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How to Train a Parrot With a Clicker

Member
By Jennywrites
User-Submitted Article
(3 Ratings)
Train a Parrot With a Clicker
Train a Parrot With a Clicker

Training a parrot to do tricks is not as hard as you would think. Birds love the attention, and once they learn about the clicker, they will try to please you for a click and treat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Clicker
  • Favorite Treats
  1. Step 1

    You will need a lot of bird treats cut up into small pieces so that when the bird eats it it won't take too long. I usually crack open a bunch of peanuts and then cut the peanuts up into tiny pieces. I give the bird a sliver of peanut with each click.

  2. Step 2
     

    You will need to purchase a clicker from an online store, ebay, or your local petstore.

  3. Step 3

    First your going to show the bird what the clicker means. Your going to do that by using a stick. A popsicle stick, a perch, or some kind of long thing. Your going to place it in front of the bird and as it leans forward to grab it your going to click, and immediately offer the bird a treat.

  4. Step 4

    Do this 3-4 times. when the bird realize that the click means a treat, you can move onto the next thing. If you want the bird to walk a certain distance.. your going to place the stick a little further back and wait for the bird to go to the stick and click and feed the treat as the bird does it.

  5. Step 5

    Once the bird is happy to be heading towards the stick, you can teach it to "Dance" on command. You will make the bird bob it's head up and down by moving the stick or perch up and down and side to side, and then click and treat. This one is fun.

  6. Step 6

    Step up can be taught by taking the same stick or perch and pushing it gently under the breast of the bird repeating, step up. Then click and reward the bird with a treat after it's done the step up. Remember to repeat each trick 4-5 times.

  7. Step 7

    You can teach the bird to "Turn around" by having the bird follow the stick as you move it around the bid. Click and reward once the bird follows.

Tips & Warnings
  • Make sure it's a treat the bird really wants.
  • Make sure the reward is very tiny so that the bird still wants more, and tries harder for it.
  • Don't reward bad behavior.
  • Don't do a session for longer than 10 minutes. Stop sooner if the bird isn't staying focused.

Comments  

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on 8/19/2009 I was thinking about buying a parrot. Thanks for the tips. These will come in handy!

starlet67 said

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on 2/11/2009 Good instructions for bird training ;)
5*

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on 2/4/2009 I love birds too and have trained many using different methods. Great article. Really enjoyed it. 5 stars

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