New U2

[Cheryl]

Ok all, I still need help with her. When I open her cage door, she runs out and won't step up. I can pet her and offer her something but she will not step up and if I force the issue she runs and I am not able to get her off her cage (too high). She won't go to bed when it's time and I just don't know what to do. I still don't think she likes me. No one else does things for her, just me so now what? She is playing now and eating better. she survived the dreaded bath and I think she felt better after, she had to, the bath was dirty after. I don't know, any ideas? Am I rushing her? She sees me pet and love on the other birds and such is that a help?

[Dot]

Go very slowly. Spend time sitting near her and talking to her (with her in the cage). Offer her treats. I should shut up because I don't know how long you have had this bird. LOL

[Chrissy and Flock]

Sometimes Cassie will get on top of her cage and won't come down ... I sometimes have to get a step ladder and a towel to get her ... I am letting her do things in her time, she is a plucker so I don't want to stress her in any way. Toweling her does not bother her in any way.. in fact she seems to like it...

[FoxersArtist]

Cheryl,
I know I already spoke with you, but i'm going to post this here incase it might be useful to anyone else!

For those who are used to working with cockatoos, especially U2s, many can say that they have come across a too that would rather cling to it's perch, bow it's head and want nothing more than to be spoiled and pampered on the spot rather than to have to fuss with stepping up and being carted into another room (where there might be predators lurking, afterall). These birds are usually the most mushy, cuddly, love sponges in the whole world, but they would rather stay parked right where they are, thank you very much! (After all, they are royalty, are they not?)

So how do you deal with a bird that is sweet but would rather avoid you being in control of where they go? The first thing to note is that it's probably not healthy to allow a bird who wont step up to stay parked on a perch out of reach (like above the cage), so doing whatever is possible to keep them out of these places is best.

Second, these birds need to know that getting away with certain behaviors is just not acceptable! Any good parent lays down a set of boundaries for their child. In the case of our birds...no biting, no roaming freely, no flying to attack guests, No chasing the family pooch, no chewing up grandma's antique sitting chair, no walking through mom's bowl of cereal, etc, etc. Our birds may try to do these things, but we have to firmly, but gently remind them that this is not ok and distract them with something else. In the case of Cheryl's cockatoo, running from mom and refusing to step up is not acceptable behavior. The bird is not afraid and therefore running from danger. She's running from the law!!! Cheryl will need to put some boundaries in place so that this bird understands what is expected of her.

Lastly, and most importantly, there has to be a motive for these boundaries to be become affective. We all know that MAKING a bird do anything is totally pointless and the most it will likely accomplish is ill will or a pouting bird. Observe your bird and find out what turns her world upside down. Does she love a good head rub? If so, hold your hand out where she can reach it to step up and hold your other hand just out of reach and offer to pet her but only when she steps up. When she steps onto your first hand to reach the one that wants to give her a headrub, PRAISE HER like she has just won the gold cup! If she loves a certain type of food do the exact same thing, holding the desired treat just out of reach so that she has to step up before she can reach her treat. Right when you notice her stepping onto your hand say "Step up, GOOOOOOD GIRRRLLL!"

It's amazing how these birds would be just tickled to stick around for hours of pampering and "me" time but they are smart enough to head for the hills when they feel that you are about to make them do something they don't want to do. U2's are just like little feathered toddlers and they will get away with whatever they can so that life revolves around them! Guide them lovingly but firmly and you are bound to see a big difference.
-Anna

[Denise and Moonlight]

I'm sorry this is in no way helping...but I loved the "walk through moms bowl of cereal" That is so much like moonlight, well she stuck her foot in MY bowl of oatmeal a few days ago and tried to pick some up...I guess getting her foot dirty was better then her whole beak....rotten bird! I agree with the toddler part...I told my husband when we got moonlight that we just invested in having the "terrible twos, (or tooz)for the rest of our life" He asked why I would want to do that to myself...I guess I'm a gluten for punishment!

[Cheryl]

Thank you all. I will try these things and let you all know how it turns out.

[too&me]

A gluten for punishment? Sounds like a Celiac joke. Sorry couldn't help myself, it must be due to breathing too much Too dust! ;)

[FoxersArtist]

Yeah, but the difference is that gluten IS the punishment for me! LOL. I wonder if both words essentially mean the same thing? Maybe God was trying to tell us that wheat is evil when he spoke of the sin of glutany. HeHe. Yes folks, it will cause you more problems than just a spare tire. :hihihi:
-Anna

A gluten for punishment? Sounds like a Celiac joke. Sorry couldn't help myself, it must be due to breathing too much Too dust! ;)

[too&me]

Gluttony lol lol Portion depicting Gluttony in Hieronymus Bosch's The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things ... gulp down or swallow, gluttony is the over-indulgence and ...

[Denise and Moonlight]

LOL :blush: :nanana:

[FoxersArtist]

and from the looks of it...I need to work on my spelling a bit! :emb2:
-Anna

Gluttony lol lol Portion depicting Gluttony in Hieronymus Bosch's The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things ... gulp down or swallow, gluttony is the over-indulgence and ...

[Julie]

Gluttony lol lol Portion depicting Gluttony in Hieronymus Bosch's The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things ... gulp down or swallow, gluttony is the over-indulgence and ...


Ok, now you all stop it! You are making me spit cup cake all over my key board at work laughing so hard.....

Now back to that cup cake....

[FoxersArtist]

Don't do it Julie! Resist the cupcake! This temptation will only lead you to gluten yourself! The world will be doomed! Down with gluten! Booooooo!
-Anna :rolleyes:

Ok, now you all stop it! You are making me spit cup cake all over my key board at work laughing so hard.....

Now back to that cup cake....

[Cheryl]

You guys are too funny. I really enjoy you all -- so entertaining. Thanks.

[too&me]

Anna you need to start working on a new gluten free stuffing recipe for your famous turkey stuffing this year! Ok Julie cupcakes are to eat not to spit on your keyboard!

[Chrissy and Flock]

Look at it this way Julie, what landed on the keyboard will not go to your hips....:D

[FoxersArtist]

Believe me, this has been a popular thought running through my mind lately...especially when i gave my stuffing mix to michelle. I almost cried. We'll never see this again:
:eek::eek::eek:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Thanks07002.jpg

BTW, we still haven't eaten that turkey, Michelle. It did however migrate to Michelle's new freezer. Too many birds around here...had to foster one out.
-Anna

Anna you need to start working on a new gluten free stuffing recipe for your famous turkey stuffing this year! Ok Julie cupcakes are to eat not to spit on your keyboard!

[Julie]

Anna,

I love that photo of your beautiful Benny Boy.... Makes me want to push even harder to get my Carl to being a well adjusted boy who wants to be out of his cone! Thank you very much, after my rough evening your Benny sure did perk me up!!!

You'll find a perfect recipe by the time November comes around, and I'm sure we would all love to hear about your trials and tribulations along the way too!

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

poor little darling...well I have no advice cause I have no experience with toos whatsoever..just wanted to wish you luck dear.

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Cheryl,

This may not be a popular view, but maybe you should not let her out of the cage until you have been successful with stepping up. The reason I say this is because every time you let her out, she does want she wants and gets away with it. I would be afraid of her getting the message that she's in charge.
When I got Linus, we had never met each other. I picked him up at the airport and he came home to a strange house and cage. Linus got very aggressive with me a couple of times shortly after I got him and I kept him in his cage and sat outside of it reading, sometimes out loud, and talking to him until I was certain that he felt I was no threat to him. Following this, I interacted with him by holding him just outside of the cage door or nearby. He could only come out if he stepped up with a good attitude. I didn't punish him if he got testy, but I would go back to the routine of communicating from outside the cage. I needed to let him know who was boss in a gentle way. It worked for me.
Aggression with her may not be the issue now, but I think it might come to that as you try to make her do what you want. Take it very slowly and make sure she knows what the rules and boundaries are. I really think you'll be able to work through this problem with a little time and effort.

Patty

[too&me]

That is how we worked with Harry who can be aggressive male also. Good he has outside time too quick to bite he goes back into his cage. Fred has no aggression any where in his little body, his issues are self destructive instead-I wonder if there is a link to displaced aggression in there some where?

[Julie]

I think they have turned it around on themselves instead of displaying it outwards.

[Cheryl]

I want to do that but everytime I open her cage door to give her food/water etc, she runs out and onto the top of the cage. My husband is getting really frustrated with her, I guess frustrated is a nice word. So now what? I clipped her wings and she lets me pet her, no problem there, just the stepping up so I can hold her or move her or even to try to get her back into her cage. She is big brat bird. BTW she is eating, playing with her foot toys, tho I have not seen her playing with her hanging toys. She has totally shredded the window and the banister. My fault. I thought if I placed her cage there then she could get on that and then I could get her. What her former owner did was use the back of the couch as the banister so maybe she is set in her ways?

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Cheryl,

Since she's going to sneak out I would try to make the best use of that time by teaching her to step up while she's out. Some people have good results starting with sticks or perches. Try turning out time into play time for the two of you, maybe teach her to play catch or get the coin bank toy and play with it until she comes to you to find out what it is. I would withhold her favorite treats so that you can use them as incentive for the times she won't cooperate and for the step up training.

Patty