How to Begin a Training Session With Parrots

When you train your parrot, you develop a bond with your bird. Training provides the parrot with an intellectually-stimulating activity, which results in positive behavior. Training is easy when you know how to modify your parrot's natural behavior so it performs on command. A well-behaved bird is a pleasure and provides years of enjoyment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Prepare for Training

1. Give your new parrot several days to get used to its new home and your family. Familiarize yourself with your parrot. Observe the noises it makes, its body language and how it moves around the cage.
   
   
2. Stand close to the cage for 10 minutes, several times a day, and talk softly to the bird. You should start to train the parrot when it's calm in your presence.
3. Limit each session to 15 minutes or less, which is the maximum attention span for a parrot.
4. Set a training schedule for your parrot. Birds are comfortable when events occur in a predictable manner.
5. Remember that parrots are most alert in the early morning and in the early evening. Schedule training sessions at these times.
6. Make sure doors and windows are closed and the house is free of distractions.
7. Maintain a calm and positive attitude. Keep your movements slow so you don't frighten the bird. Stop the training session if the bird becomes overexcited and try again later.

Start With the Basics

8. Begin with the basic command, "up," where the bird learns to step onto a stick or dowel. Progress slowly until you can offer your hand or finger, depending on the size of the bird.
   
   
9. Place the stick under the bird's chest, just above the legs, while you say "up," in a gentle and encouraging tone of voice. Push the stick gently toward the bird to encourage it to step onto it.
10. Repeat the process with the stick several times each day for at least a week. Offer a treat or praise each time the bird steps onto the stick. Shorten the distance on the dowel from your hand to the bird slightly with each session.
11. Offer your flattened hand or extended index finger when the bird is comfortable stepping up onto the stick. Give the parrot praise or a small treat with your free hand whenever it perches on your other hand.
12. Pull your hand with the parrot on it slowly out of the cage when it has become totally at ease. The first few times that you do this, the bird will jump off your hand or try to grab the bars near the door.
13. Be patient and continue this process until the parrot is relaxed on your hand outside the cage.
14. Redo the process with a reward or praise while the bird perches on your hand outside the cage. Say the "down" command when you place the parrot back in its cage.

Involve Friends and Family

15. Socialize your bird by repeating the "up" command training with a friend or family member, who will stand near the cage.
    
    
16. Start the "up" command inside the cage and proceed to outside the cage. Allow your friend or family member to offer treats to the bird as it perches on your hand or finger.
17. Have you friend repeat the "up" training with your bird. This will allow your parrot to be comfortable if you ever need to leave it with someone else.
18. Pass the parrot back and forth slowly, and invite other friends and family members to conduct regular training sessions and offer treats.
19. Expose the parrot to many people. This will prevent the parrot from creating a bond with one person and becoming territorial and aggressive.

Go Beyond the Basics

20. Encourage interaction and affection. Parrots love a scratch behind the head once they are comfortable with you.
    
21. Hold training sessions often to keep their skills sharp. Repetition is important with birds.
22. Listen to the sounds your parrot repeats. Pick a simple word that sounds similar and repeat it often, whenever you are near the parrot.
23. Reward the bird when it makes a sound similar to the word you want to teach it. Even if it isn't perfect at first, the bird will say the word clearer with time and patience.
24. Be encouraged by the fact that once a bird learns its first word, it will learn new words faster and more easily. The bird will enjoy repeating more words.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't grab the bird if it takes flight. Let it fly around until it lands, and calmly offer your hand while you give the "up" command.
• Be consistent. Frequent changes in training stress the bird, and it will lose trust in you.
• When the bird is comfortable with you, clip its wings to keep it from flying away when someone opens a door while it's outside of the cage. Ask your veterinarian to clip its wings the first time and show you how to do it.
• No matter what happens, never hit a parrot to discipline it. Parrots never forget the person who hit them and will always view them as a threat.