Parrot Training Basics

Owning a pet parrot can be a incredibly nerve-racking event and Parrot Training is an important part of parrot ownership. Every type of parrot; cockatoos, conures, african grays or any other type of pet parrot should be trained to some extent. Numerous new bird owners may have experienced a lot of problems with your pet and you might even have been bitten or attacked by it. Family members or guests that came by may have upset the bird when they got to close to the cage. This is a normal reaction but it doesn’t have to be. The parrots instincts force them behave in a certain way, but it is no more than that. Behavioral patterns can be changed through the right form of training.

Parrots have very powerful beaks and can inflict a serious bite and can often cut into the skin. Teaching your parrot bird not to bite can be one of the most vital lessons for a pet parrot owner. Biting is a natural habit for a parrot, training a parrot to bite certain things takes a lot of time and commitment. By teaching your bird to stop biting your friends and family will like being around your pet. When young children are around birds it is essential that your parrot adapts to the surroundings and not bite anyone because the beak can really hurt little fingers.
Giving treats during training is a kind of reward that can be used to train parrots. Start out finding a treat that your parrot likes and offer it in your hand very slowly as not to frighten the bird. You want to be seen as a person that it can trust and that you won’t do it any harm. Always act in a positive way but be determined and strong. At first your parrot might scream at you or even try to bite you. If the parrot has a habit of biting or starts to bite, go get a thick pair of gloves before starting your parrot training so that you won’t be affected by its biting. Use this treat offering exercise for several times a day for as many days as it takes to have your parrot accept and even enjoy that you’re giving it treats.
Most parrots are very gregarious and vocal birds. When you bring home a young parrot You become part of the bird’s flock. If you observe how birds in a flock interact in the wild, you can try to communicate with your bird. Getting a parrot to do something you want is a great accomplishment, and if it does so then reward the bird. Any actions or behavior a parrot does that you dislike, remember the best response is no response. Don’t reinforce negative behavior by overreacting or the parrot will learn hoe to get your attention. Teach the bird the proper way to get what it wants. If they cannot communicate properly with you, it is very likely their response will be screaming, biting, or withdrawal.
If a young bird is purchased it must be nurtured and comforted, this is easy but can be a problem if not done properly. Start out spending small amounts of time with your new bird, don’t spend more time when the bird is new than when the newness wears off or this will cause behavioral problems. As a bird owner we must provide all the proper requirements that our new pet will need. Proper food, clean fresh water and proper sized cage are all essential for the health of a parrot. Exploration outside of the cage should be encouraged with supervision to satisfy their normal curiosity. The bird learns to not be afraid of new things and learns important skills. Exploring should only include those areas of the home that you choose and are safe and introduce new things into its surroundings to help prevent boredom. Parrot Training is time consuming and at times frustrating but well worth the effort.