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From: ramsey@kona.cs.ucla.edu (Brenda Ramsey)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Behavioral Problems - Macaws
Message-ID: <1990Oct31.174425.13520@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 31 Oct 90 17:44:25 GMT
Sender: news@cs.ucla.edu (Mr. News)
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Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
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Originator: ramsey@kona.cs.ucla.edu
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Big-Bird is a 1 year old Hyacinth Macaw with a LOUD voice.
His normal babbling is tolerable, but when he screeches it
is enough to wake the dead.

Patti brought him to *bird school* over the weekend and the
*teacher*, who has been training birds of all types for years,
suggested "THE BLACK BOX" routine for him.  A wooden box, painted
black on the inside, no holes, large enough to deposit the bird
so he cannot turn around, was recommended.  When the screeching
starts, pick him up, deposit in the box and leave him for
3 minutes.  If he screeches after he is deposited, he stays in
3 minutes from that time.  In her experience, it should take
no more than 1-1/2 weeks of constant *in the box sessions* to
cure him of this bad behavior.  When Patti was in her house, which
is inhabited by 3-4 Macaws, several Cockatoos, several Amazons,
it was perfectly QUIET.

After the screeching stops, and hopefully it will, the next
behavioral problem will be to teach him to stay PUT on his
perch until he is offered the opportunity to move.

Has anyone else encountered such behavioral problems with 
their birds?  I will forward all my comments to Patti....I
am a CAT person!

Thanks

-- 
Brenda Ramsey  (213) 825-2778
UCLA Computer Science Department
ramsey@CS.UCLA.EDU
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