First time conure owner

[Rubyandme]

I'm a first time bird owner and got my GCC, ruby, about a week ago. She's still young but I'd like to start working with her as soon as possible. I've already got her to lay on her back in my hand! I know its nothing fancy but I'm proud. anyways, could someone direct me to info to teach me how to train her and preferred methods etc. everything I keep finding seems to be info on what each person has trained their bird to do. Thanks for any input!

 

[kiwiS]

i think kiwi was clicker trained before I got her, because she makes a clicker sound a lot. She also knew step up and kiss before I knew her too so my guess is she was clicker trained for that.

I don't use a clicker because for some reason the sound freaks my dog out! Since she is used to it though, I click with my tongue to emulate the clicker sound, and then follow up with a "good!" and a yummy treat.

You could figure out what her favoritest food is and then only give it to her during training sessions. Try to keep it very small because you don't want to wait five minutes for her to finish an almond before you move on to the next trick ^.^

I personally use small millet seeds, and sometimes shelled sunflower seeds broken into tiny pieces, or teeny pieces of green apple.

Maybe start with very crucial tricks, like step up and step down. I find getting her to go someplace I want her to very helpful too. This depends on your bird, but she likes my fingers, so when I tap them in a location, she will most likely check it out. When she walks towards where I want her to be she gets a big juicy treat, and she gets to check out what my fingers are tapping ^.^

Also might want to designate a certain time and place for training. Kiwi's main training for actual tricks (We've been working on wave, kiss, turn around, somersault, jump, and dance) have been on a T bird stand, no toys or ladders or anything to distract her. She looks forward to it because she knows she will get the treats she never has regularly, so she is always excited to start. I keep training times short - five minutes the most. That way she doesn't get bored.

If at any point she starts showing signs of boredom or frustration I make sure I have her do a VERY easy trick that she knows very well, like step up, give her a huge reward and praise and then end there. Try to end on a good note.

Tricks like step up , go potty, being held in a towel, having her wings touched etc. can be done througout the day. Keep a ziploc of the little treats in your pocket so you can reward her anytime she does something you like! ^.^

Good luck and have fun!!!