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From: kdb@macaw.intercon.com (Kurt Baumann)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Behavioral Problems - Macaws
Message-ID: <272F4B3A.D9E@intercon.com>
Date: 31 Oct 90 22:07:54 GMT
References: <1990Oct31.174425.13520@cs.ucla.edu>
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Reply-To: kdb@macaw.intercon.com (Kurt Baumann)
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In article <1990Oct31.174425.13520@cs.ucla.edu>, ramsey@kona.cs.ucla.edu
(Brenda Ramsey) writes:
> Has anyone else encountered such behavioral problems with 
> their birds?  I will forward all my comments to Patti....I
> am a CAT person!
> 
> Thanks

Were as I sympathize with you.  It needs to be pointed out that the screeching
is part of their (the birds) NORMAL behavior.  It is looking for attention
(which is why the black box works), calling for other macaws in the area,
etc..  To term it a behavioral problem is like saying that your talking to
a friend is a problem.

We have used the "black box" behavior modification when they get too loud,
and in general it works fairly well.  The getting off the perch problem I
have found that you just need to be persistant in putting the bird back on
the perch a couple of times and then on the 3rd jump put it back in the cage.
Eventually it gets the idea that if it wants to stay out it needs to stay
put on the perch.  Just make sure that if it stays on for 15 minutes or so
you take it off and play with it then put it back again.  It takes time.

Kurt
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Kurt Baumann                       InterCon Systems Corporation
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