Potty Training Questions

[Deii]

I'm trying to train my Green Cheek to go potty in her cage or when I say, "Go Potty," but I have a couple of questions...

My current process has been to take her to her cage every 10 minutes or so and say "Go Potty." If she goes, I praise her.

Often, she'll get out of her cage (she wants to stay with me) and refuse to stay in/go potty, then poop on me when we walk away from the cage. I then say "no" in a low voice and put her in her cage for a minute.

Will putting her in her cage as punishment confuse her?

Is 12 weeks old too early to start this process? Or is it best to start right away?

Should I say "no" when she poops outside of her cage and punish her by ignoring her for a minute or two? Or is this just going to turn into her resenting me?

Is it dangerous to potty train a bird if they spend a ton of time outside of their cage? Will they return to their cage to go or just spend all of their time holding it because they want to stay with you?

Any help would be great.

 

[andrea.faerie]

Umm, I'm kind of going with the flow with this with my Black cap conure. She's to the point where we tell her "go poop!" and it takes her a few times of hearing it but eventually she goes potty and gets a reward (we're down to 3 times asking her nicely). She has no qualms that I've noticed about going potty on her play perch (which is ok) or in her cage. I'm wondering the same things as you for the most part. Lucy's hatch date is April 12th so I don't think yours is too young if mine's making progress Also, I just stand right next to her cage until she goes potty, I refuse to walk away until she goes, wether she's on my hand or not, she's gonna go potty. I've learned her body language so i can move out of the way before she poo's lol

 

[Deii]

I totally know what you mean about body language but I feel like I can never move quite quickly enough. She wiggles her butt and goes... in which case I take her to the cage and say "go potty." :/

I guess my biggest fear is the scolding- I know birds are sensitive and I'm afraid that she might resent me.

 

[stephend]

I have read that there is a risk with potty training of getting the bird so conditioned that they will attempt to never go without hearing the command which is unhealthy.

I have just started trying to potty train Bob. Before taking Bob out I will tell him "poopy poopy" and if it happens I will praise him. If I catch him pooping in a good place I will praise him. And if I notice quickly after he goes on me or another inappropriate place I will put him back in his cage and remove his seeds for fifteen minutes.

 

[oled]

Normaly dont use the cage as punishment, just dont praise her

 

[Mayden]

I've never liked the idea +of using the cage as punishment as it's supposed to be their sanctuary and if they associate it with their "time outs" for doing something wrong.... surely it must be confusing!

I'm hoping to potty train Merlin, he's doing a good job of going on the floor and rarely on me or my boyfriend, but... he just doesn't do anything in his cage!

Guess I need to start working on that

 

[stephend]

I have thought about buying Bob a smaller, second cage to use for time outs, does this sound like a bad idea?

 

[Mayden]

I have thought about buying Bob a smaller, second cage to use for time outs, does this sound like a bad idea?

I'm not sure, but it's certainly better than using his sanctuary ash a time out zone. He's supposed to love his cage, not resent being put there. I mean... putting them to bed "what, have I been naughty?!"

I just put Merlin down and ignore him when he's misbehaving, no cuddles, no attention. Just a firm 'no' and placed down somewhere.

 

[antoinette]

I reckon placing a bird on a potty outside the cage, is less stressful for the bird. When in the cage she can go at anytime, why confuse her. When outside the cage, she might have the urge to go, at that very moment. Punishing her by ignoring her, is going to cause long term problems.
Why not have a potty outside the cage, as I do with Mishka.
When taking the bird out, each time, place her on the potty and say poopie, If she does not at first, try a few minutes later, you will soon learn to read her body language, when she is wanting to go. Make it a fun task, then she will want to do it again and again. Praise her when she relieves himself, and when not so lucky, laugh it off.
Mishka spends about 3 hours outside his cage, and willingly walks over to the potty and says poopie.

 

[stephend]

I put an old blanket under Bob's cage and about every half hour I will carry him to it and try to get him to go. It has started working quite well, although sometimes he is a little quick and hits the carpet rather than the blanket. I wish I could get him to fly to his cage or playstand to potty on his own.

 

[Tammy]

I keep newspaper under Precious' favorite perches (certain chairs, doors, etc.) & he seems to have taught himself to look for newspaper when he has to go. When I bring him to the kitchen every morning as soon as he gets to the chair with paper & lets go with a huge one & I jump up & down & clap & give him treats & kisses. He's only in his cage for maybe 2 or 3 hours total during the day if I go grocery shopping or swimming. I don't know what I did right but I guess my Amazon is smart enough to teach himself!