We are back to flight training

[chris-md]

It’s been a while but Parker and I are back into flight training! Everyone knows he’s a barberer. He barbered his tail feathers several months ago and it took the wind out of my motivation, admittedly. But he’s having a heavy molt and he’s got his tail feathers returning. As a result in inspired to begin his training again.

We are now focused on improving reaction time. He used to take 5-30 seconds to react to my command. No more! Here are a couple videos of our progress. It’s no Stephen sending Jolly away and back by requesting a red ring, but we’re on the journey!

[ame="https://youtu.be/Va2Uuz0yACk"]Flight drills with Parker the Eclectus - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://youtu.be/TdZNc2FXK2U"]More flight drills with Parker the Eclectus - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kentuckienne]

That’s great!

 

[psychocircus91]

Nice job, Chris! Stick with it!

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Go Parker!

 

[tashawithanekkie]

Awesome! The response time is so quick!

 

[Carl_Power]

Awsome Chris, Id love to know how to get to that stage.

 

[chris-md]

Thanks guys! He’s got a long way to go before we are solid. Lots of resets right now ( if he doesn’t respond quickly, I disappear for 10 seconds to another room and come back. Rinse and repeat)

Carl - perfect timing. Last night I posted a very detailed how-to thread on training exactly this, complete with videos that actually show me training Parker from the beginning. This works for all types of parrots, not just ekkies. Check this link. It’s also still on the active topics page. http://www.parrotforums.com/training/71607-your-one-stop-shop-clicker-training-targeting-flighted-recall-here-s-how.html

 

[Carl_Power]

Brilliant Chris thank you I will have a long look at this. I saw one of your videos on not using the clicker to train and I don't want to use a clicker I say well done because that's not a word I say or can say by accident ect, do you think this works instead of a clicker? or am I better using a clicker, ive never used one x

 

[chris-md]

That video was actually included in that thread.

“Well done” should work. It’s a bit long, ideally you’d use a single syllable, hence why a clicker is the gold stadard. The whole purpose of the clicker (or key word) is not to reward, but to let the bird know a reward is forthcoming. It’s called a “bridge”. It’s like the buzzer in a game show letting you know you got an answer right. Money is coming!

So longer phrases strike me as wasted time, and I’m not personally fond of it. but people often use “good boy” so well done should be ok.

 

[Carl_Power]

I'm just gonna go with the clicker, I'm not experienced enough yet for much else, thank you I need to have a good look through the forums your right x

 

[Anansi]

Chris!!! Those videos put a big smile on my face! This is huge for 2 reasons. For one, you're absolutely right when you call it a journey. And each milestone on that journey is cause for celebration. Jolly may be fetching rings and such now, but guess what we worked on tirelessly first? Yup! Responsiveness. Basics like that are FAR more important. When we started, I often had to repeat myself before he would do as asked. And he definitely wasn't a fan of flying away from me. But now his responses are immediate.

2nd reason? Parker plucks and barbers! So aside from the mere fact of flight in a plucked/barbered bird and what it says about the currently improved state of his feathering, the additional activity and physical exertion may very well contribute to a decrease in the plucking behavior. Mental stimulation AND the shedding of excess energy.

Improved response time means he is getting more invested in the practice... which means he's more likely to push more when doing it.

Proud of you and Parker, both! Stick with it, my friend! I'm off to go check out that link you just posted!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Nice job Chris and Parker!..Amy just looks at me and says "huh?"





Jim

 

[chris-md]

Stephen thank you. And it’s true. Basics are what build up tot he complex. I’ve given up on the hope that this will affect his barbering however. He ripped his tail feathers out at a time when we were flying quite often. This really is just stuff he needs to learn. And I admit I love training the basics like this. Almost makes me want to work at a bird rescue to teach this to birds in need of homes

Jim that link is you link. The series is done. Check it out