Target training- what to do next?

[Kiwibird]

Moon makes me smileI just love to see parrots who are so loved and get so much attention from their owners! She looks like a very happy bird

@Anansi- I will try to get my hubby to do a video this weekend. Since we work on the coffee table, there no good position to set my camera up at while I'm home alone. And Kiwi also was even more on the ball last night when showing his daddy how well he new how to get a treat, so joe being here may encourage him to not freeze up on camera Though you will have to excuse my more "improvised" training implements for the fetch lol. I used a ring toy thing he has (easy to grab) and the little trivet thing from my butter melter as the tray for him to drop it on

 

[Anansi]

Looking forward to it, April!

 

[lebachu]

Wow! Moon is an impressive flyer! So strong! How old is she? And how long has she been flying? I need to get Bixby's strength up to that point!
Unfortunately, because of all the hawks in my area, I don't think I'll ever be able to free fly him like that. But I do have high hopes for harness training.

@April & Michele: any videos of the tricks Kiwi and Loki have been working on? I'd love to see!

she was 7.5 months old. I started training for her outdoor fly when 3.5 months old. training process lasts 3 months and I started to fly free outdoor drop.how old Bixby ? you started training yet?

 

[Anansi]

Bixby is just about 8 months, now. I've been working on his indoor flight skills, but he is not yet as strong a flyer as Moon. He enjoys flying quite a bit, though, so I know he will eventually get there. I'll start working on getting him acclimated to his harness in the next week or so as well, so that he'll be ready by the time the weather warms up to start flying outside.

 

[Kiwibird]

Just a little update eon Sir Kiwi's training-

We still might not be 'ready' for the fetch trick, as he is simply unwilling to give the ring back after he takes it He is getting better with the spin though. He seems to do better with me leading him with the stick to touch an object (one he can't pick up!) so hopefully that will lead to retrieving objects at some point. Most importantly, he seems to be having a lot of fun and seems to enjoy the interaction. I also tried (very gently) touching his belly the other day. Just a quick moment, and then praised and gave him a reward when he did not bite me. He isn't thrilled, but he's let me do it a couple times since when he could see the treat, so that is MAJOR progress for him

I also found a couple very cool trick training aids online that I want to get him next month (once I've 'recovered' from the cost of the carrier a bit lol) that I think will work for the kind of things he's seeming to respond to best with the training. Also, they are unfamiliar to him and things he doesn't necessarily already associate with a toy he's been freely allowed to play with in the past-

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...ng+box&ved=0CAsQkjA&ei=6ccyU8jpHIeDogTgoIGIAg
Since this one comes with multiples of the "coins", I think I would drill one of each color and screw it into a wood block so he couldn't grab them and not give them back. Then I could move on from getting him to "touch" a particular "coin" and tie in a cue word (the color) so he (possibly) may learn "red, blue and yellow". Once we moved onto retrieval, then he would already associate a my cue word with the color. Or at least that's my theory

I think this one would be more to save until we've worked on retrieval, but I think it would be awesome if he could learn-
https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...+rings&ved=0CAwQkjA&ei=x8gyU6DbJ4j0oAT6_IGIAg

Anyways, that's where I am with Kiwi. I've appreciated all the good advice I've gotten this far

 

[Anansi]

Sounds like Kiwi is making amazing progress, April! Sweet! And if he's that intrigued with training, your bond with him is probably deepening quite a bit as well.
Also, thanks for sharing the links on those toys. Once I go full tilt into trick training with Bixby, I'll definitely pick one or both of those up.

 

[Kiwibird]

After answering someones question this morning on training, I thought I'd give a little update on how Kiwi is doing on his:54: We got a bit sidetracked with becoming comfortable in the carrier, so I had not been so consistent with the trick training (I honestly didn't expect to have to spend 2 weeks getting him used to walking around in it, but we are good to go now).

Back to the training- after my not-so-consitent training, he remembered easily the target stick and that he needed to touch it on command as well as spinning. We are starting up working on the fetch trick again. He's actually really good about grabbing the item, waddling back across the table with it over near me, but we've yet to master putting the item down. He "fetches" it alright, but he brings it back and plays with it instead of handing it to me. I think we will start focusing more on putting it down than him walking across the table to retrieve it and bring it back since he seems to get that concept just fine. I am so happy he's learning though even if his trainer is not the most, erm, regimented

Forgot to add- he has been allowing me to gently touch his belly with one finger (though not pleased with it) and kiss him on the back, right between his wings (tolerates, but not loving it). I *tried* giving him a scratch on the neck, but he expressed his displeasure with that by lunging at my hand, so I won't be trying that again any time soon But touching his belly and kissing his back is HUGE for him, as he does not like touching except kisses on the beak and head. It is odd though, he is much more receptive to the kisses than hands on him. I wonder if he was hit or somehow mistreated by hands in the past? About the only contact he willingly participates in from hands is stepping up.

 

[reikibella]

Hi Everyone
Im new to trick training. I have a 4.5 month old Galah called Bandit and i have just started him on the target training he has picked it up quick and now i want to teach him something else what would you guys reconmend as the next trick i should teach him.
Cheers
Bella

 

[Kiwibird]

I started Kiwi with spinning after he mastered the target stick and are moving onto the fetch trick now. But we aren't following any training program per se, I'm just kind of winging it because I'm more going for fun, positive interactions with him than actual perfecting complex tricks. But there are a lot of good trick training programs out there if you really want your bird to do cool stuff The "parrot wizard" is who I've kinda sorta been following, but if you actually follow what he's showing you to the letter, you can teach your bird some pretty cool stuff.

 

[pacoparrot]

On the guide I use it is told to do 3 prop tricks before doing anything like spin or wave. Usually after I teach targeting I move on to retrieve. Then the trick after that is usually a variant of retrieve like plastic coins in a bank or rings on a peg. That way your bird has a great understanding of how the system works before you start capturing and luring behaviors. But there are many ways to do it.

 

[strudel]

Kiwi is very clever, and I love Moon....

My bird can't do anything really, except look pretty. It's me, not her.