To clicker train my parent's Macaw to climb down his tree and 'patrol' the living room because all the children are scared of him?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

They're scared because we may have gone a bit ott with the "STAY AWAY FROM THE BIRD HE WILL CHOP OFF YOUR FINGERS" which he is more than capable of if little fingers poke him but he doesn't go around looking for fingers to eat, which is what the kids now appear to believe.

I was at my mum's last night with my children and my sister's four children. Noisy was an understatement. There was constant fighting and bickering and wailing and "Mine" "No, it's mine" "Mine" "Gerrof me toys" "MAAAAAMM, she's got me toys"

I can barely manage to stay there an hour.

Now, when the parrot climbed down his tree for a sandbath and to retrieve an apple core he'd had earlier all 6 children instantly scuttled off to the sofas and sat stock still and vair quiet, waiting for the bird to climb back up his tree so they could resume the chaos.

I feel I should harness this power, somehow, and use it when the wailing becomes too much.

That's fair, yes? It's got to be easier than training the kids?

Oh yes. Go for it.

That is fantastic-can I please borrow him?

YANBU

Maybe the government shoud provide finger eating birds to all families with more than one child?

Of course we don't really use him for child training. I've never told dd2 that if she doesn't stop getting out of bed for nothing I will phone Max to come and sit on our stairs

The thought of the parrot sat on the stairs made me pmsl!!

excellent! i want a finger eating macaw

I'm sure you could clicker train it, someone trained the ones at our local animal park to answer all children who said hello with "fuck of little one" It only ever did it to children so when parents spoke it said "hello" back and the children got in trouble for making things up

Splendid

I love macaws. Bet they're hard work, though.

This has strengthened my argument that we 'need' a macaw, I wonder if he'd keep annoying basset hounds in check

yes get your own parrot save you harrasing yourself Genuis parenting tool imo ,

Pimmsgalore, really? That. Is. So. Cool.

a Macaw is a parrot isnt it

Yes, Mrs. They're as belligerant intelligent as a 3yo, or something. They're ace.

We saw a talk on them at Bristol Zoo. Apparently they really don't make good pets, unless you're very dedicated.

Seeing them fly, outdoors, was fab.

I want a parrot, just so I can train it to say 'help, they've turned me into a parrot!'

Oh, YAsoNBU

Ours shouts "Help, me Mam, help me" in my sister's voice. It caused a little concern with the nosy neighbours when he was placed in the back of my Dad's van to be transported back to the breeder when we were going on holiday

And yes, they're very belligerant. I am sure ours winds my dog up just because he likes seeing him get into trouble

They're not hard work, as such, but take a lot of time and know how and can be very, very destructive if they get bored. They're also prone to self harm if become bored.

He is to be mine, all mine, one day, when parents are no longer able to look after him. DH is not happy, but that has been the arrangement since we bought him and DH was informed of this unchangable arrangement before he moved in with me and then again before he bought us a house and planned a family with me.

Ooh we have a Senegal parrot, might teach him to corral DC

I do believe the Macaws are still in the place, it is a well known wildlife park just south of Burford in Oxfordshire (not naming as they probably don't want it advertised). I only realised they don't say it to adults when I went back with my DCs, when I was a child I was such a goody two shoes embarrassed to tell my parents what it said (also my brother said he would say I said it first)

((books day out at wildlife park))

Fab idea