Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!mintaka!spdcc!ima!cfisun!susans
From: susans@cfi.COM (susans)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR Untraining Screamers
Message-ID: <947@cfiprod.UUCP>
Date: 8 Nov 90 13:16:10 GMT
References: <1990Oct31.174425.13520@cs.ucla.edu> <155@tivoli.UUCP> <2731BD67.2128@intercon.com> <941@cfiprod.UUCP> <27388C54.59BD@intercon.com>
Reply-To: susans@cfiprod.UUCP (Susan Scheide -CFI-)
Organization: Consumer Financial Institute, Waltham, Mass.
Lines: 44

In article <27388C54.59BD@intercon.com> ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry) writes:
>In article <941@cfiprod.UUCP>, susans@cfi.COM (susans) writes:
>> Mikki: How about some ideas on how to untrain the bird I
>> 	unwitting taught to scream whenever I am out of his field
>> 	of vision?  
>
>... Note, if you yell at the bird, stomp across the floor to get to it,
>and/or handle it roughly, the bird will associate your "performance" with
>something it can elicit to alleviate boredom.

	Ah, yes.  "The dance of the screaming bird."  I do this beautifully.
	Sometimes I get flushed in the face with shame after I realize
	the bird has elicited such an irrational response from me!

>Others have also just calmly walked into the room and covered the cage, turned
>off the lights, and left the room.  The key is not to give the bird what
>he wants (i.e. attention) when he screams.

	I do this, and it doesn't work unless I am willing to also cover
	myself up with a heavy cloth, because I can hear him wherever he
	is.  

>Also, re: canary bands.  If you ever decide to take it off, please have a
>vet do it.  It seems easy enough, but it really isn't.  A false move could
>hurt the bird.  And one that tiny probably shouldn't even be messed with,
>since they stress so easily.

	I've had to cut his nails once--he was pretty good about it, but
	I would never attempt to remove the band myself, as one false
	clip would take off his leg.  They look so frail and hollow!
	Ugly too.  Anyone else ever notice how ugly canary feet are?  All
	scaley looking (note: my bird does not have mites or scaly foot
	disease--just normal ugly canary legs).

	Thanks Mikki, for your usual informed response.
>
>Mikki Barry
>--


-- 
                        Susan S. (susans@cfi.com)

                        Another Friend of Bill's