Training two parrots, need some advice

[smartiecoco]

Hi everyone!

I just brought back home two 6 months old BHC brothers. They are adorable together and seems to be ATTACHED at the hip!

Problem with that is....it is almost impossible to try and clicker train them. One is distracted and screams when the other is not in his sight. Locking one in the cage will just distract the one I want to train even more....

I can't seem to get them to train separately and cooperate. All they want to do is play play play with each other.

I need some advice about what to do to try and clicker train them

 

[Birdman666]

You're going to have to work with them both at once. I had the same problem with my bonded conures. But I got the dominant bird of the pair interested in toys and props and playing elsewhere, and then could work with that bird, while the other one stood and watched... Handling them apart only made one scream her little head off, while the other one didn't focus and wanted to go back. Doesn't work.

Eventually, they both learned it. But it took several months before they were really paying attention to me. It's a slow gradual process. If they're not ready to learn, then just bond and play. Make it fun for everyone.

Birdie OCD is going to be a challenge, especially at first, working with two at once.

I'd set them down on my living room coffee table, and just play with them both and bond with them first...

Then once the bond is established they'll be easier to work with and control.

Then the serious training can begin.

 

[smartiecoco]

I feel a little more reassured that I'm not just a complete failure and other people also experience this.

One worry I have is that if I don't train them early on, it will be harder?
I kind of already know that technically birdies can be trained at any age but I just worry too much lol.

Yah I think I'll focus on bonding with them first

 

[Birdman666]

Training is an ongoing life long process...

Even when they learn it, you have to go back and reinforce it from time to time.

I'm going through a tough time now with my CAG on the cage issue, and I've raised that one from an egg... so, bonding is not an issue.

You just modify the behaviors from time to time.

When you have a pair that is bonded and into each other, you are kind of the third wheel until THEY integrate you into their little flock. Caiques are FLOCK birds, not pair bond birds, so that helps. (I was doing it with a bonded pair or pair bond birds which is harder!) And you really don't get dominance issues with these little guys.

They're very smart, playahaulics... though I'm told they can have territorial issues, I've never noticed that with the ones I've played with.


So just play... and then gradually integrate the training into your playtime. They'll respond faster that way, and it will be more fun for everyone.

I wouldn't worry too much.