Category: Training

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The High “Five”

A fun trick to teach your parrot is the high “five” (or four…)! You will only need a small T-stand and your bird’s favorite treats.

Prepare a few small treats in your non-signaling hand. Place your bird on the T stand and approach your bird as you would to “step-up” (this will be your signaling hand). As it raises its foot, vocalize a key word like “gimme 5”, “high 5”, etc., and open your signaling hand to a flat position with your palm facing out at your bird like a high five. Try to touch your palm to your parrot’s foot, and right after contact, offer the treat prepared in your other hand. Initially you will want to reward any small movement. As the response time improves, you can tighten up the action and start rewarding the foot-lifting when it’s higher and ignoring foot lifts that are small.

Remember, birds need breaks too, and sometimes have off-days. Training is best in short segments, occuring frequently rather than long sessions.

TIP: When teaching tricks to parrots, it is helpful to have a verbal AND a visual cue.

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Trick – 360′ Spin

This is a trick for birds of all sizes. It is easiest to begin on a “T” perch, but can also be adapted to a flat surface if your bird doesn’t feel the need to wander off and explore.

1. Begin with your bird facing away from you and hold a small treat between your thumb and index finger. Try to maintain the treat at a distance which keeps your bird’s interest, but cannot reach it.

2. Choose a key word like “spin”, “dance”, or “circle”, and while repeating this, attract your bird’s attention with the treat and move it around your bird and to you, allowing him to follow it. When it has completed the half-circle to face you, quickly reward him with the treat!

3. In the beginning, or if your bird loses interest quickly, you may want to focus on the half-circle. It may be easier to learn 2 half-circles at first, and then put them together for a full circle. Once it has associated this activity with treats and is responding well, then try for a full circle before rewarding.

4. After enough practice, try completing the trick without a treat; just your finger and the key word. Remember to be ready with a treat when it completes the circle though!

Remember to have patience and plenty of time to practice! Make training sessions short and end positively so it is a good experience for you and your bird!

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Nesting Behaviors

Parrots can be great companions, but many are still very in-tune with their wild instincts. With Spring arriving, bird of all kinds will be going through hormonal changes and may act differently and exhibit new behaviors.

Signs to Look For:

  • Paper shredding: This is a very common behavior in all birds, from finches and lovebirds, to amazons, cockatoos, and macaws. Many will reach through the grate at the bottom to pull up the bedding and tear it into strips. This material would be made into a nest or placed within a box as lining.

  • Preferring one person, regurgitation: Pair bonds between parrots are often strong, so when a bird perceives a human as its mate, it may become very protective of one person and not engage socially with others as it once did.

  • More destructive: Other birds may become more destructive during this time, and will go through their toys faster than usual! It is important to replace them as needed to prevent boredom and destructive habits on your personal items.

  • Looking for dark areas to hide in: In the wild most parrots will nest in unoccupied tree cavities they find. Cabinets, under dressers, and in closets that are dark and enclosed are very similar. And they may try to retreat to these places if they are left to roam the house.

  • More vocal: As they are very social, many parrots will want to call for a mate or act out and show off. These behaviors may be directed toward one person, or no one in particular.

  • More defensive of their cage/area: If a bird does not have a nest cavity, its cage may be perceived as its space, and it will not want you encroaching into its home/nest.

    • Many times there are not quick solutions for these unwanted behaviors, but this is a normal period in your birds lifecycle. Some birds react strongly, other times you may not notice any changes. Behaviors can be short-lived, lasting only a week, or much longer, for even a month. Some behaviors, like paper shredding, can be discouraged by changing the type of bedding to walnut shell or corn cob. Prevent hiding in dark areas by closing off gaps under furniture or providing a stand instead of letting them walk on the ground. Some of the bonding and breeding behaviors are actually established and unknowingly encouraged by owners- like constant petting. Try engaging your bird with independent play, foot toys, or training sessions.

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    Bird Affection

    Birds can show affection to other birds, and even to their owners. Here are a few common signs to look for:

    Imitation
    Many birds imitate each others’ activities and behaviors. You may see pairs of birds eating at the same time, playing together, resting together, or stretching their wings out at the same time. This mimicry also functions as a method to learn important social behaviors.

    Allopreening
    Allopreening is one way that birds bond with each other. Unlike preening when a bird grooms itself- this is when one bird preens another. It can help with hygiene, opening up new, itchy pin feathers, and sometimes just feels good. You may find your bird is participating in this when it preens your hair!

    Regurgitation
    The regurgitation of food can occur from one mate to another, from a parent to an offspring, or from one sibling to another sibling. Don’t be grossed out if your parrot tries to bring up food for you, it is their way of saying “I love you!”