Bird Training Tips

Before trying to train your bird to talk, it is necessary to tame it by winning its confidence, and getting your presence and that of others acceptable to the bird. Your best success for your bird to become very tame and attached to the owner is best when it is obtained at a young age, of say 2 - 6 months. An older bird is not impossible to train, but it may take more patience, caution and understanding, especially if the bird is very wild or has been mistreated or neglected.

Larger and full-grown Parrots can bite very hard and should be approached and moved on slowly without quick motions or loud noises. Hunger and appetite are very strong instincts and should be seen as a good method to use in taming and training your new Parrot friend.

To teach a bird to talk, constant repetition of a word or short phrase is necessary. Repeating words at feeding time, or when giving it a preferred tidbit helps also. At times when you may be out of sight, you may hear your bird trying to say some word or phrase, this is a good opportunity to repeat what you want it to learn. The clearest voice for the bird to learn is that of a child, next is a woman's and lastly a mans. The higher the tone, the better.

There are eight methods of getting rid of a behavior you don't want. The eight methods are:

Method 1: "Shoot the bird" (This definitely works. You will never have to deal with that particular behavior in that bird again).

Method 2: Punishment. (Everybody's favorite in spite of the fact that it almost never really works).

Method 3: Negative reinforcement.

Method 4: Extinction; letting the behavior go away by itself.

Method 5: Train an incompatible behavior. (This method is especially useful for athletes and pet owners).

Method 6: Put the behavior on cue. (Then you never give the cue).

Method 7: "Shape the absence"; reinforce anything and everything that is NOT the undesired behavior. (A kindly way to turn nasty birds into agreeable ones).

Method 8: Change the motivation. (This is the fundamental and most kindly method of all).

You can see there are four good and four bad methods. Each has its place. Good luck with your new bird friend.

Compliments of: Captain Tut's Pirate Parrots, Robert L. Barrett (Capt. Tut), St. Petersburg, Deceased.