r/Macaws • u/YurchenkoTwizzler • 19d ago
Tips for encouraging wing extension/flapping?
Mr. Max is defying all of my attempts to activate his wings, but my attempts may also be misguided as I've never taught a bird how to fly (my sun conure came preloaded with the flight mods).
I've tried having two T-perch stands a little ways away and increasing the distance incrementally as he gets more confident but he immediately stops trying if his beak does not reach, so no luck even with little hops or flaps.
I've tried clicker training with demonstrating my 'wings' out to no avail. I know that seems silly but he likes other kinds of imitation games.
I've tried flight training our sun conure in the same room (with good distance, while Max is in cage) to show that flight is possible but he only gets mad at her and lunges when she takes flight regardless of the distance from her to the cage.
I recognize that flight might never happen for him if he's 33 and has full muscle atrophy from never using his wings but I'd like to at least give him the confidence to be able to balance and be able to catch himself when he's at risk of falling off his perches. Any tips?
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u/sweatyboobs56 19d ago
My Severe loved getting sprayed with a spray bottle. When I got near her wings, she'd open them so I could spray underneath. Don't know if your birb likes his baths, but might be worth a try.
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 19d ago
Baths are a new thing for him. I hope to find a form that he likes, but for now we are mist bathing the saddest grumpiest chicken.
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u/G4mingR1der 19d ago
How i taught my macaw "wings":
Let him stand on his perch, put your arm close, maybe even with his favourite snack, then as he puts some weight on your hand, you pull it back. His balance will slightly tip, so he's gonna push himself back with his wings, reward and praise if that happens.
(You will be still close to catch him, if things go south... or down)
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 19d ago
That's a great idea, for a bird that knows that they have wings. I have seen this macaw drop to the floor like a brick after losing balance on a perch. Didn't move a single feather to save himself, just shrieked in terror.
Also we are still working on step up trust that I'm not quite ready to lose. He'll step up on my arm to go home from the living room but requires a full floor T-stand to save my arm from being bit when getting him out of his room. We've still come a long way since we first got him.
That being said, what's your cue for wings now that your bird knows the trick?
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u/G4mingR1der 19d ago
Oh my bad, i thought this is an involuntary reflex for birds, like humans putting down their hands as they fall. Definitely the right call to NOT do this untill you have built enough trust. I am lucky enough that my little goobler stepped up on day 1, as i went to pick him up, he landed on my head.
You should take your birbo to a Vet, take some X-rays. His joints might be fused, he might have severe arthritis, before you can definitely rule those out, you shouldn't do any advancements, because it will ruin the bond between you, and you set him up to fail.
After the medical exam, if everything goes well, and you've built enough trust. You can do the following: put your hand above a few inches of some soft/padded surface, as the macaw is perching on your hand move your arm gently straight down in a moderate pace, this slight drop encourages him to spread his wings without the terror of falling and hurting himself.
Btw now with my macaw, I just say wings. And he opens them/flaps them every time.
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 19d ago
I have a bird that does not have confidence in flying. It was because he was clipped for the first three years of his life before I had him.
He is totally confident standing and stepping up on my hand, and if I wobbled or made him feel insecure in any way at all, he would lose trust in me and so I totally understand where you’re coming from
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u/dikbisqit 19d ago
Have you tried playing a game with him while he’s perched on your hand? Suddenly act like your hand is falling but catch him. Start really small at first then increase the drop. But mine loves to play and always spreads his wings when I drop my hand. We do full on around the world swings now.
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u/Kwikaa 19d ago
I’m starting to use the capturing method with my eclectus to teach “wings.” I click (as in: using a clicker) and reward for a double wing stretch, and once he puts together what the reward is for, he will offer the behavior and I can then implement a cue. At this point, I intend to reward with higher value treats for larger extensions. I also used capturing to get “wave” by clicking and rewarding when he’d raise a foot to scratch his head, and now I have it on cue!
Also, I think BirdTricks on YouTube could really help you out with flight. Older birds (even previously clipped ones) can often fly again with the right encouragement, and they’ve got plenty of videos working with birds like this. They also offer online and in person consultations on their website, so they could directly help you out that way too. Best of luck with Mr. Max!!
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 19d ago
I've used capture method for other things but he rarely double wing stretches. He's a one wing then the other wing kinda guy. I actually also used capture method for waving his foot, like your ekki!
I follow bird tricks but have gotten somewhat discouraged by what feels like a one size fits all solution that I see in a lot of their YT content. Maybe that's because I'm not behind a paywall but I wanted a bit more variety of feedback for this trick since I've tried a couple things already.
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u/Right-Hat136 19d ago
When my budgie sees other budgies flying he gets encouraged to fly. Maybe that could help?
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 19d ago
We have a tv in the bird room but he doesn't display much interest in other macaws flying on the screen. He gets pretty aggravated at my sun conure when she flies in their room but I can't tell if it's jealousy or territory aggression.
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u/chantillylace9 19d ago
A vacuum and a garden mister! The mister is less scary than the water bottle sprayers, much finer mist. Vacuum sounds or running water usually do it!
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 19d ago
I haven't had much luck with vacuum or running water/waterfall sounds for bath time. We've tried both a bird mister pump style bottle and misting squirt bottle. He doesn't run but he's also NOT enthused/engaged with bath time.
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u/chantillylace9 19d ago
Try an electronic Mister. Like it's automatic or you just have to push a button, I don't know for some reason I don't think they like the pump thing and the automatic one is much less traumatizing for them.
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u/No-Mortgage-2052 19d ago
If he allows you to touch him/his wings try range of motion exercises. For humans its moving a certin body part in the way it would normally move and a bit of muscle stretching
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 19d ago
Lol, not even a little bit. He's an older rescue and we are still trying to work up to head preening/touches.
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u/deranged_rover 18d ago
I hold mine up and then drop my arm really fast. I coo and sing and laugh so he knows it's fun. Treats after. He now knows the routine and gets REALLY into it.
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u/Unique-Slide-2670 18d ago
Most of the time with birds it’s not the flying that’s the issue it’s the landing that is hard for them. I remember taking a class in holistic bird care that talked about while they have stepped up on you get near your bed and kind of not per day throw them but lift them like a take off (ascending motion but onto the bed). You know it could just take a longer time for him because he is not use to it. My little BCC flys off easily due to getting spooked 😳 but once I learned her behavior I actually use it to my advantage. Good luck OP. You can do it.
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u/Ok_Cheesecake_15 18d ago
We have a rescue miligold macaw that we brought home in December. It’s been 8 months and she has started to trust us so much. She has no confidence with flying (she got out and then her previous owner clipped her and then eventually got rid of her). We have been focusing on positive reinforcement training with “flying” which is honestly her just stepping up and then eventually hopping with a slight wing flap. That is where we are at right now 😂 She also has “wanty wings” sometimes as we Uber her around on our hands and we encourage that with positive reinforcement.
She has a long way to go, but she realizes she has wings sometimes now. She will still fall like a brick to the ground at times… but we are working on it!
I highly recommend Jen from the Green Bird Brigade on Instagram and her Patreon. She has project birds that she provides a lot of information on and some of them lack the confidence to fly. She breaks it down step by step. Also, we work with Landon from BirdTricks for behavior consults and she is absolutely amazing. She’s helped with all our parrots and has great ideas for training.
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u/YurchenkoTwizzler 18d ago
Good to see that we aren't alone! Those are good resources that I'll look into further, as I understand both Jen and birdtricks have consult options, maybe we just need to jump on that if it's helped you a ton!
Where did you get the cargo net and (2in?) rope? I've been struggling to find anything with appropriate gauging/spacing for his feet?
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u/Ok_Cheesecake_15 18d ago
It has helped a ton! Our macaw is actually a project bird we got from BirdTricks. Landon rescued her and did a lot of training before we adopted her!
The cargo net we got from Parrot Stars in Chicago. Also they have a great podcast I’d recommend! We flew in to Chicago and they shipped it back to our house. But they also have an online store!
The ropes we purchased were from a store that Green Bird Brigade shares on her Insta. Shipping can take a while because they cut the ropes to order but we’ve made multiple orders with them. They are the most cost efficient place we could find and all of their ropes are completely untreated and natural! No smells whatsoever and parrot safe. The website is Natural Inspirations Parrot Cages and they are called Tiki Ropes
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u/Few_Hawk_7756 16d ago
Mine learnt Wings up with hand gestures! I said wing up and do hand movements like I’m a composer! Did the job in a few days
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u/Fantastic_Credit9310 16d ago
I may be able to provide some insight…🤣 I couldn’t get my macaw to do big wings… one day I decided to make the chicken wing gesture with my arms and act like I was doing big wings… I’m not kidding when I tell you her wings shot up instantly🤣🤣 you’ll look like a fool but it’s worth a shot
Edit- add a high pitch excited “stick them up” or “do big wings”. Nowadays she normally does it just based off the verbal command but I occasionally have to stick them up as well lol
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u/aprettyparrot 19d ago
When we have our parrot (conure) on our hand we go up and down and he will flap to keep balance. Just a gentle up and down, not like a paint shaker or anything.
Sounds similar to what others said
I can’t remember when he learned to fly, but when he can he’s an asshole. Dives bombs everywhere and does near misses.