step-by-step training

[djdancer]

Hello All.

All three of my conures are target trained. I'd like to know what I should teach them after target training. I'm sure there isn't a set training in any specific order but I'd like to teach my birds how to station but all of the video's I've bought show them with birds that are already trained. I've spent so much money on dvd's from well known trainers but they are mostly showing birds that are already trained and do not show you how to actually train them. I am going to teach them how to recall and have a pretty idea how to do that. My Green Cheek is very active so in the long run I'm going to teach him how to do tricks too.

If anyone has any idea what I should be teaching them and how it would be great!!

Thank you!

 

[Birdman666]

Exactly.

Training secrets revealed... or not!

Here is another overpriced video demonstrating what I've trained my birds to do, which is why I'm the birdwhisperer/wizard/pompous @$$, and you're not...

I know you wish your birds would do this for you... but they won't because [in Hans & Franz voice: "YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF GIRLY MEN AND FLABBY LOOOZZERZ... "

Tani Robar's stuff is the best, in my opinion. She breaks it down into steps for you... and you learn to break behaviors down into steps for them.

ANY BEHAVIOR YOU WANT TO TRAIN THEM TO DO, IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF BREAKING IT DOWN INTO STEPS, AND REWARDING EACH STEP THEY PERFORM, THEN COMBINING THE STEPS INTO ONE MORE COMPLEX BEHAVIOR. That's the essence of trick training. Everything else is hype.

So figure out how the bird needs to do what you want him to do, what are the steps, and then teach each individual step. If there is a secret to training, besides being patient, and making it fun and a game for them, and keeping it positive, THAT is it.

 

[djdancer]

Birdman666 that is it I know but knowing what the steps are is the tough part. I have spent too much money now and am tapped out for a while so was hoping someone could help me with specific steps for specific things. I really want to teach my birds how to station because... my GCC attacks my hands every time I go to change her food or water. After that I'll work on recall which I have a good idea how to do that. My birds were very easy to target train and also very proud of themselves for doing so but I have been target training (started out with a stick and a clicker) now we use several objects for target. I have since dropped the clicker and just click through my teeth. Now they click for me when I do something they approve of too. lol

 

[Birdman666]

Birdman666 that is it I know but knowing what the steps are is the tough part. I have spent too much money now and am tapped out for a while so was hoping someone could help me with specific steps for specific things. I really want to teach my birds how to station because... my GCC attacks my hands every time I go to change her food or water. After that I'll work on recall which I have a good idea how to do that. My birds were very easy to target train and also very proud of themselves for doing so but I have been target training (started out with a stick and a clicker) now we use several objects for target. I have since dropped the clicker and just click through my teeth. Now they click for me when I do something they approve of too. lol

BARBARA'S GOT A FREE VIDEO ON STATION TRAINING:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5stm5K72QI"]Stations for Training Parrots and Small Mammals - YouTube[/ame]

 

[djdancer]

Birdman666 I actually bought one of the dvd sets that included this video and have watched it many times. I own a lot of her dvd's. Now if you watch the video it says you can train your pet to do these things. She does not show you how she trained them to do it. I thought stationing would be a good idea in my house because I have 3 birds and my GCC attacks the other two every time she is out so she ends up spending too much time in her cage. I love Barbara and watch all of her free webcasts too but again, most of her birds are already trained.

BTW, how many birds do you own?

 

[Birdman666]

Six at the moment. (We're actually hoping it stays at six now. But I said that at five as well, and then number six became irresistible. So, I am weak... and have MBS)

Most I had at one time was 11.

At that time I also worked with 350 more down at one rescue, and approximately 70 more down at another.

My method for "stay put training" was simply this.

Put them out on a playstand with a lot of interesting things on it. If they left the playstand - go and put them back.

Continue to go and put them back until they get the concept that they are not to leave the playstand unless you tell them to...

Where a lot of people screw this one up, is that the bird wanders down, they put them back AND REWARD THE BIRD WHEN PUTTING THEM BACK, WHICH IS TANTAMOUNT TO REWARDING THE BIRD FOR WANDERING OFF... (i.e. if I wander off, he gives me a treat when I go back.)

NO! You periodically give them treats and head scratches WHEN THEY STAY PUT. When they wander down, they get picked up and put right back where they go. Immediately. And they get no reward, drama or otherwise, for wandering down.

Ten minutes later, if they're still where you put them? Good bird! Head scratch. Treat. Attention. (LEAVE AGAIN COME BACK IN TEN MINUTES. REPEAT AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY.)

 

[Birdman666]

My conures were my best trick train birds, and they absolutely loved it. It was playtime for them. They loved learning new things, and they loved the interaction...

You honestly didn't have to show that little green bird a behavior twice... He usually "got it" when I was teaching Py. By the time it was his turn, he already knew what to do. Half the time I didn't even have to show him. He was a competitive little bird... he was gonna show me he was better than everyone else. He was the best trick bird I ever had. He was also a major PIA! The smart ones usually have an evil streak. (Which is why I liked working with the evil ones. They were usually the super smart ones, if you could get their behavior under control.)



Inca did it, but she wasn't really happy about it. She was bonded to that little green bird, and was less bonded with people.



Py was my baby! Super playful.

 

[djdancer]

Very cool!! I can tell you love your birds. Where did you get the basket ball hoop from? I did find the square bank where you put the colored shapes in and will be getting them that for Christmas. I looked everywhere for a hoop n didn't find one. See I spends so much time with my birds and would love to bring out the best in them.

 

[djdancer]

PS. I could see my GCC on one of those skateboards. Have never seen one of those before either.

 

[Birdman666]

PS. I could see my GCC on one of those skateboards. Have never seen one of those before either.

THOSE ARE TECH DECKS. I HAVE A MACAW SIZED ONE AS WELL...

SWEEPEA DOESN'T SO MUCH SKATE ON IT, AS SHE BECOMES A LITTLE BIRDIE PULL TOY. (HOLDS ONTO YOUR FINGERS, AND YOU ROLL HER AROUND THE FLOOR.)



Maggie considers the birdie skateboard a fetch toy. As in, Maggie picks it up and throws it across the room for you, and you go and fetch it where ever it lands.

 

[Birdman666]

I've also got a couple of HUMAN sized ones of those as well...

I'm a skate and surf rat from way back! (6th grade on...) 50+ years old and I still occasionally hit the skatepark, or bomb the hill...

 

[djdancer]

Where did you buy the hoop and the board? I order stuff from 3 different places and haven't seen those on there. I did look for a basket ball hoop for a while. I could actually show my GCC a video of another bird playing ball and I know she'll get it. At night before bed I let her watch youtube videos of birds and she loves them.

 

[djdancer]

Wow that's pretty cool that you still skateboard. I don't even walk well.

 

[Birdman666]

I got those at the dollar store.

Same with the hockey/soccer nets. ONE DOLLAR EACH!

(Demitre, my little Dusky conure could fetch a hockey stick off a rack and shoot a puck into a goal. The toy came with a little plastic goal tender, and if he shot it, and the goaltender blocked it? He would beat up the goal tender!)

I got a macaw sized one as well from a bird prop place on line...

i also made them a birdie bowling alley...

(Demitre never quite got the concept on this one. He would roll the ball, then chase it down the alley, and then knock over any pins he missed by charging them til they all fell down. Inca, on the other hand, almost never missed. That bird once bowled a perfect game!)

Yeah, I was dead broke, with a young child at home, and I had to find a way to entertain myself... TRICK TRAINING!

It's fun for everyone. You. The bird. Anyone watching. Fix a drink. Break out the prop box of toys. Set the birds down on the coffee table. Who needs TV when you've got this?!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Have a look at Fargo, our Tab's B&G.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y7hr3ZQojc"]Fargo the blue and gold macaw incredibly smart bird tricks - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Birdman666]

To me this is the best trick training video series on the market, and you can pick these up dirt cheap on amazon.

Fantastic Performing Parrots on DVD | Pet Media Plus

That's where I learned it.

Fosters and smith had the fetch training posted

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=1550

 

[djdancer]

Birdman666 I would love to see some video's of your birds doing some of their tricks and playing some of their games if you've gotten video's.

JerseyWendy I am so impressed. I love Fargo!! You can tell that he is proud of himself and knows that Tab's proud of him too. You make a great pair.

 

[Birdman666]

My conures were my trick birds, and all three of them are dead now.

Unfortunately, all I have left are a few pictures, and lots of memories.

I did have a birdie bowling night video, somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it.

That was the night Inca bowled a perfect game.

 

[djdancer]

Awww. I'm so sorry about your babies. Are you still training the new ones?

 

[djdancer]

So I realized last night that I shouldn't own any birds at all. I was putting my birds to bed and my Dewey got scared and attempted to fly (she doesn't have any flight wings because she pulls them out). She must have hit the doorway and one of her feathers broke off. I tried to see if she was bleeding anywhere but got bit up pretty bad all over my hands and I felt so bad because it was like I was torturing her trying to get her in a towel and her flying all over the place. I never did find out where the feather broke from and had a pretty traumatized bird at the end. She has attempted to fly before, ran into something and split her side open then off to the vet. Of course it had to be on a weekend where they charge more money...

I have to torture her with the towel every morning to give her her meds. I take her in the small 1/2 bath and close the door. Then it's towel time. I feel so bad because she was abused before she came here and I feel like this is traumatizing to her also.