So proud

Chunky · Feb 26, 2015

As both Chunky and his sibling are so tame and comfortable with us already, we wondered if they would accept first attempts at trick training. I watched a YouTube video on how to teach them to lie on their backs in the palm of our hands legs straight up in the air. Well, it took all of around two minutes for both of them to get the hang of it. Boy, am I proud of Chunky and Munky. That's my boys!

I must try to get a photo of it later.

Birdman666 · Feb 26, 2015

There is almost nothing you can't train a conure to do, if they are interested in this sort of thing. If you take the time to break it down into steps, they will learn it.

My conures LOVED trick training. It was a form of play, and it became a "look at me, and what I can do." And it was actually really, really fun for all of us!

Imagine that, a conure wanting to be the center of attention...

Why it's almost as if they were itty bitty macaws!

The best trick training series I've found was Tani Robar's site. She's really good at explaining things, and breaking it down for you...

She's got books and videos.

Tani Robar, Feather Fantasy

Chunky · Feb 26, 2015

Wow! Is that your clever little friend Birdman? How clever is he?!

We are on day four now. They are really getting used to the place. So mush so that chunky discovered the sofa has a long dark "cave" behind it. I was in panic mode for half an hour until he came out. Being disabled I couldn't get behind it to recover him. Thankfully he got out of his own accord. To be honest, I think he was just being naughty and didn't want to come out.
We need to put more thought into parrot proofing our home. You don't think of things like this until it happens.

Birdman666 · Feb 26, 2015

Those were my conures... They've all passed on now.

And that's my red fronted macaw when she was still a baby. She plays with the skateboard differently. She gets on it and grabs my fingers with her beak, and I tow her around the table...

They all liked bowling... in fact, that little jenday conure once bowled a perfect game...

Chunky · Feb 26, 2015

Awww that is wonderful. I had a look at the web link you posted. Sadly, she doesn't ship to the UK.

I have sent a message asking if she does ebooks, but I doubt it.

Birdman666 · Feb 26, 2015

Chunky said:
Awww that is wonderful. I had a look at the web link you posted. Sadly, she doesn't ship to the UK. I have sent a message asking if she does ebooks, but I doubt it.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Tani-Robar/e/B001H6GAL4]Amazon.com: Tani Robar: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle[/ame]

http://books.google.com/books/about/Parrot_Tricks.html?id=wGJJ5FJxC0UC

I don't know about ebooks, but here is her book. I've got this one. It's one of the better books ever written on training. I've got a few of her videos too.

Chunky · Feb 27, 2015

Birdman666 said:
Chunky said:

Awww that is wonderful. I had a look at the web link you posted. Sadly, she doesn't ship to the UK. I have sent a message asking if she does ebooks, but I doubt it.

Click to expand...

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Tani-Robar/e/B001H6GAL4]Amazon.com: Tani Robar: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle[/ame]

Parrot Tricks: Teaching Parrots with Positive Reinforcement - Tani Robar, Diane Grindol - Google Books

I don't know about ebooks, but here is her book. I've got this one. It's one of the better books ever written on training. I've got a few of her videos too.

Thanks for that. I had a few problems getting it, but it's a great book.

CrazyBirdGirl · Feb 27, 2015

My birds can mostly do that to. It was harder to teach them, but I had lots of fun! Blue is the best at it. Flap will NOT do it however. He hates any kind of trick. How ever I'll keep at it.

Chunky · Feb 27, 2015

CrazyBirdGirl said:
My birds can mostly do that to. It was harder to teach them, but I had lots of fun! Blue is the best at it. Flap will NOT do it however. He hates any kind of trick. How ever I'll keep at it.

I think I'm lucky as he's only 10 weeks old. It gives you a head start in training,malus, he is hand reared and so cuddly tame it's unreal.
He was already doing the step up command. Today, I think I have taught him to kiss me on command We shall find out for definite if he remembers it tomorrow.
I have been quite amazed at how quickly a baby bird can pick things up

JamesC · Feb 27, 2015

You will learn in time to not underestimate the abilities of birds. They are incredibly clever creatures and will continue to come up with some new way to amuse, impress and surprise.

Chunky · Feb 28, 2015

Yes, they are amazing wee things. I am going to buy an over chair table to fit across my wheelchair this week to start more advance training.

Norwaygirl82 · Feb 28, 2015

OMG. Birdman666 Besides u having such beautiful birds. It's so cool to see what they are able to do. Love those photos. Greeting from Norway. [emoji4]

jrerek · Mar 1, 2015

Were your conure tame right off? I have sun this is very cage aggressive. And screams a lot.

Chunky · Mar 1, 2015

jrerek said:
Were your conure tame right off? I have sun this is very cage aggressive. And screams a lot.

Yes very much so. They were being hand reared by a guy who left his wife and ran off with a family friend. He left everything behind including the birds he owned. The poor wife had nothing to do with birds and had no idea how to care for them.

I actually feel I am very lucky to have been given this chance. I am keeping Chunky and the wife will sell the other baby when he is weaned. I think that day is very close for him.

I have never come across birds as tame and willing to learn. Everything I have got them to learn so far has been without treats. All I do is say "good boy" in high pitch happy voice. Seems to work well so far.

Birdman666 · Mar 1, 2015

jrerek said:
Were your conure tame right off? I have sun this is very cage aggressive. And screams a lot.

My sun conure was as sweet as they come from the beginning, and he was actually raised cage free, and lived out on a big play stand. He didn't have an aggressive bone in his body.

The jenday and the dusky? Those two were very evil little birds that had been removed on four prior occasions for severe behavior problems. We were a home of last resort for them.

Trick training is actually a way of getting their attention, and instilling discipline. Its one of the things I did to occupy their little brains in a constructive way. I became a teacher, so they had to obey to learn and to play...

And then at some point it just became a nightly fun flock activity.

Conker's skateboarding across my living room coffee table fell within my definition of normal...

So proud

Chunky

New member

Birdman666

Well-known member

Chunky

New member

Birdman666

Well-known member

Chunky

New member

Birdman666

Well-known member

Chunky

New member

CrazyBirdGirl

New member

Chunky

New member

JamesC

Active member

Chunky

New member

Norwaygirl82

New member

jrerek

New member

Chunky

New member

Birdman666

Well-known member

First pics of Chunky

50 Shades of Green

Most Reactions

Similar threads

Latest posts