How to Teach Your Pet Parrot A Trick-Hide Your Face

Pet parrots are just like members of the family. They love to be wherever the action is. They help you prepare dinner. They love to be read to. They enjoy music. Parrots play, forage, talk, make noise, and entertain us with their antics. Large parrots, especially macaws and cockatoos, love to be entertained by us. I have found that my macaw in particular wants to learn. Birds need routine, but they crave puzzles, and learning. They need mental stimulation. Teaching your bird a new trick, can be fun and rewarding. It also deepens the bond the two of you have by providing quality time together.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sense of humor
• T-stand or your lap
• Your birds favorite treat
• Low Key Environment

1. Please don't expect your parrot to have to do anything. Value him/her for who they are. If they talk, great. If their vocabulary is large, that is wonderful. However, if your parrot is a closet talker, or doesn't "do" anything (according to non bird lovers) then continue to love him for who he is.

2. If you want to teach your bird to hide his face, you must be willing to look a little silly yourself. Your bird won't think you look silly, but other humans might see you as a version of Lucy Ricardo. First take your bird out of his house. It is best not to interrupt your bird and expect him to focus, if this the part of the day that is his down time. Take your bird, and t-stand to a different room. You want a setting that has fewer distractions.

3. Here's where the fun begins! Raise your arm up and put your hand on the back of your head. Cradle your head into the crook of your elbow. Say hide your face, then repeat the motion. Tuck your head downward toward your chest. Your bird may or may not react the first time, or even the one-hundredth time, but the first inkling you have that your bird is responding on cue to "Hide Your Face" praise him, and reward him with a treat. As he learns, you can start to withdraw the physical demonstration, and simply say Hide Your Face.

Tips & Warnings

• Birds attention span-10 minutes or less especially at first.
• Do not show any disappointment in your birds lack of interest.
• Never let your bird in the kitchen while you are cooking. It is great to let him be with you on a T-stand while preparations are being made, but once the oven is on-out with the bird.