How to teach a bird no?

[tbjones]

Hey all,

Having a slight problem with my little guy, he has taken to getting at my keyboard whenever I'm not at my desk(and sometimes when I am), his cage is next to my desk and he can freely climb onto the desk where his gym is which I don't mind and am happy for the company when I'm at my desk, however as soon as I go away from my desk he gets at my keyboard and pries the keys off the keyboard.

Its nothing too major I guess, but I'm just trying to think of away to teach him no without removing his ability to come onto my desk.

Have I given him too much freedom? or is it something that will come in time? I've had him for about 3 months now and when it happens I just put him on him gym on on his cage, problem is as soon as my back is turned he is back their going at it. This afternoon I was on my computer and he ran over grabbed a key quickly and ran back to his cage with the key, I know he probably thinks of it as a game but trying to workout how to teach him no.

Any advice? Getting sick of reconstructing my keyboard lol.

[ellieelectrons]

I'm sure you can train the behaviour... but I'm not sure how... we just generally make sure things are out of their reach. My husband went through several iphone headsets before learning that lesson. Having said that, I recently discovered some art work I had hanging on the fridge had been nibbled by a birdie when they flew on top of the fridge when I left the room for a moment.

I know Barbara Heidenreich (animal trainer, www.goodbirdinc.com) talks about training her flighted birds to only fly to specific places in her house to perch... so I guess what you are wanting is similar to that... she talks about offering positive reinforcement every time the bird is perching in the correct place and no reinforcement for landing in other places. Does your bird have a gym area? I've found my guys (after a couple of years of having them) will spend most of their time in their gym and cage areas. Sometimes they venture further but not too often.

Good luck & best wishes.

Ellie.