going potty

[larryb]

We have a 3 month old GCC, we have had him for a month now. I've been working with him to go potty on his perch. If I put him on his perch, and say "Go Poop" he will go 98 percent of the time, I praise him with enthusiasm, and he eagerly steps up. My question is, how to teach him to ONLY go on the perch? Unless I time it, he will go wherever he is. Is this just a matter of time, or, should I be doing something else?

 

[MonicaMc]

Although it's great to have potty trained birds, a bird should *never* be potty trained to go on cue only or to only go potty in a specific area... this may create a bird who holds in his or her droppings until the cue is given or one that refuses to go potty anywhere except where it is trained to go. This is a big issue for birds who are trained to go potty outside of the cage but not inside the cage, too.

Potty training is really more about learning when your bird needs to go, and if it's been a while, seeing if he or she needs to go. It would also be a great idea to teach the bird to go back to a specific spot on his/her own to go potty rather than having to wait on you.

 

[larryb]

I agree, that's what sparked my original question, how do i get him to go to the perch when he has to go?

 

[MonicaMc]

If he understands going potty on the perch, then you should probably teach him going to the perch separately, and once he understands both behaviors, then pairing them.

You can teach going to the perch as targeting skill, and then going back to you.

 

[Lintini]

I've always wondered about potty training. As my bond has grown with my (conure) birds it seems like they will poop right before I ask them to step up. Although my grey just lets loose all over you. She has specific "Chloe clothing" that has to be worn.

 

[antoinette]

A problem may arise, if you are constantly telling him to poopie when in the cage on his perch....

This could lead to serious problems in the near future......


He might refrain from pooping in his cage unless on command.


I would suggest only teaching your bird to poopie on command when outside the cage.

 

[larryb]

The only time I bring him to his perch to poop is when he is out of his cage with us, I can tell when its time for him, and bring him to his perch on the top play pen on his cage, say "go poop" and he does, he still goos poop in his cage on his own. It doesnt really bother me when he has an "accident" I was just currious if there was a way to get him to fly to his perch and do the business on his own.
Now that we have a fairly strong bond, I want to train him to do a few tricks. I bought some plain, un-roasted and pre-shelled sunflower seeds, are these ok for him? he LOVES sun flower seeds, although I don't give much, or often, but pieces of these would woork well for training I think, at least some times.
Thoughts?

 

[JasmineGCC]

My GCC Jasmine adores pine nuts and I give her pieces when training. She doesn't get it at any other time. Simple trick is to turn in a circle either on a flat surface or your finger - circle treat around head and the bird follows! Also hang like a bat off finger to get treat held below. It took longer but jasmine also can now somersault around my finger.

I have a playstand and every 20 minutes or so I put her on it and she poops. I don't make her go on command but if you time it right your bird will go if ready. I stopped trying to teach in command as jasmine was holding her massive morning poop bomb until I put her on the stand and I thought that was unhealthy.

Hope this helps