Some training questions

[WBCaique]

Hi everyone! We have now had Dino for almost a month and things are going pretty good but at the same time some issues are also coming up.

He loves being on my shoulder and its becoming a little difficult to get him off at times. Its usually not an issue if I use a target stick as he will do it for a treat but I don't always have the stick on me. Also, when he doesn't want to get off, he will make a fuzz and nip your hands. Any advice on trying to get him off willingly?

Another thing, this is more training related, I have managed to get him fairly well potty trained but the thing he lacks is the understanding of waiting till I tell him to go potty. Usually, he will go right away if I ask him to, but if he has been on my shoulder for just a few minutes past, he has no problem going on me lol. Any tips on training him to hold it till I tell him to go potty?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Selestine]

When you take him off your shoulder, is it usually to put him back in his cage? If so, you might want to do some training where you randomly take him off of your shoulder just to give him a treat or a little love and then put him back. If he knows that coming off your shoulder just means that he's going to end up back in his cage, he'll want to put up a fight and stay with you. If sometimes coming off your shoulder means good things and he can't predict which it is going to be, he won't give you such trouble.

As far as potty training.. I look like one of those ladies who sits around Central Park feeding the pigeons, so I can't offer you any advice there. Sorry

 

[weco]

Another thing, this is more training related, I have managed to get him fairly well potty trained but the thing he lacks is the understanding of waiting till I tell him to go potty. Usually, he will go right away if I ask him to, but if he has been on my shoulder for just a few minutes past, he has no problem going on me lol. Any tips on training him to hold it till I tell him to go potty?

Although smaller birds are frequent producers, budgies will poop up to 50 times a day, while macaws may poop 15 to 20 times a day..... Our feathered friends really don't come with extra space for holding poop until they are given permission to release/deposit it, however hens sitting on eggs have a habit of only pooping a few times a day, but you don't want to train a bird to hold their poop until it is convenient for you.....

Greg Burkett, DVM, an avian veterinarian in Durham, N.C. has offered this on potty training companion parrots: Potty training a bird is a lot like potty training a dog — it’s a matter of creating a habit. However, some people believe that potty training a bird too rigorously can be detrimental to the bird’s health. Birds are so smart and trainable that some may actually “hold it” and make themselves ill if they are removed from their designated potty area, for example, during boarding or a move.

Potty training “light” might be a better option. Instead of training your bird to potty in a certain place, the way you might train a cat to use the litter box, train the bird to potty onto a specific type of wastepaper, such as a paper towel or paper plate.

First, it’s critical that you can recognize your bird’s “go potty” cues. Once you know how your bird behaves just before it eliminates, place the wastepaper beneath it, and as it eliminates you say a cue, like, “Go potty” or “Bombs away!” When the waste hits the wastepaper, make a big deal about how happy you are about it and tell your bird how great and smart it is. It won’t take long before it connects the dots.

Once your bird starts to understand that the cue is connected to the action (of eliminating), place the wastepaper beneath it and say the cue. If you have done this enough times, have had a lot of patience with the training, and have praised enough, your bird should potty on cue.

Good luck.....

 

[punkindave]

Good points above, offer treats and DON'T put him back in his house.. It'll change things up..
Also, instead of coming at him from the front with a tasty finger, come from the back, under his feet. He might be better stepping up backwards. You can also come from the front with a flat palm to scoop him up from the belly. Remember, you are interrupting his "mission" of enjoying your shoulder or surveying the room from his favorite perch!! Expect a fuss!!
He is also easily distracted by tasty or shiny objects!! He'll forget he was making a fuss if you distract him well..