Tricks and training methods

[ChristeyHawk]

I'm curious what tricks your macaws do and what they say! Also, what methods do you all use for training?

My GW knows so much and I'm learning what he knows...so far he spins, waves and says hello, dances, sticks out his tongue, roller skates, says pretty bird, good boy, peekaboo, rawr (shakes his head like a trex), says who who who who who when I ask who let the dogs look ut?, what up, alright alright alright, step up, turn around...I think that's all.

I would like to teach him something,ni think "I love you" so that at least one thing is from me. He was well trained before I got him.

I've read about click training and stick training...but To y hates the stick. One of my daughters is a sea lion trainer/handler and swears by bridge training (verbal high pitched tones). What experiences do you have?

Thanks in advance!

 

[chris-md]

Most common with parrots is clicker training, a form of "Bridge" training. The "bridge" is simply a behavior marker, a unique tone or occurance that says "that is the correct behavior, reward is on the way".

It literally bridges the gap between behavior and reward.

You can use any bridge you want: It can be a clicker, it can be a high pitched tone, it can be a click of the tongue, it could be a word ("Good!" for example is what many laypeople do - people often use this...correctly, in context i might add...without realizing what they are actually doing. But Good is so overused it can lose its impact as a bridge quickly.)

You just have to charge it the first couple days so the animal knows that Bridge=Treats.

What a lot of parrot owners find is that the clicker often elicits quicker/better/more efficient responses for a couple reasons. Its a clear, concise, and very precise sound they'll never hear anywhere else. And the sight of the clicker often puts the birds in the mood for training; they know what's coming if they see the clicker and it increases their motivation. You can't replicate that visual stimulus/free motivation with a verbal marker.

But plenty of people use verbal bridges as well with good success. On rare occasions you may come across a parrot who is actually afraid of a clicker or the sound it makes. It's all in what works best for you and your bird. And keep in mind training a sea lion and training a parrot are two very different beasts.

Sounds like Toby already knows a lot. Have you taught him recalled flight (coming to you on command)?

 

[ChristeyHawk]

Thank you for all that information! Toby currently does not fly at all. When he had been plucking he removed many of his flight feathers. He has been showing indications that he wants to, but I think his wings are still a bit low on feathers. I built him two perches and hope he will respond to those soon...this far he just breaks them :/

 

[chris-md]

Aw, poor guy. My eclectus is a barberer (chews his feathers up). He always chews his flight and tail feathers, so he is usually flightlesss.

But you can still work now on recall. They can actually jump pretty far without flying. I think my boy has gone maybe 12" or so without even opening his wings. Get him to start jumping between close perches. By the time he gets his feathers in, he'll be ready to graduate to farther-apart perches, or your hand.

 

[ChristeyHawk]

Chris MD, that is my hope! He hasnt been plucking at all since I've had him (only 10 days now) and I can see new feathers coming in.

 

[wrench13]

HI, sounds like you have a great start! If you watch some of Saltys trick videos, link below, you can see some other ideas for tricks. Hint - the infant and baby dept of toy stores or Amazon is a great way to pick up props that are pretty safe. We started having Salty stack these soft rubber blocks and he loves doing that one. Another idea, if you can find 8" dia PVC piping , it makes a great tunnel to have him go thru it. And CHEAP ! Start with a small length and work up. Salty goes thru a 3 foot section now to play peek a Boo.

 

[tfw]

I haven't done clicker training but will eventually get around to it.

I've taught Kass a few tricks with just positive reinforcement using treats. The physical tricks she learned in just 20 minutes in 1 session -- she can do "gimme 5" and kisses on command. We've been working on flipping. That's taking longer but she understands that I'm about to flip her when i say flip.

She only says/does a few verbal things. She says Hello in a gruff voice, "hi" in a quiet sexy voice (and she seems to know if you say hi, that she can sometimes respond with hello or hi), peekaboo, we've heard her say what sounds exactly like "wanna apple?" So we ran with it and reinforce that. She also cackles and does the blubbering sound you make when you shake your head rapidly and your mouth blubbers lol oh and we've been working on getting her to "roar" while lifting her wings when we say "Monster!". She does it sometimes.

I think adding a clicker will help reinforce the tricks faster. But hey. She is only 2. She has decades to learn lol We want our youngest to start clicker training her. I think it will help him bond with her more. She still only tolerates him but no longer runs away. She sees him now as a treat dispenser lol