sun conure training

[doomuker]

I have a young sun conure, called Phoenix. He loves to sit and watch TV with me while we play and tickle each other, but i have recently have tried to train him to do tricks like roll over and so on. But he refuses to do anything apart from desperately trying to get back onto my shoulder whenever i put him on a flat surface which is slightly lower than me and is very close to me. I have no idea why he hates being off my shoulder even just a couple of cm's. The place i'm trying to put him in has medium light, no other people or animals, very quiet and is very familiar because we are in the room all the time. Anybody know? Any help much appreciated.

 

[tab_xo]

Welcome!

How long have you had your sun conure?

Advanced tricks like rolling over, playing dead, somersaulting, are going to take alot more time and trust..

He is obviously just not comfortable and trusting yet! Will just take time When you first get a bird you can't expect him to want to lie on his back, as it is a very vulnerable position for them!


You need to start with some basic tricks, such as turning around, waving, lifting his wings, shaking hands, fetching..

Then you can start getting harder once he knows what you are wanting..


You have to walk before you can run right?



Have you found his favourite treat? Once you find the birds favourite treat, this will make training ALOT easier, because they WANT to work for the reward

 

[tab_xo]

Can you do this with Phoenix?



Once he is comfortable being upside down in your hands, then next step he will be comfortable being on another surface away from you...

Once he is fine lying on a flat surface, you can then start the rolling training !!



I have taught Fargo 22 tricks haha including rolling over and somersaulting!

So if you need any help or videos just let me know

 

[doomuker]

Thanks heaps tab_xo, iv'e had Phoenix for about three months. I think that is good idea to start with the basics thanks heaps again! P.s Fargo looks pretty impresive and he looks very skilled with his tricks!

 

[doomuker]

But i still don't understand why he won't respond to any treats when hes not on my shoulder or in his cage? Did you have the same problem with Fargo when you first kinda got him?

 

[tab_xo]

No problem!

Oh 3 months is no time!

After having Fargo 2 weeks we started training straight away... Stepping up, down, flight recall.. Then just basic tricks!

Got harder as time went on.. After about 3 months of trick training we then moved on to the rolling over and then it was about 7 months after that when we tried somersaulting!

So just gives them time to learn about tricks, just do short training sessions so he finds it fun!

Of course all birds learn differently, your guy might like verbal cues, or visual! Some learn very quickly, others just take more time!


Here are Fargo's tricks
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y7hr3ZQojc&feature=youtu.be]Fargo the blue and gold macaw training tricks - YouTube[/ame]

 

[tab_xo]

But i still don't understand why he won't respond to any treats when hes not on my shoulder or in his cage? Did you have the same problem with Fargo when you first kinda got him?

I THINK that might be because he is uncomfortable ?


He obviously feels safe with you, hence he always wants to be with you, then you take him out of his comfort zone, he gets nervous and doesnt want to take any food!

Guess its like in the wild, if they are nervous and there is a predator, they wouldnt sit there eating?

Fargo wouldn't take food from me for the first few days, but after that he was fine..


But he will not take any kind of treat if he is outside.. :20:

We do flight training, and i can not reward him with food because he just wont take it.. He goes outside every day so you would think he would be happy taking treats.. but nope! So i just reward him with 'good boy' and a scratch !

 

[doomuker]

Ok thanks. I have found a little spot where he feels safe and is taking treats! I was very relived as i have been looking for spot like this for ages! I tried teaching him turn but he would just move his head and not body, so i left that trick for later :3 but he is slowly learning shake but it kinda turned into a wave :S but it doesnt really matter as long as his learing something!

 

[tab_xo]

Haha

If you have a little training perch, which you use every single time, it will make him realise- ok, this place is safe, this is where i learn my tricks

Hey that is something!! At least you have got him listening to you and learning, i am sure he will be doing tricks in no time!

It is just a great way to bond, and helps keep their brain active and thinking!