How does Darwin let you know when he doesn’t won’t to step up?
Mike Bross
Phoenix AZ

Pongo U2 uses air lunges as a way to initiate games. Also play-chase-and-pounce. If Darwin could make contact but doesn't, or makes soft contact, i'd say he's playing... a sign of trust on his part, and of how far your relationship has come.

You're right to be cautious though, because they can become overly aroused and bite. This is how the tug game started at my house - you might try offering something (not scary for him) at that point to attack and tug at.

We take breaks if she seems to be getting carried away. If i step back for a few moments and let her collect her wits (she's a very smart bird but sometimes "not all there" when we're playing rowdy), then i'll see if she'll accept a scritch, and if so, we launch happily back into the game. We have a calming "check-in" signal we use - beak clacking. Constantly switching down the intensity of the game - if you can find ways to do that with Darwin he could learn a lot about self-control, and will be less likely to get too riled.

Don't know if this makes any sense at all...?

Air lunges are totally ignored by me when Bean used to do them. If he went to bite I would shove my finger in his beak and push him backwards. This totally threw him off. There was discussion of this on the yahoo freeflight. Chris Biro said the best thing he found was to clamp the beak shut. Said my method was ok but he had on macaw that learned around this. I have had no luck trying to clamp Bean's beak shut. He already pulls back as he thinks I am going to shove my finger in his beak.

i saw that discussion on the Freeflight list too; i was nervous about offering my opinion there: but both my 'too and my macaw do what are clearly "playful" lunges and if i have time always respond in kind - playfully. IME it's been a great way to teach them to control beak pressure and build mutual trust. Zazu watches me play-wrestle with the dogs and has picked up a pretty good growl to go along with this kind of play; i'd really miss being stalked and pounced upon by the feather kids and the fur kids. These "attacks" always end in hysterical giggles and very very gentle contact. It's one of those things that has to be understood in context... trying to figure out how to describe it, but the best i can come up with is that a lot of it has to do with making eye contact and coming to a nonverbal agreement that "the game is on." i think not all lunges are threats... hopefully some 'too and macaw folks will come to my rescue here, they can be very physical birds!

Mike - I ask Darwin to step up by approaching him with my hand or my arm at the ready for him to step up, and if he doesn't want to step up he usually turns around or walks away before I come close. In that case I walk away (if I really need him to move, I come back with a stick, which he climbs onto very consistently). I've been interpreting lunges as "I don't want to step up now" and leaving him along, but I think I should be playing with him instead.

Lisa - What you said makes sense to me. I didn't mention it, but I have been playing tug with him in the last few days, using paper towels or rolls of paper. I like your idea of turning down the intensity regularly, like you said it would be a good skill for him to learn.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

I do not recomend putting your finger in the beck. I have been told that Bebe GSC can bite with a 1000lbs per square inch. Outch!

Bebe does play both tug and a strick (lunging) game. Tug can be with paper etc which gives him very good contol over the amount of pressure he needs to apply. He will play tug with your finger, but you really need to know and trust your bird for that. Bebe usually stricks your hand similar to the game knuckles, but can latch on to you, but is usually careful not to bite to hard, if you're lucky.

Murray
NZ

Murray, good point about paper tug - hadn't thought about it being useful for beak pressure control (i usually use a t-shirt or rope with Pongo as she likes to swing through the air at the height of the game). Nate you seem to be going this route intuitively; it does seem like a smart way to go about it.

Agreed also about the finger-in-beak with 'toos - i don't do it in the middle of an exciting tug game, and i trust my girl completely.

Sophie has been doing this lately. She likes to play tug with my finger. She doesn't have a lower mandable so can't bite like most othe toos. She is strong, but it seems more like play than biting.

I have been trying to find a toy she will do this with so I don't teach her to bite. Right now though she is happiest grabbing my finger and tugging. LOL

hey my Pink ringed neck dove feathers are weird looking, they are growing but the white part isnt its just a long white thing sticking out of him what do i do is it normal? please help

Sounds like you are just seeing a pinfeather. The feathers grow in covered in a feather sheath so they look like little sticks; as the feather matures the feather sheath will be preened or scratched off and there will be the normal feather inside. If he's not kept with another bird, you will notice them mostly on his head and neck where he can't preen himself well.

Karen
Chico (conure) and Pippin (budgie)
WI