Greetings Experienced Ones

[Plumas]

I'm seeking some information on How To Train My Grasskeet (Bourke) to return to her cage after being out for some exercise and play time...any suggestions would be of help!

 

[smbrds]

Welcome to the forum. She'd probably want to naturally go to her cage eventually, but teaching "Come here" or a word associated to get her to go back to the cage may help. 'Keets are intelligent birds, are very trainable. Just takes lots of time and patience. Use some favorite treats of hers to help with training.

 

[Allee]

Welcome to the forums! Happy you joined us.

 

[Tsali]

Bribery usually works for Tsali, my African Grey. I will get his attention and show him his favorite forbidden treat - cheese and I pretend to gobble it up. I will put a tiny little piece in his cage in plain sight and walk away. It generally takes him 30 seconds to fly to his cage and climb inside to nab the cheese. I calmly and quietly close the door and reward him with a sunflower seed.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you! Remember, cage = something special!

 

[Anansi]

Hello and welcome to Parrot Forums!

This is a two stage answer for me. First off, as David mentioned the cage should take on the role of something special. A shelter, a food source, a home. To create that association, I set up a meal schedule. Two main meals a day, with training treats, snacks and such in between. Their main meals, however, are only available in their cages.

So if the end of their out/training/playtime happens to coincide with dinner time, they actually look forward to getting back to their cages. The cages become associated with food, hence a good place.

Stage 2 is target training and recall. You want to work with them until they will reliably go wherever you ask. And the trick to this is making them want to do as you ask. Which, again, comes down to association. Every time your bird goes where you ask, make a big deal of it. Fanfare and treats raining down like manna from Heaven! (Only a slight exaggeration, here. Lol!) Done consistently enough, they'll be eager for your next instruction. Following your commands will be associated with good food and happy parront.

Having followed these steps, any resistance to going anywhere I ask is exceedingly rare with my flock.

 

[SirEdwin89]

Welcome welcome, I can't offer any advice that hasn't been given yet, but glad to have you with us!

 

[Scott]

Welcome, and thanks for joining! The combinations of bribery and positive reinforcement are great principles! Please let us know how your Grasskeet progresses!!