Parrot Training Review

Free parrot training is a terrific way to explore whether a training program is right for you.  However all free training programs are not worthy of your time.  Some are complete junk while others are veritable gold mines of information.  How do you know in advance whether a free training program is going to be worth the time it takes to download it and look it over?

Explore the credentials of the manufacturer or free parrot training provider.  What is their background?  How long have they been training parrots?  What is their training philosophy?  You can find this information by both searching their site and by searching the Internet.  Why is this important?  You want to make sure that the person or company who is providing the free parrot training knows what they’re talking about.  Imagine if you were to use their free parrot training and follow their directions step by step.  If they don’t know what they’re talking about you could end up harming your parrot.

Read all about it.  Most parrot trainers have a wealth of information about their training philosophy and techniques available to read.  Perhaps they’ve published a number of articles online. Perhaps they’ve posted training videos on their blog or YouTube.  Perhaps they’ve written and published books or published in major magazines and newspapers. 

Make sure the free parrot training program shares your training philosophy.  For example, positive reinforcement and clicker training are the most effective and compassionate training methods for animals.  Subscribe to newsletters, RSS blog feeds, forums and membership sites and learn about parrot training.

Once you’ve obtained your free parrot training program, whether it is on video or in audio or print, go through the material from beginning to end BEFORE engaging your parrot in the techniques.  Why? It’s important to know what to expect from the program before you can expect anything from your parrot.  For example, if you start with your bird before you ever see or read the full program there may be caveats introduced later.  You may also make mistakes which take several additional days or even weeks to reverse. 

Once you’ve had the opportunity to go through the entire free parrot training course from beginning to end, collect all the tools you need to begin the training with your parrot and get started.  Once you’ve completed the free program successfully, you now know where to go for future training products and information.  Free parrot training programs can be a very useful tool in evaluating a particular parrot trainer’s products and services. Use them wisely and do your research to make sure you make the most of your time.  

Popularity: 55% [?]

A Parrot Training Guide for Cockatiels and other parrots is available from Birdtricks.com  They offer comprehensive programs for Cockatiel Training as well as any other parrot.  They use positive re-inforcement tequniques that are extremely effective in building a positive experience with both the parrot and the owner.  I highly suggest you check out what they have to offer.

Popularity: 58% [?]

Conures can be great additions to your family.  I highly suggest doing your research before purchasing one though.  They have different personalities and it’s important to find one that fits your lifestyle.  There is some information on this blog and other spots around you can find great information if you look.

Popularity: 60% [?]

Looking for a dramatic and striking parrot?  The Scarlet Macaw is quite likely the most colorful and gorgeous bird on the planet.  The magnificent Macaw has feathers that are vivid scarlet.  Their upper wings are yellow and blue, their bottom is a bright light blue and their tail is a dark blue and red – a veritable rainbow.  Their upper beak is tan color and their lower beak is black. 

They have grey feet.  Besides their color one of the most dramatic physical features of the Scarlet Macaw is their size.  They grow to 35 inches in length with their tails being almost as long as their beautiful body.  They have tremendously strong wings, wings that enable them to fly up to 35 miles per hour.  They’re native to humid tropical forests ranging from South America to Peru and Brazil. 

Unfortunately due to deforestation and the pet trade, they’re on the endangered species list and they’re not available for importation. They’re magnificence continues onto their personality.  They’re very intelligent and can be trained to perform a variety of tricks and to mimic sounds and the human voice.  They are generally considered more aggressive than many other parrots and are not recommended to have if you have small children or other pets. 

They’re considered a sensitive bird and must be raised in a calm household with structure and plenty of training and routine.  Training provides the structure and discipline they need.  You wouldn’t want a misbehaving 35 inch bird in your home so training benefits both your Macaw and YOU. 

They’re also known to be cuddly and playful.  However, they’re also known to be able to only pay attention to any one thing for a short period of time, which means they’ll need a variety of stimulation including toys to play with, climb and chew on. They have powerful beaks and a real instinct to chew so providing them with chew toys will help save your furniture.  It also helps keep their beaks in good shape; their beaks have a tendency to become overgrown if they don’t have enough to chew on.

Common problems include nipping.  Scarlet Macaws communicate with their beaks, which means they can say ‘hello’ or even ‘let’s get out of here’ by placing their beak on your finger.  That being said, they are also prone to be a bit nippy, which means proper socialization and training from an early age are critical.  You don’t want a biting habit to develop with a bird that has a beak as strong and powerful as the Scarlet Macaw.

The Scarlet Macaw is also known to be a bit noisy and is described as having rough, hoarse voices.  Health wise, they are susceptible to papillomas, proventricular dilatation disease, polyomavirus, psittacosis and vitamin-sensitivity.  In captivity they generally live about 50 years, though they have been known to live as long as 80.

During breeding season, the Scarlet Macaw lays 2 to 4 white eggs.  The chicks hatch after 24 to 25 days. They fledge at about 105 days and are independent after about one year.  In the wild they eat fruits, figs, berries and nuts and during the breeding season they will also eat insects and their larvae.  In captivity they are easily modified to a pellet based diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.  Don’t forget to give them nuts and seeds for snacks or treats.

Care of a Scarlet Macaw is best left to experienced bird owners because they can be a real challenge.  They require a very large cage, plenty of exercise and stimulation.  Due to their need to chew, they can wreak extreme havoc and destruction and need a variety of toys to chew on and constant supervision.  Leave them alone and you’ll come back to a different room, guaranteed.  They eat a ton and demand a clean environment.  Regular bathing is required as is regular training.  Their ability to fly means you’ll probably want to clip their primary flying feathers, or risk losing them out the window or open door!

Scarlet Macaws are a wonderful and dynamic bird.  If you’re ready for a real commitment and are an experienced bird owner, they may be a delightful addition to your family.  Buying and owning a scarlet macaw doesn’t come cheap but for the right person, they are well worth the expense.  For more information on training your Scarlet Macaw check out our full training report and free newsletter.

 Posted with Permission from WBP Inc.

Popularity: 99% [?]

Here’s a quick trick you can teach your parrot within the span of a day or two.  First you have to have a treat your bird loves.  Kiwi’s treat of choice this week is Cheerios.  There must be some incentive for them to want to learn and a tasty treat usually is the ticket!

 Find a perch away from your parrots cage as they should not be trained on their cage.  Get them settled into their “training perch” and get their attention.  Let them see you have the treat and even give them a little so they know what they’re working for.

Kiwi hears the box of Cheerios rattle and she already knows and starts talking about it.  Smart little girl that she is.  So now that she knows what she’s working for we begin.  What I wanted to teach her was to shake her head no on cue.  I wanted to be able to ask her a question, give her a visual cue and have her shake her head no in response.

Start off by asking the question.  Then using your visual cue (whatever you want, I wag my finger back and forth quickly) blow lightly on her face while giving the cue. 99% of parrots will shake their head no when you blow softly on their face. Then give them a click with your clicker, reward them with the treat and praise them verbally.  It’s ok to get very excited and clap.  This excites them and parrots learn quickly when they’re excited/stimulated.

Continue doing this a couple times a day until they start shaking their head no just off your physical cue without you blowing on them.  It only took Kiwi 3 days of practing about 5 minutes before she picked this up.  Now I ask her frequently if she thinks I’m sexy to which she quickly replie no ;-(  I guess I brought that on myself.

 For more tricks like this visit birdtricks.com.  This really is just the tip of iceburg as far as what your parrot is capable of learning but a fun trick that anyone should be able to teach their bird without much work.

Popularity: 93% [?]

When discussing the pros and cons of a particular species of parrot, I try to be objective, but it’s hard to contain my enthusiasm for my one of my favorites: The African Grey.   Having hand fed many grey babies, and owning two greys myself, I have a real appreciation for them.  They aren’t a flashy, colorful bird, and they don’t tend to show of as much as other parrots such as macaws or Amazons.  But if you’re lucky enough to enter the “inner circle” of a grey, you’ll see a creature with an intelligent demeanor that gives you the feeling there’s more going on in that head than you will ever know.  

Research with the late, great Alex, an African grey parrot owned by researcher Irene Pepperberg, has provided evidence that parrots are cognitively on par with young children.  They can recognize shapes and colors.  They can count and do simple math, and their ability to speak isn’t just mimicry.  Alex is the most well-known example of what a grey can achieve, and although many of Dr. Pepperberg’s results can be applied to other species of parrots, the African grey in particular seems to be one of the smartest of the smart.  Because greys are so smart, they can become easily bored, and it’s not enough to just provide toys.  Greys need a lot of attention from their owners to stay happy and healthy.   

Along with intelligence, African greys exhibit a sensitive nature that can easily go overboard in some situations.  This sensitivity contributes to some of the grey’s less desirable qualities, especially seen in birds that weren’t socialized well.  Greys have a reputation for being skittish and inflexible.  When they’re really afraid, they tend to thrash about in a panicked frenzy, growling or screaming.  A grey that’s not terrified but merely suspicious will either growl a bit or shoot you a look that lets you know something’s not cool with him. 

 If you don’t respect this, you may be treated to the aforementioned fit or a nice chomp on the finger.   Keep him in a constant state anxiety and you’re likely to end up with the stereotypical neurotic African grey:  Feather plucked, afraid of everything, and almost impossible to handle.  Greys like this get passed from home to home and have little hope unless rescued by someone who knows how to deal with these little “basket cases”. 

Reputation for being nervous Nellies aside, talking ability is what African greys are best known for, and if you were to poll all the people who’ve ever had a grey, it will be one of the top reasons given as to why they chose the species.  Breeders are eagerly willing to accommodate the demand.  Greys are easy to come by, but too many babies are acquired by people who don’t pay close enough attention to how these babies are raised.  

Poor socialization often leads to a grey becoming rigid and easily spooked as he gets older.  Babies need a variety of appropriate experiences when they’re young to help foster curiosity and confidence.   Providing this type of upbringing can be time consuming and for some breeders, it’s not a priority.  No parrot should be raised “assembly line” style, but for greys this is a major no-no.   If the baby grey you’re considering buying is anything other than friendly and approachable, beware.  

A properly socialized young grey is likely to enjoy attention from the whole family, but as he gets older, may develop a “one person bird” tendency.  You can keep this from becoming too extreme to the point that no one but “the chosen one” can handle the bird. If a grey is to be a family pet, then everyone needs to be involved in his care on some level. 

Visitors should interact with the bird, and he should be taken on safe outings when possible.   He can learn that being held and talked to by other people is a good thing.   Don’t expect cockatoo-level cuddliness towards everyone, though.  Greys tend to reserve their cuddles for the people they love best.  Maybe you have what it takes to be one of those people. 

Written By Kim Bear.

Popularity: 96% [?]

It’s been awhile since my last update so I thought I would do a brief overview on the conure species as a whole.

In my humble opinion conures are great parrots for beginner bird owners. They are a manageable size that’s not as intimidating as your typical macaw or cockatoo. Typically they are about 8″-12″ long including their tail feathers. Their beak is also not quite as strong as one of these bigger birds mentioned. Don’t get me wrong, it can still draw blood but it’s less likely to take your entire finger off.

Conures also come in great variety. I can think of ten species of conures off the top of my head. Sun conure, white eyed conure, cherry head conure, nanday conure, jenday conure, half moon conure, etc.. etc.. So there’s definitely something for everyone when deciding on which conure you like best.

I would suggest a little individual research though to help you decide which conure is best for you. Some species do have quirks that you should know about. For example sun conures can be pretty noisy. So read up on whatever species you’re going to purchase so you’re prepared for your new family member.

Another great point for conures is they are extremely trainable. They are capable of learning very quickly. See my experience with training HERE. You don’t want to own a conure and ignore it though as these little birds can be mischievous without the proper guidance.

Last and not least is with some decent training conures are extremely lovable.   Once you gain your parrots trust and affection they will be a life long pet that you wont want to give up!  Good luck finding the right conure for you.  Don’t forget to check out my training page as it’s absolutely essential to train your bird so it develops into a great parrot!

Popularity: 91% [?]

Parrots are intelligent animals.  Some studies have proven that certain species of parrots have intelligence levels comparable to that of a four year old child!  Yet it’s glaringly obvious that people have no idea how to harness a parrot’s ability to learn.  So I thought I’d shed a little light on how I’ve adopted some dog training techniques to get parrots to respond to training much quicker than traditional methods.  The training methods discussed here are used extensively in our Taming Training Tricks Course.

This technique is called “shaping”.  Shaping is a training method that trains parrots to think.  It doesn’t lure them with food, or punish parrots for doing a behavior incorrectly.  Instead it works on this principal…

“Parrots will continue to do behaviors that bring them pleasure, with greater and greater frequency – and continue to do so until the behavior no longer brings them pleasure”

When I’m training one of my parrots to learn to step up onto my hand, I don’t just shove my hand in front of them and force them off their perch.  After all, the parrot might not want to step up.  The parrot might be sleepy, upset, not want to be taken away from his food bowl, or a whole host of other reasons.

So instead, I like to reward parrots for coming to me on their own free will.  I like to let the parrot train himself that coming to me brings him pleasure.  Here’s what I mean…

Let’s say that our parrot is happily playing on the top of his cage, and you want him to train him to step up onto your hand.  To do this place your hand about 12-24 inches from your parrot, and observe what he does.  Does he back away even further?  If so you should back up also, until you’re far enough away that your parrot is showing relaxed body language.

Then start watching for tiny movements your parrot starts to make towards your hand.  At first, parrots will usually do nothing.  But be patient and start small.  Look for your parrot to look at your hand.  When he does say “good”, and reward with a favorite treat of his. 

Parrots will catch on pretty quick and realize that all they have to do to get a treat is look at your hand.  When your parrot gets to this stage, demand more from your parrot for a treat.  Make your parrot take a step towards your hand… even a small step, tell him “good” and reward him again.

Continue to slowly demand your parrot get closer and closer to your hand before giving him his treats, until he’s actually stepping onto your hand.  But be careful, parrots can tend to not trust you.  So the first time your parrot steps on your hand, don’t think the training is done.  Parrots will feel betrayed if you coax them onto your hand and them pick them up fast.

Instead let your parrot step on your hand without picking him up, and gradually work on rewarding your parrot for letting you pick him an inch of the ground, then two, three, four etc.  Until every time you walk over to his cage, he’ll run over to you expecting that he can step up onto your hand to get his treat.

Training parrots in this way teaches parrots to problem solve.  It teaches them to figure out what you want them to do, and makes training other behaviors in the future much easier.

Copyright © 2007 Womach Brother Productions - African Grey Parrots
This article was written by Chet Womach a parrot trainer who’s helped thousands of people owners overcome behavior problems in their parrots, by using positive reinforcement training techniques.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Recently I took a trip to the (supposedly) sunny state of Florida!  Unfortunately the weather was marginal while we were there although we still had a great time.   What I wanted to do here though is give you a quick idea of how I went about preparing my conure for the time I was going to be gone.

First it’s important that you find someone to come stay with your bird while you’re gone or at minimum come over to your house on a regular basis.  There are professional pet sitters out there but I have never felt comfortable with this because I dont know them personally.  Unfortunately I could not find anyone to come stay at my house for this trip but I was able to get the neighbor boy to come over regularly to give her a little company and provide feed and water.

You dont want to add to your parrot’s stress of having you gone by brining someone completely new over to take care of it’s needs.  You never know how your bird will react to a new person and it’s entirely possible they will dislike someone right out of the chute for no apparent reason.  Imagine if your parrot had to spend all week terrified every time this person came  over to feed it. 

Once you’ve decided on someone have them come over at least once or twice prior to your departure.  Both of you need to spend a little time with your bird handeling it and getting your bird used to this new person.  Go over your parrots quirks, habits, feeding schedules, etc…

If you’re familiar with your birds preference for toys be sure they have several of their favorites available to them for down time.  Make sure their cage is cleaned real well so they are comfortable while you’re gone.  Also type out specific instructions so you know everything you want is going to get done.

Then you just have to go and enjoy yourself and hope all is well while you’re gone.  Hopefully you can find someone to come over several times a day if they’re not staying at your house so your bird can be covered up and let out on it’s normal schedule.

Our trip went well and our conure was fine when we got home.  The only mistake I made was I left a window open in our condo and the weather was a little chilly in our absense so the whole house was a little on the cold side.  Kiwi seemed to be fine though.

Popularity: 98% [?]

I received an e-mail from Birdtricks on September 13th letting me know that they were hosting a video contest. Chet is looking to award three different people $250 prizes:

“I’ll take all the videos my subscribers send in, and
post them on a webpage… then let you come and vote
for your favorite ones! And the top 3 videos with the
most votes will earn a $250 cash prize!” -Chet Womach

You do however have to be a subscriber to Chet’s e-mail list to be eligible so if you haven’t signed up yet you can do so with this link. Birdtricks.com

Here is the link to submit your finished video’s when you have completed them.

http://www.birdtricks.com /sharemyvideo

Best of luck to you all. I will be on vacation the rest of the week so I may not be able to make any new posts. I will be responding to comments though!

Popularity: 96% [?]