Training Parrots- 10 Golden Rules To Remember When You Begin Training Parrots

Training parrots believe it or not is not a hard task, so long as you follow a few simple rules.  Although it is not mandatory, your results will be a lot better if you clip the birds wings. Listed below are golden rules to follow to ensure you get the best results.

Rules to remember when training parrots:

1/ Make sure the door of the cage is large enough so you have an easy access to remove, or put him back. Training should be done in not only quite times, but where there is sufficient light

2/ Always remove him from his cage very carefully and speak slow in a soft tone, just remember his probably afraid so be patient with him.

3/ Do not have anyone else in the room just yourself as this will distract him. Parrots are all very different, some may take a little longer than others but that is perfectly normal.

4/ Training parrots requires a lot of patience and try to be considerate other wise the lessons will not go the way it is suppose to.

5/ Training  parrots takes a lot of work most parrot can relate to actions rather then words so give him a lot of affection by patting or kissing him, that is if he allows you to do so.

6/ Your parrot will eventually sit on your hand when he starts to trust you  a lot more,when he does introduce him to your shoulder or lap and play with him from there. By doing this you will create a bond of trust with him. Initially get him use to being patted on the head and work you way down his back from there gradually. This may take some time though.

“Bonding”  definitely is the key to training parrot.

7/Parrots,  especially young ones have the ability to imitate voices and certain sounds it enhances their  talking and singing a lot faster because of that.

8/ Make a strong point whilst his feeding  to repeat his/her name, do this clearly or he will not pick it up. Because parrots have a short level of  concentration each  lessons only a 15 minutes. Only use names that are easy to say or you be beating a dead horse.

9/ If you adopt the same rule to training parrots as you do to your children little things such as, making sure their looking at you when you speak “as  crazy as this sounds they do read faces”, this method will go a long way.

10/ When your bird hops out of his cage and onto your finger with out  any hesitation the trust has began and you are on your way to successful result,” CONGRATULATION”

In this video you can see Duke my budgie and Kili my Senegal Parrot getting weighed. “Bird scales” are really over priced so I made my own. I simply bought a digital kitchen scale that can measure weights up to 11lbs in oz or grams. I configured it to grams and I built my own perch to put on it. I tare the scale to 0 with the perch already on it and then there is a good place for the birds to stand while getting weighed. Weighing your bird is important to track health and training progress. A sudden drop in weight is often a sign of illness or other health problems. Also keeping track of my bird’s weight helps me gauge the motivation I can expect during training. One more use I have for this scale is weighing out food. I’ve gotten better at eyeballing how much food to give my birds but initially I used the scale to weigh out food for the birds and track their intake.

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Cockatiel Food-Double Your Parrots Life By Giving Him The Correct Cockatiel Food-Find Out

Cockatiel food will be the difference between your little mate living for a few year, or him living till about 13 plus. This is why it is a must to get the correct balance of food right from the very beginning.

Cockatiel food needs to be a complete balance of not only seed, but pellets and certain fruit and vegetables. Keep in mind if you can afford it, organic cockatiel food is best. There are certain food that are toxic to you birds health so please be informed on which ones they are.

Having a mixture of cockatiel food in the diet supplies the required nutrients, vitamins and minerals.This will ensure your parrot does not get any diseases which they are very prone to. A healthy parrot means a happy parrot, so if you want him to perform tricks, whistle and talk he needs to be happy. Just keep that in mind.

Cockatiels are VERY fussy eaters so food needs to be introduced slowly and gradually, a few tips to get your parrot to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables are listed below.

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Find out what vegetables, or fruit he likes the most.
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Take what ever it is he love and blend it with small amounts of other things such as greens, and dark orange fruits and vegetables.
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My parrot loves rice and pasta, so I hide the other things in with it by blending them all together,make sure they are wholemeal, not white.

So when you are choosing cockatiel food just think about how long you would love to have him around.

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Yellow Headed Amazon Parrots

Despite their name, Yellow Headed Amazon Parrots did not originate in the Amazon. They actually originated along the coastal regions of Mexico. Their beautiful colors and bold striking marking are what helped to make them so popular as pets. They are predominantly bright green with a vivid yellow head and a beautiful red patch on each wing. Their native habitat is now primarily in Central America where there are large tropical forests and swamps that allow them to nest safely. Their beauty has caused them to become rare and endangered. Poaching of the birds as well as deforestation of the region has caused a dramatic drop in the number of birds.

Yellow Headed Amazons which are breed in captivity are readily available but they have become quite expensive to buy. People then to like them because they can be very verbal and talkative. The problem is that the ability to talk varies greatly with each individual bird. Some will talk your ear off while others may never say a word. They are amazingly intelligent. They are also playful and have great a great sense of humor. Add to that the fact that they can be extremely noisy and you’ve got a housefull of excitement. They like attention and if they do not receive it they will certainly let you know that they are needy at the moment. The challenge to the owner is to get the bird to replace all of it’s screeching with intelligent words. A wonderful and rewarding challenge.

These birds tend to be very active and they need an environment that will allow them the space to fly and move around. There cage is a wonderful place to house them but they need time each day to get out and about. The good news is that even though they are quite large and can be quite destructive, their intelligence allows them to be very well trained where they will not tear your house apart. Obviously, part of the training is to provide lots of chew toys and branches for them to play with.

The male yellow headed parrot will grow to about 15 inches long while the female will be slightly smaller. Their hooked beak is used to crack seeds and nuts and also as a hand to help them to grab and climb. Their feet have two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backwards. The perfect setup for grasping branches and food.

In their natural habitat their diet consists mostly fruit, nuts, corn, flowers, etc. At home, the owner needs to not only provide fruits and vegetables but also seeds and pellet food.

One of the biggest considerations for a person considering adopting a Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot is its life expectancy. Birds this large can live 60+ years with some reported to reach 100 years. For the right person, these birds will give years and years of happiness, pleasure, and entertainment.

Create a positive experience when teaching a bird to step up on your hand and learn more tips on training parrots in this free pet care video clip. Expert: Elizabeth Cantu Bio: Elizabeth Cantu has owned and been working with parrots since 1994. She has been active in captive parrot rescue and rehabilitation. Filmmaker: julio costilla

Parrots As Pets: Is A Parrot The Right Pet For You?

Parrots are bright and lovely and the idea of having one at home and teaching him or her to speak is impossible to resist for some of us. Here are some things to keep in mind before you bring home that lovely macaw you saw at the pet store.

Parrots are pets that demand time and attention. They are more akin to dogs than to hamsters although you may place them in a cage. This is to say that they are highly sociable and do well in environments where they feel physically and mentally stimulated and engaged.

Parrots are creatures that make noise. This is an integral part of this bird and there is no question of expecting to find a quiet parrot although there is a wide range in how loud they can get. Amazons, Macaws, Cockatoos and African Grays are probably the loudest while Pionus, and some medium-sized Poicephalus, such as Senegals and Meyers, are relatively quieter for their size. Budgies, Lovebirds, and Parrotlets are not very loud and they do not tend to scream. There is some what of a correlation between the birds that are loud and that are some of the best talkers though.

Parrots are extremely intelligent creatures that are often compared in their intelligence to chimpanzees, dolphins and even human toddlers. So having a parrot at home can be a really exciting experience for the humans around. You will have the opportunity to see the way this bird processes the world around it. If you choose to train it in talking or doing tricks it will be a fascinating pedagogical exercise.

What are the hands on mechanics of having a parrot at home? Parrots have to be fed nutritious food but fortunately commercial pellets provide most of what is necessary and you can be creative in the vegetables and protein you feed your bird. Parrots have to be kept in clean cages and you should ensure that they are housed in large enough cages where they can spread their wings. They can be messy eaters and this means that you have to be prepared to do some regular clean-up in and around the cages. Parrots need stimulation and you can provide this through some one-on-one time and through judicious use of toys.

Educate yourself thoroughly about the various types of parrots that are available as pets. Some of the most common parrot species people choose as pets are Cockatoos, Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Macaws, Amazons, African Grays, Caiques, Pionus and Poicephalus. Everything from size to temperament, to sociability and mimicry ability are relevant in making a choice that will work with your life style. A four feet macaw may not be the best bet for someone with limited space and getting a lone lovebird may not be a great beginning for a happy pet-owner relationship. Once you know what is out there, make an honest assessment of how much time and effort you are willing to spend on your pet and choose accordingly.

Parrots are birds with a long life span and any commitment that you make to this bird should be taken seriously. They are interactive and capable of strong emotional connections and so it is advisable that you do a test run before deciding that this is the right choice for you. There are breeders who will allow you to bring a bird home for a couple of days to see if there is a good match between you and the bird before you take the final step of taking on parrots as pets.

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The Parrot Paradise Singapore -The Right Place to Witness the Variety of Parrots

The parrot paradise Singapore proves to one of the largest bird parks for parrots and other birds of flight in the entire world. This information is quite reflective because normally with the name of Singapore, one doesn’t easily tend to associate it. At the same time, people hardly know that ever the parrots are considered to be one of the most intuitive and charming birds in all. The Jurong Bird Park is definitely the right place to witness the different species and varieties of birds. Even at the same time, parrot shows which are held at the park are the best of the lot. These shows, which occur, after years of hard work and training of the parrots, prove to showcase the ease with which the birds can perform acrobats. It’s a pure delight to see how these birds have the capacity to change their body movements, flex and bend themselves, in the most amazing manner possible.

The parrot paradise Singapore is also the right place to understand the various attractions which are related to parrots. At the same time, parrots have the ability to mimic the humans and also be very social, which makes the parrot paradise even more attractive for the visitors to come and involve themselves in. Moreover, with the increase in deforestation, there has been a rampant decrease in the natural habitats of the parrots and hence, leading to decrease in their number. The Parrot Paradise Singapore is one of the endeavors to restore the natural amount of the parrots and also to give them their natural habitat in the best possible circumstances.

The Parrot Paradise Singapore is also dedicated to more than 500 parrots that live in the place and also for their betterment. They are taken care in the most considerate and natural manner, so that their number remains. At the same time, their habitat is also constructed in such a way that it is more of re-incarnation than of any other case. The number of parrots has become so extinct that it’s an eternal bliss to come here and watch so many different varieties, in their truest form. The park also helps in endangering the species and proving to be an educative endeavor for the students and children. The text books can’t even compete with the natural education.

At the same time, there can be different other birds also which can be seen at the Parrot Paradise Singapore. Some of them are the hyacinth, galah cockatoo, military macaw and Sun Conure, which are much endangered. Travelling in Singapore is incomplete without visiting the parrot paradise and also at the same time, the tourists also would not be able to get educated about the various different birds in the same manner, if the park wasn’t open. Thus, one ends up spending some peaceful times alone and also with one’s family, in the company of these parrots, which are so social and life rejuvenating.

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What Do Parrots Eat ?

If you intend to keep parrots as pets, this may be your first question. Before you check out the pet stores for parrot supplies, here are some useful tips on providing a well-balanced parrot food.

Parrots need healthy, nutritious diet to help them live long and healthy lives. A healthy diet also impacts your parrots’ behavior and their response to training. The good news is that preparing the right diet for your pet parrots is not that difficult.

Do not just feed your parrots bird seeds, thinking that they are hardy birds and can live on just that. Yes, parrots such as the Macaw and Cockatoo are hardy birds, but bird seeds do not contain enough vitamin A and calcium which they need. In fact, bird seeds have a high content of fat, which as we know it is not healthy. In any case, bird seeds should just form only 10 percent of your parrots’ diet. If you own other species of parrots that are big seed eaters such as budgies and cockatiels, than the bird seeds should form 25 percent of their overall diet.

Another popular choice among parrot owners is pellet food as they have a good source of nutrients. Pellets contain vegetables, grains, fruits, vitamins and minerals, and is a convenient all-in-one parrot food. However, feeding just pellet food everyday may bore your parrots. Pellet food should just make up about 50 to 60 percent of your parrots’ daily intake.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are important food elements for your parrots. Depending on the size of your parrots, cut the fruits and vegetables to chewable size for easy consumption. Hanging the fruits on the side of the bird cage is also a good idea as it is easier for the birds to eat them from there than from a plate or bowl. Examples of ideal fruits for parrots are papaya, kiwi, pineapple, mangoes and pomegranates. These are tropical fruits found in their natural habitat, and naturally suit their diet best. Ideal vegetables are carrots, green beans, corn, cauliflower, cucumber and eggplant. To add variety, you may want to include softer fruits such as oranges, bananas, peaches and apples to the diet. Avoid giving them avocado, guacamole, and mushrooms as these are toxic and may harm the birds.

Keep the diet with nature’s food and avoid giving your parrots processed foods that we humans eat, such as chocolate, candy and caffeine. Make sure that when children are around the parrots, they do not feed the birds with kid’s food such as marshmallows and jellybeans.

The state of your parrots’ health has a lot to do with the diet and nutrition they are getting. It is the parrot owner’s responsibility to provide a balanced diet to the birds. However, feeding your parrots and watching them enjoy delicious food is fun and satisfying and is one of the reasons why people keep parrots as pets.

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Parrot Birds Tips – What Kind Of Parrots Are Best For Children?

A huge amount of study has stated that the birds are very largely appropriate pets for the children. This particularly concern parrots. What’s the reason for all this? Memorize that these parrots are very wise animal and they can easily interrelate with people particularly kids. Apart from being wise animals, it’s always nice to have parrots more as a friends to children at their early ages of learning. This is especially for children who have just started to recite few early stage rhymes. Parrots can be a nice reminders or teachers for these children.

How to Know the Kind of Parrots Best for Children?

The premier that you should keep in mind is that having a parrot like a friend to your kid. This shouldn’t stop here. You should know what parrot type will go with your children’s requirement. This is the time when your majorly investigative skills will come in good. By not having proper thought behind this, you can end up making the wrong selection. This equally should help parrot too as knowing this well in advance will provide you a very good chance of taking proper care of your parrot.

Quite a few parrots have life expectancy of approximately 50 years. This signifies that the thought of getting a parrot as pet would mean you will have an evergreen friend and obligation to care. You are not going to be alone to go through all this. Your family and other household members will also need to keep this in mind. Therefore, it becomes more important that you must give some time to study before making a decision as to what kind of parrot you desire to keep as a pet.

There are many varieties from which you can select. Actually, there are approximately 18 different kinds of parrots, and all this classes are very well known. What is also clear is that all the classes have some different character and this depends on surroundings of the parrot, from where he is coming.

Many knowledgeable people on birds conclude that the most simple parrot class to have as your pet is humble budgerigar. These knowledgeable people believe that these parrots can easily become accustomed to changes and do not have any trouble in their nurturing. But, this parrot class keeps more quite compare with other class, which is why they might not be great learning companions for your children.

An African Grey can be looked into if are on the looking out for a good learning friend for your children. Remember that these kinds of parrots can be trained easily and quickly and that they will require huge amount of your concentration.

You can find other kinds of parrots too like Blue and Gold Macaws, Ring-necks, Amazon, and Cockatiels. Majority of these will demand special food and even care and attention for themselves. If you are searching for a companion for learning for your kid, you should go with cockatiels and parakeets/budgies. These are most intelligent of all kinds of parrots.

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Did You Realize That Parrots Need Sleep For Optimal Health?

Copyright (c) 2010 Kaye Dennan

Have you ever stopped to think that a parrot may need to have a regular night’s sleep every night? Most people don’t think about it, but it is a fact that for a parrot to be healthy it needs to have regular sleep every single night.

Pet parrots most definitely need regular sleep at night and in fact most need about 12 hours good sleep, otherwise they can suffer in their health. All creatures need sleep of some sort and the same is true for your beloved parrot. In face a parrot can become quite unwell if he does not get a reasonable amount of sleep.

How to ensure a good night’s sleep for the parrot.

A parrot cannot tell you if it is tired. So it is up to the ‘parrot parent’ to make sure that the parrot gets enough sleep at night. If you own a parrot that lives in the house with you the best set up is to have a ‘night cage’ where you can put him and cover it up for uninterrupted sleep. If your parrot lives in an aviary outside the night and day hours will take care of themselves.

The rewards will be well worth it as you will have a much happier parrot and if you are training your parrot you will have much more success with a parrot that can focus on ‘the lessons’ rather than a parrot that gets aggressive because it is so tired.

Some results of not enough sleep.

The funny thing is, parrots are not unlike humans in that they will become irritated, short tempered and generally cranky if they do not get the required amount of sleep. If your parrot is cranky you will soon know because he will not be so friendly. Of course, there could be other reasons why your friend is starting to get nasty, but one easy factor to calculate is whether it is getting about 12 hours sleep a night.

If there are family members around the cage all day and interacting with the parrot a lot of the time, the night sleep is crucial, but if the owners are out at work all day and their interacting time is in the evening, that is not so bad because the parrot will be able to nap during the day. But even under these circumstances if would be a good idea to partly cover the cage while you are at work. The covering of the cage just gives that feeling of a natural environment and a happy contented parrot will be the result.

Healthy, happy parrots are just the best company and so much fun and they also learn the quickest when they are well and contented.

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African Pet Parrots need special Parrot Cages

When you get an African Pet Parrot for yourself, you will have a pet for life. African Pet Parrots live for 50 to 70 years, which is almost equal to that of human beings. Just make sure you buy the right parrot cages for your pet.

The African Grey Parrot may even go on to outlive you; therefore, there is no need to shed tears anymore because your pet died. The African Parrot has been a favorite pet throughout the world since time immemorial. Rearing African Parrots is a full-fledged business in Africa, and businessmen there breed them specifically to sell these to buyers from across the world. But these parrots do require large and special parrot cages to keep them in.

Adaptable African Pet Parrots
The African Pet Parrot adapts to local conditions very quickly as it manages to fit perfectly almost anywhere in the world. Though common sense tells us that the African Parrot will not be the right choice in homes where there is too much open space or you have dogs and cats, or even children. The African Parrot is known for its friendly nature, which can be detrimental to the safety of young children.

The male Parrots tend to be larger in size with round eyes whereas females are smaller and have elliptical eyes. These parrots, however, come at a cost. You may have to pay anything in the range of 0 to 00 for the parrots. The parrot cages also need to be better, sturdier, and long lasting due to the longer life of African parrots.

African Grey Parrots
African Grey Parrots, however, are equally popular as pets though not very easy to own. Many people would suggest you to expect parrot’s behavior to be like that of dog or cat. These parrots can be very nervous when they enter your home and can develop behavior problems. They get stressed easily when they are meeting new people or other animals.

Keep Your Parrot Happy
It’s great if you can afford training from a parrot trainer, since the investment will be worth it. The African Grey Parrots are among the most intelligent, they respond very quickly when you interact with them and they can go on to become a great pet. You can keep your parrot happy and stress free with the help of toys, spacious parrot cages, and plenty of attention.

Clean Cages Regularly
You need to clean the parrot cages regularly, especially due to their irregular excretion. That’s why the cages need to be cleaned thoroughly with water so as to remove all the smell and kill bacteria from cages. African Grey Parrots have a habit of chewing almost anything. They enjoy chewing wood, clothes, curtains as well as many other things. We do not intend to discourage you, but you still need to be on the safer side while letting the parrot out of the cage.

Parrots Diet
The diet of African Grey Parrots should include calcium and vitamin A in adequate amount. Some of the examples of proper food for your parrot are fruit, seeds, peeled food, nuts, leafy greens, vegetables and cheese. If the parrot is being supplied adequate diet, you may not need supplements in that case. Make sure fresh water is always available for your parrot and the water supply needs to be changed regularly. Some people add supplements in the water also. When you are buying an African Grey Parrot, you need to keep in mind the environment it is going to live in. Your parrots should always feel safe within their living space. parrot cages for your African Grey Parrot come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Good parrot cages are expensive, but since African parrots may live for about 50 years, the investment might be worth it.

Shop and buy a small, medium, or large parrot cages for you pet African parrots and other pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages are available for your pet parrots. Please visit our site to view and buy appropriate cages for your pets – http://www.birdcagesrepublic.com/

Question by Aleasha C: How to Begin a Training Session With Parrots?
I recently took in a Great Billed Parrot for my friend. She worked all the time and could no longer keep the bird. I know the basics about bird care, but I don’t know how to train the bird. I just got him yesterday night. How long should I give him to adjust to his new home? He is very scared of people. How should I start approaching him? When I do begin training sessions, how long should each one be? Should training sessions be in the morning, afternoon, or evening? When I do take him out of his cage, do I need to close all doors and windows, or can I just keep the screens closed? I don’t know anythign about training parrots. Should training be calm or should it be exciting? Should I start with the “up” command? I’ve heard this is the easiest to teach a bird. Do I start this with a stick, or with my hand? How long will it take him to learn this command? If I do start with a stick, when do I switch over to my hand? Thanks in advance!

Best answer:

Answer by Bill P
Training your bird at a young age is ideal when compared to re-training or correcting the bad habits of an older bird. Some pet owners can become sidetracked by the freshness of having a new bird and enjoying their cuteness while they’re still baby birds; however, you must remember that in order to set the stage for the future, it is important to socialize your bird, work on good communication, and establish trust at a young age. Just as human babies need to learn to eat with a spoon and play well with others before they tackle long division, baby birds need to start with the basics. Spend time with your young bird developing trust and teaching the basics of good bird behavior. For example:

Body handling. If you help your baby bird become accustomed to being gently handled now, you will prevent many problems later. For example, gently playing with your bird’s feet and toes will help it tolerate toenail filing. Gently lift its wings, so a trip to the groomer doesn’t become a nightmare later on.
Toweling: Start using the towel as part of your play with your baby bird, gradually working into wrapping your bird up in the towel. When you or your vet need to wrap the bird in the towel for its own safety, the experience will be much less stressful.
Beaking: Baby birds use their beaks to explore, but now is the time to let your bird know that anything beyond gentle nibbles is unacceptable. Frown and tell your bird “No,” and leave it alone for a minute or two, so it associates biting with being put in “time-out.”
Harness: It can take some time before a bird accepts wearing a harness or flight suit, but things will go more smoothly if you start when the bird is young. Once you get your bird into the harness, take it outside, at least briefly, so it learns why the harness is worth the bother. It’s also a good time to try out the carrier. Take short car rides that don’t end at the vet each time, and your bird might look forward to them.
You will begin to notice better communication between you and your baby bird. Working with your bird frequently allows you to become familiar with the body language and preferences of the bird, making it easier to know what your pet wants and how to respond to its actions. By taking time to teach your bird new tricks, you are encouraging desired behavior. Your bird will begin to demonstrate the favorable behavior because it learns it receives your attention then, as opposed to misbehaving. The stimulation training provides your bird is also very important to cater to their intelligence and appease their curiosity.

The Basics

Training with your bird should be fun. Here are some training tips to keep you both happy.

1. Keep your sessions short. Two or three 10-minute sessions every day works best to retain your bird’s attention.

2. Let your bird get used to props by leaving them near the cage for a few days. Play with the items to pique your bird’s interest.

3. Find a quiet place free of distractions to work together. Keep the cage out of sight, so your bird’s attention is on you during the training session. The exception to this rule is a frightened or insecure re-homed bird that might need to see its cage for reassurance.

4. Find a special reward that you only give to your bird during training. A food reward should be something small and easily consumed within a few seconds. Or, if your bird enjoys praise or a head scratch, offer these instead of food.

5. Train at the same time every day, so your bird can look forward to your new routine together.

6. Keep it positive and offer lots of praise if your bird gets even part of the trick or training correct.

Basic Commands

A few basic behaviors that every companion bird should know are:

STEP-UP COMMAND: The most important behavior you can teach your bird is the Step-up command, in which your bird reliably steps onto your finger, wrist or onto a hand-held perch. Your bird should automatically offer a foot when you say “Step up” (or whatever cue you use) while you simultaneously offer the hand or perch.

A reliable Step-up makes it easier to retrieve your bird in an inconvenient or even dangerous situation. It also ensures that other people can work with or retrieve the bird without either party feeling nervous or threatened.

To get your bird stepping up, gently offer your wrist, finger or perch at the spot where your bird’s abdomen meets the top of its legs, and give the cue, “Step up.” Most birds will naturally raise a foot to step onto the offered object. Praise and reward the bird, and then repeat the step up a few times.

Keep your hand or wrist steady, so your bird feels confident stepping onto it.

STEP-DOWN COMMAND: You can also train your bird to step down onto a playgym or its cage. If your bird likes hanging out with you, you’ll have to make it worth its while to step down.

CONTACT CALL: You are your bird’s flock, so naturally it wants to keep track of where you are. Teach your bird a special whistle, word or phrase to use when it wants you to respond. If taught correctly, this contact call can replace that ear-piercing shriek that your bird likes to use when you leave the room.

If your bird has already learned that screaming seems to make you reappear or respond (i.e. yell or admonish), it will take much more persistence and patience to change the behavior.

To teach your bird a contact call, use a consistent phrase – “Be right back” – each time that you leave the room. Call frequently to your bird while you are out of sight. This will let it know that you are nearby.

If your bird makes the desired contact call, respond immediately by either calling in return or poking your head into the room. Do not respond when your bird is screaming.

Consistency is crucial in this training. It might not seem like such a bad idea to occasionally respond to your bird’s screams, but resist the urge. You’ll be rewarded later on.

Other Useful Training Behaviors

Recall: This extension of the Step-up response is essential for flighted birds, but is also important even for wing-trimmed birds. Praise and reward your bird for approaching you to Step up.
Bite a target stick: Many experienced avian trainers recommend that the first thing you teach your bird in a training program is to bite the end of a chopstick or other small, hand-held stick (not a perch). Chances are, your bird will bite the target stick when it is presented. If you keep praising and rewarding the behavior, your bird will quickly notice that it receives attention when it does so and will be glad to bite the target stick.

Once your bird has the idea that biting the stick brings praise, you can then use the stick as a tool for teaching other behaviors, such as walking or flying to get the stick or climbing a ladder to reach the stick. This can, in turn, be used to teach the bird to walk or fly to you when you hold the stick, or to climb a ladder in order to ring a bell.
Other fun ideas: Relatively simple tricks include teaching your bird to ride a small wagon; wave “Hello” or give a “high four,” or tap a mirror in response to a cue (such as “Who’s a pretty bird?”).
Common Training Mistakes To Avoid

Prevent biting from becoming a habit by not letting bites happen in the first place. Keep your hands out of beak range, and your bird will be less tempted to aim for them.
Don’t be intimidated. If your bird is acting aggressively, stand nearby until it calms down. When it is calm, you can leave. Now your bird knows that aggressive behavior gets it nowhere.
Don’t expect your bird to be ringing bells on command immediately after one or two training sessions. Your bird will learn best if you continue to reward and encourage it with each small step it takes in your training sessions.

The Basics

Training with your bird should be fun. Here are some training tips to keep you both happy.

1. Keep your sessions short. Two or three 10-minute sessions every day works best to retain your bird’s attention.

2. Let your bird get used to props by leaving them near the cage for a few days. Play with the items to pique your bird’s interest.

3. Find a quiet place free of distractions to work together. Keep the cage out of sight, so your bird’s attention is on you during the training session. The exception to this rule is a frightened or insecure re-homed bird that might need to see its cage for reassurance.

4. Find a special reward that you only give to your bird during training. A food reward should be something small and easily consumed within a few seconds. Or, if your bird enjoys praise or a head scratch, offer these instead of food.

5. Train at the same time every day, so your bird can look forward to your new routine together.

6. Keep it positive and offer lots of praise if your bird gets even part of the trick or training correct.

Basic Commands

A few basic behaviors that every companion bird should know are:

STEP-UP COMMAND: The most important behavior you can teach your bird is the Step-up command, in which your bird reliably steps onto your finger, wrist or onto a hand-held perch. Your bird should automatically offer a foot when you say “Step up” (or whatever cue you use) while you simultaneously offer the hand or perch.

A reliable Step-up makes it easier to retrieve your bird in an inconvenient or even dangerous situation. It also ensures that other people can work with or retrieve the bird without either party feeling nervous or threatened.

To get your bird stepping up, gently offer your wrist, finger or perch at the spot where your bird’s abdomen meets the top of its legs, and give the cue, “Step up.” Most birds will naturally raise a foot to step onto the offered object. Praise and reward the bird, and then repeat the step up a few times.

Keep your hand or wrist steady, so yo

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