train to lay on back

[erik7181]

how can i train my sun to lay on his back

 

[tucker]

i would also like to train my macaw to lay on his back. any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MangoConure]

I would love to be able to train my sun to lay on his back. I will definately be saving this thread....looking forward to hearing how to do this...

 

[Parrot Parent]

Start by building trust of your hand on your sun's back. Place it on his back and give him a treat, telling him he's a good boy and praising him. Do this a few times so he gets comfy with it. Next when you put your hand on his back turn him a little, but dont just turn him upside down just yet. keep tilting him and praising him each time. whe he gets comfy tilt a bit further and further until you have him on his back. Dont train for more than 15 mins at a time because they can get frustrated with what your doing. Also each time you go to train start off with getting comfy with the hand again so you progress faster by reminding him the hand on his back is ok. Hopes this helps you guys

 

[Wysteria Peacock]

Parrot Parent gives some good advice! My two pionus have learned to do this, and I find the most important thing it don't push them if they are scared or uncomftorble. It's such an unnatural position for a bird.

 

[HRH Di]

It's all about trust. This is a very vulnerable position for the parrot - a prey animal. Some birds never like it, but will do it if they feel safe and you ask them to. Jade loves to lie on her back and will cuddle that way. Ruby will if I put her that way, but she doesn't like it an only does it for a few seconds.

 

[ellsiebird]

i also tought mine by putting my hand on its back and tipping her back, but she was a mentalist and seemed to love being swung around, even had a game of 'flip the bird' was fun to her.... i dont recomend this to many birds as i just think Ellsie was an odd one....plus Senegals do enjoy being the acrobatic/clown!

 

[Crazy4Birds]

When I got Nicky, he was just 10 weeks old and let me hold him any way I wanted to. I was able to pick him up by having my hand on his back and lifting him up off his feet, if that makes any sense. I then would start flipping him over so he would be laying on his back in my hand. He seemed to enjoy this so it was pretty easy for me. He used to have his feet holding my fingers but eventually he got more comfortable it and learned to let go. He got so good at it that I could hold him on his back with just the tips of my fingers! I even started having him do a "trick" where I would balance him on my head while he was laying on his back lol. Then he hit the "terrible twos" and doesn't let me do it anymore but occasionally he will lay in my hand depending on his mood. The main key here is trust. Nicky was very trusting to begin with so it was easy for me and took hardly any effort at all. I believe that as long as you don't push the bird's comfort boundries too far and work on it a little everyday, then you too can accomplish this.