Can you train a parrot to protect itself?

[allso20]

I'm thinking of becoming a parrot owner and i've seen many stories of parrots flying away because crows or an animal or something along those lines chases it. Now I know of gps's but is there a way to keep your parrots safe and from possibly even getting killed by training it? I'm wondering if any of you have ever thought of this or know something on this on how to teach your parrot to escape danger without fleeing into the open sky but by avoiding it until it gives up or stops???? Any opinions or answers will be greatly appreciated. :33::45:

 

[Kiwibird]

I'm confused as to why a fully flighted parrot would be outside unharnessed or uncaged in the first place??? If you're being a diligent owner, chances for escape are negligible. This includes certain inside protocols too (such as windows and doors always closed when parrot is out).

They do have an instinctual defense mechanism and their hooked beaks can inflict serious injuries on other birds. Parrots are not shy about defending themselves. Training recall and how to fly down from a height (indoor training) is the best shot at recovering an escaped parrot who gets up high. Also, socializing properly so they would seek out the first human they saw to help them instead of avoiding human contact and trying to survive on their own.

 

[Flboy]

What do you consider an acceptable death rate during the training?

 

[wrench13]

Friend, we've had owners who extensively flight trained thier parrot, really extensively, only to have the parrot scared by a happenstnace ( like a ladder falling ) and have the parrot taken by a sudden breeze , and never seen again. While may sound cool to have a parrot that is trained for recall, and you will find vidoes of some folks who do this in huge fields, there is always a chance of something that might happen. Me personally never ever take Salty outside unless he is in his harness. We have hawks, crows, and owls in our neighborhood, aside form jsut anything spooking him ( and parrots spook at the crazyiest thing - a bit of shiney paper, odd colored garbage cans, you never know).

Flight training and more importantly recall training takes months and months, and there is still the chance the parrot may be takeen by a stray wind, and not know how to get back to you. You will do what your mind tells you but read the many threads on parrots flyng away, never to be seen again, if you wnat some very very sad stories.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums! You'll find most of us do not take our precious companion birds outside unless in a cage or travel enclosure. While the reward is obviously a natural environment, the risks can be extreme. Those who do permit flight typically use a harness and are meticulous. Parrots are not truly domesticated; they can and will escape given the opportunity.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Re: Can you train a parrot to protect itself

Friend, we've had owners who extensively flight trained thier parrot, really extensively, only to have the parrot scared by a happenstnace ( like a ladder falling ) and have the parrot taken by a sudden breeze , and never seen again. While may sound cool to have a parrot that is trained for recall, and you will find vidoes of some folks who do this in huge fields, there is always a chance of something that might happen. Me personally never ever take Salty outside unless he is in his harness. We have hawks, crows, and owls in our neighborhood, aside form jsut anything spooking him ( and parrots spook at the crazyiest thing - a bit of shiney paper, odd colored garbage cans, you never know).

Flight training and more importantly recall training takes months and months, and there is still the chance the parrot may be takeen by a stray wind, and not know how to get back to you. You will do what your mind tells you but read the many threads on parrots flyng away, never to be seen again, if you wnat some very very sad stories.

Recall training doesn’t take much time if the bird has fledged and is used to flying. Free flight training, meaning unrestrained outdoor flight, does. Even though my birds are recall and flight trained, I would never take them outside without being in a carrier (they’re not harness trained). It’s important to differentiate between simply recall/flight training a bird, that is, coming to you on command and being a confident flyer indoors, and free flight training. Free flight requires extensive training beyond just flying indoors, because when a gust of wind comes, they suddenly won’t know how to get back, or what happens if a predator shows up? I would encourage everyone with flighted birds to recall train them in case of accidental escape (so they know how to get back to you), but actually taking them outside on purpose without a harness or carrier so they can fly in the open is very risky.

 

[clark_conure]

How old are you?

I ask because only one crazy guy I know that posts on here with some cockatiels (he won't mind me describing him that way I told him myself he scares me to death with his videos) takes a bird out without clipping, and/or harness, and/or packobird, and/or netted off aviary etc. Many people with flighted birds simply loose them out the door when an idiot comes over....many on here including friends and myself included when I was a teenager.

Depending on where you live, the climate, available food to your breed etc. It can be a death sentence. The best outcome is the bird finds some other human and becomes re-adopted. But rarely do you find a story like this one.. http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/72332-sun-escape.html

If you get a parrot keep it indoors until you have it harness trained.

 

[Jottlebot]

Hi, not sure the OP was thinking of free flying their future bird, I understood the message more as a question about whether they could including "self defence" training in case their bird got out.

I think the answer sadly is "no". A loose bird will do its best, but there are so many factors that effect survival I don't know of any training that would help. As others have said avoiding your bird getting out is the best option. Having really good recall is the second most important thing.

I did read a post by someone who was using a big, colourful throw and was training recall to that incase his bird ever got out so he could put it on his car and drive around or leave it where his bird was last seen. I thought it was genius!!