How to Train Your Parakeet to Be Handled

A trained bird makes veterinary visits and grooming less stressful.

Parakeets are naturally a bit flighty, but they can learn tricks and mimic sounds. You can train your parakeet to be handled using a basic command such as, “Step up.” Training takes a few minutes each day and depends on consistent positive reinforcement to be successful. Using old perches your parakeet is familiar with will reduce the bird's anxiety and contribute to successful training.

Things You'll Need

• Parakeet treat (pinch of toast, seed or fruit)
• Small perch

Instructions

1. Speak in a calm voice, open the cage and put a few treat seeds in the food dish. This lets the bird know you are the treat giver.

2. Slowly insert the perch inside the cage. If the bird flutters, stop.

3. Take a few days, or as long as necessary, to get the bird familiar with you using the perch.

4. Hold the perch above the parakeet’s feet and ask the parakeet to step up using the command “Step up” or “Up” once the bird allows you to place the perch near it without fluttering.

5. Offer the bird a treat and verbal praise when it follows the command.

6. Practice the “Step up” command until it becomes second nature for the bird to obey when you give the command. It may take a week or so before the bird is comfortable with this activity.

7. Give the command for the bird to step up onto your finger or hand from the perch and offer a treat when it follows the command.

8. Continue to offer treats when the bird chooses to socialize and stay with you rather than fly away. This reinforces the message that spending time with you is a rewarding experience.

9. Introduce new commands while continuing to practice learned commands for best behavior results.

Tips & Warnings

• Always train in a quiet room that is well lit and free from potential bird dangers.

• Be consistent with commands to ensure success.

• Do not acknowledge bad behavior in any way.

• End on a positive note when your bird show signs of boredom, sleepiness or disinterest to maximize training time.

• Always provide small treats as positive reinforcement for best results.

• Birds use their beaks to step up; moving or jerking away when the bird steps up can cause it to be hesitant to obey.

• Do not scream, hit or punish your bird when it doesn't obey; this will damage the trust necessary to hand-train a bird.

References

• Doctors Foster and Smith: Budgerigar
• Doctors Foster and Smith: Reward Positive Behavior With Bird Treats
• Doctors Foster and Smith: How to Teach Your Bird to Step Up