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Training Your Bird the Easy Way

By: Nora Caterino When training you bird, teaching it good manners is a first priority. The "Up" command could be the very first behavior you select for your parrot training. It doesn't matter whether your parrot is a trusting, just weaned baby or an adult untamed bird, you can still use this easy process for training your bird.

The process for training your parrot behaviors is much easier when training a hand-fed parrot than training a parrot that is not tame. When you work with an untamed parrot, you'll find it works best to use a spare perch or untreated wooden dowel which is rather long. This will allow the parrot training session to begin without the parrot being asked to step onto your hand at first.

The first step is choosing location. I like to see people training their parrots outside the cage. Sometimes that just can't be arranged. You can work on training your parrot while the parrot inside the cage. This is easy if you have a large opening as the door. Any cages have very large secondary doors with smaller openings for inserting food and water dishes, making it easy to train inside this type of cage. Choose a dowel or perch appropriate for the type parrot species you own so your parrot will be able to stand comfortably on the perch.

In the first parrot training session, place the perch just above the parrot's feet and just below its breast while saying "Up" clearly. There is no need to be loud or sharp, just say "Up". Move the perch slightly toward the parrot so that it will naturally step onto the perch.

Training your parrot means that each time it steps up on command, you should offer a reward. Tell your parrot what a great bird it is and offer a treat during early parrot training sessions. Do these steps for 10 minutes per session. I find that training your parrot in two sessions per day works best. If you can't train but one time daily, don't use longer sessions; 10 minutes is sufficient.

Training your parrot is all about consistency! Once your bird steps up onto the perch, do not let it decided it can refuse to perform the behavior. You want your parrot to grasp the idea that it must do something when asked.

When training your bird, provide love, attention, and treats when the bird performs properly. When the bird responds, tell it how pleased you are and how much you love it. A treat can be given at first, but praise and love are the best rewards; tame parrots never get enough!

Once training your parrot as progress to the point that your bird is comfortable stepping onto a dowel or stick, shorten the distance on the dowel from your hand to the bird. This parrot training strategy, if the bird is not tame, works best if you only shorten the perch once a week. More frequent changes in the training can stress the bird and cause it to lose trust in you.

Soon, a day will arrive that you notice the distance from your hand to the bird on the perch is small. After your parrot becomes really comfortable with your hand that nearby, begin the final parrot training step - offer your hand or forearm (depending on the parrot's size) instead of the perch. Ask the parrot, by saying the UP command, to step directly onto your arm or hand.

How long training your parrot this behavior requires depends on you, your consistency and your parrot. If the parrot has been stressed or made afraid through abuse or trauma, it can take a long time. If your parrot is simply unfamiliar with you, you must prove to it that you won't hurt it and the process can occur quite quickly.

When training your parrot that was hand-fed, you can count on the entire process being quick and easy. You may even begin with the final step and simply speak the command while asking the parrot to step onto your hand.

Be sure to watch your parrot's body language for clues to the level of trust and level of comfort with the parrot training activities you are doing. Your parrot will generally communicate its comfort level using body language. You simply have to pay attention to the clues.

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