so that I could hopefully share what they had done here on ...

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How Companion Parrots Become Obese

Obese blue fronted amazon, Storm, carrying about 30% more than his species' average weight

Companion parrots experience both advantage and disadvantage with the humans in their lives. To their advantage is the human who loves them and provides them with all their needs – feeds them the healthiest diet, offers enrichment and vet care as needed.

To their disadvantage is the human who loves them and provides them with all their wants – rushes to release them when they insist on coming out of the cage, makes excuses for unwanted behaviors ...

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Non-Stick Cookware Kills Another Parrot!

Photo from babble.com

Earlier this week, I heard about yet another parrot death following exposure to the toxic fumes of non-stick cookware. This death is particularly frustrating because this owner HAD heard the warnings, but didn’t take them seriously.

It astonishes me that some people still aren’t aware of this danger (for both birds AND humans) in this day and age, and it makes me wonder what we are doing wrong that the information is not reaching everyone.

But, what are you to do when someone DOES have the knowledge and chooses to ...

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Alexandrine Parakeet Rasta’s Progress – Flight, Food and Fear Changes

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Athol, ID
Shown: Alexandrine Parakeet “Rasta” not eye pinning or being aggressive with sun conure “Detka” 

 

If you haven’t followed Rasta’s story, please do so here:

 

So what has happened with Rasta since the last time I wrote? A whole heck of a lot!

 

I’ve been doing two things:

  1. Encouraging Rasta to use flight as a means to get himself where he wants to go.
  2. Putting happy on cue by clicking and rewarding anytime ...

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