Let the training montage begin!

[nanachi]

I LOVE birds.
Absolutely, I do.
After my baby cockatiel unfortunately passed away I fostered two cockatiels as well as a budgie until I was able to rehome them. I got in contact with another breeder about cockatiel chicks (this time I will be receiving him after he is weaned... still holding a grudge on that.) and I am expecting a baby cockatiel to welcome home in THREE MONTHS! The first egg hatched yesterday and I could not be more excited.

I was thinking, what could I do differently with this baby?

And it hit me - free flight / flight suit training.

I LOVE the idea of this. I would absolutely love to take him to the park we visit often for our dog and have him enjoy the outdoors.
Those of you who have experience with this kind of training, how did you go about training your baby to do this?
Also, what are some fun training games and “tricks” you like to do with your bird?

 

[SailBoat]

That's a lofty goal, as there is much to be obtained prior to being successful.

First, is the wonders of fledgling where one's feathered ball learns to not crash into near everything, including you.
Then, by providing guided tours of your home, you teach your little dare devil to fly around your home, land in specific places and with the addition of 'recall' training get Flash Gordon to return to you. NOTE: This item, like step-up, is a must happen item. Nothing more heartbreaking than to watch your little dear heart disappear before your very eyes.

Now, it is important to understand that regardless of all the work you have done up to this point. You may not be able to take your Parrot outside! Example: We live in a Major Red Tailed Hawk training area owned by five families. Each late Spring to deep into Summer, we are daily visited as each family works a provided the finer points of high speed turns. The balance of the of the year, the kids are around search for available food.

Red Tails are a size able Hawk! Last year, we became fly-over county for a family of America (baldheaded) Eagles. Already this year, they have returned and so have the kids! Point is we are a No Outside Fly Zone!

Check your area well prior to expending extensive time into 'outside' free flight training... You may find that you have done little more than provide an easy snack...

Now, regardless of what is going on in the great outdoors, there are very good reason to allow your feather ball to learn to fly indoors! And, the importances of 'Recall Training' is just as important...

IMHO, setting a harness in place on a Parrot requires an enhance relationship of full trust in you... It is by no means a simple process of sliding one into place...

Enjoy, the time will both slip by quickly and also take forever! It's that time thing.

 

[chris-md]

How do you go about training this

You don't. Not on a forum anyways. Free flight is something you learn from a live mentor with you. You might get tips, but you'll never find quality INSTRUCTION for free flight on a forum.

Also, well stated above. Free flight for anything smaller than a medium sized parrot is generally not advised, for all reasons Steven mentions. Harness? Sure!! Great idea! Free flight? No. <--you will find geographic variations on this opinion. Other countries do it without concern, but in the US and generally western countries, we tend to shy away from it because there is too much risk involved.

 

[wrench13]

there is tons of things you can teach your 'tiel. But 'boats is right first things first. Step up is the one thing you want your parrot to do almost automatically when he is asked for it. You never know when you might need to move him in a hurry, and if he is refusing it or runnin away from you it could mean the difference between safety .... or not.

Harness training depends on the individual parrot. Some take to it in a few training sessions, after they have been de-sensitized to the rig. Some like my Salty it took a year of every day training until he is at the point where he just puts it on, no fuss. Get a larger size then recommended - it will be easier for you to get his head thru the head loop with a larger one, you can always sellit here. Leave it laying aroound near his cage for a few days so he doesnt get freaked out by it. there are viseos on youtube for specifics on training on this, watch a few different ones and use the one that works the best for you and your parrot.

Tricks and stuff can be very rewarding for both of you and are a great way to build trust and bonding. After step up, try turning in circles, or shaking hands, waving hello, giving high 5. Salty and I train every night still, after 5 years, and he looks so forward to our sessions and learrning new things. They love to learn and once your parrot understands that you are teaching him, I bet he will be a sponge.

Good luck and heck we all love baby pictures !