This is a great video, start with a lot of just touching stick for treat. Very short sessions, no more than 5 times. Then take breaks. Parrots get bored frustration with repeating several times in a row.
This is a great video. I watched it again last night. I watch BirdTricks.com as well as Pararot Wizzard. There are so many great resources on YouTube.
Nikki took a few steps and touched the stick today, which I was very impressed with. Sunny though I can move the stick to the end of the perch and back to the other end and she follows it. Keep in mind I have only been doing this for almost two weeks. I don't know how quickly birds are supposed to learn new things. These girls are not highly trained and they are not young baby or adolescent birds.
It is really interesting to see how they learn differently. I have different goals for each bird. With Nikki I am working more with her learning to follow and travel with the stick. This sill would be very useful for me getting her to go back into their cage. sometimes she just like chills on the top of the cage when I want her to go back in. Sunny is very good about going back inside.
With Sunny, I am doing more with targeting around my hand since sometimes she will clamp on it AFTER stepping up. Today while training she did touch my hand but then she learned to touch the stick to get the treat. I was able to get her to target the stick while stepping on my hand. She is really getting it and is coming out of her shell. It is a nice surprise since Nikki was always the trail blazer when it came to the two of them.
I am hoping that this stuff takes time. Keep in mind I am still learning too and have to refine my technique. I have seen videos on YouTube in which a bird can accomplish so much in 1 to 2 sessions. My girls are almost 18 so I would think it may take more time.
Another thing I notice is that I do have their attention when they are out. I moved from being in front of the perches to stating behind the perches, which resulted in them both turning around to face me.
These little things really impress me because these two birds are buddy birds (I have been asked if they are a couple LOL!). They are housed together and have been housed together for most of their lives (almost 17 years). I know that often times a bonded pair of birds don't respond positively to human interaction but these girls do and I feel so lucky and blessed that they do. I don't want to take these behaviors for granted. Yes, they are not perfect but guess what neither am I so we are MFEO (made for each other).
Here is a pic I took of them on their training perches after I first got them and set them up. They were a bit pricy but really great perches and they love them. They both tuning 18 soon so I am going all out for them.
