Potty "Training"

[HRH Di]

Woot! I'm so excited! I've been kind of half-heartedly trying to potty train Max to only poo on his perch - he already has a "poo area" in his cage so I thought this would be easy.

For the past 2 evenings while hanging out on my shoulder, he will turn and look at me, then squawk a few times much more loudly than usual after about an hour or so. The first evening, I didn't really know what he was "talking" about. But, right after he did it last night, I took him to his perch and as soon as he got there...bombs away! We'll see how things go tonight and if we've made a break through.

 

[Spiritbird]

Potty training seems to be quite simple because our birds are so smart!! My Rosie goes directly on the potty.

 

[wuvzbirdies]

OK, can someone please give me the basics of how to train your bird. What methods did you use?

 

[HRH Di]

This is what I've been told...

Since parrots are very smart and basically, pretty hygienic (tossing food about doesn't count), potty training is very easy.

Most birds have very obvious body language when they have to go - fluff feathers, squat, concentrate, etc. When you see this move them to a place that's an acceptable poo location, like a perch. It doesn't take long until they learn this location and will fly to it or let you know that they need to go.

I haven't really worked very hard on this with Max, and he seems to have learned it easily.

 

[antoinette]

This procedure worked for me.
When "Mishka" was 3 months old I bought her a plastic baby potty.
Whenever I took her out the cage, I placed her on the potty and said poppies.
I kept watching her, for signs of squatting, when she wanted to go then placed her on the potty.
It took about 2 weeks, lots of accidents etc...BUT today she is totally potty trained.
When sitting on my lap, she starts to nip me when she want to go.
NOW I am waiting for her to say poppies. LoL

Good luck !!!!!

 

[DustyDusky]

I taught Dusty not to go potty anywhere outside his cage unless he is on his play stand. When i started training him I just paid attention to his body language. When he appeared to have to go I would run him to his cage. when he went in his cage i would tell him he was a good boy. He caught on quickly to what i wanted. Now if his outside his cage and he has to go to the bathroom he starts to yell or he will gently bite you. (thank goodness he is gentle).

 

[parrotqueen]

I totally want to try it, sounds pretty easy.

 

[merlin]

merlin does a slight squat and wiggles his red feathers. this is his way of telling me "the big" one is coming.

 

[antoinette]

This morning I forgot to take Mishka's potty out ... boy did I get a mouth full !!!
She screamed at me POTTY POTTY LoL
They are more human than we think.

 

[artist_lace]

This is very helpful advice. I'm going to try it with my birds (it's worth a shot!)

 

[HRH Di]

It's been a week and Max hasn't poo'ed on anyone! Now, I need to focus on Jade.

 

[antoinette]

Re: Potty "Training"HA

This is very helpful advice. I'm going to try it with my birds (it's worth a shot!)

ABSOLUTELY worth a shot "Happy Poopies"

Good Luck

 

[antoinette]

Woot! I'm so excited! I've been kind of half-heartedly trying to potty train Max to only poo on his perch - he already has a "poo area" in his cage so I thought this would be easy.

For the past 2 evenings while hanging out on my shoulder, he will turn and look at me, then squawk a few times much more loudly than usual after about an hour or so. The first evening, I didn't really know what he was "talking" about. But, right after he did it last night, I took him to his perch and as soon as he got there...bombs away! We'll see how things go tonight and if we've made a break through.

Great job, keep it up you have definitely made a break through.
When you see him swiggling or moving awkwardly, it's probably time for the potty. Try every 10 minutes or so, that's usually their waiting period LoL

 

[antoinette]

This is very helpful advice. I'm going to try it with my birds (it's worth a shot!)

Good luck, just preserver and you will be greatly rewarded.
Let us know how is goes