Tips on training

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if any of you experienced Ecky owners can offer me some advice for my baby Girl Ruby?

I've had Ruby for 5 weeks and we've bonded extremely well. She's roughly two months so not completely independent yet but I don't think it's long off because she's starting to show her personality and more of an interest in everything.

Just want to know if anyone has any suggestions on training techniques or handy tips.

Thank you all in advance!

Do you mean like Training for Tricks?

a) Find her favourite food (small portions, and not messy. I use Pine Nuts or Almond)
b) Purchase a "Clicker" and use every time before she is given one of this favourite,
c) Train in 15-Minute Sessions (Maximum). Reward at first for effort, not full trick,
d) Gradually increase the degree of trick you require to get treat. She will learn it,

Do training BEFORE large meals or during afternoon. The only reason a Bird will do a trick is for attention or food, as it is not in their natural behaviors like it is grooming.

Example: Spin
a) Hold treat just out of reach and rotate it around her head, she will likely follow.
b) Click when she completes the turn (or looks as if she is about to stop and go).
c) Repeat Process. Eventually using only finger (when she learns rotation = treat).
d) Once she has the physical command down. Begin pairing it with the Trigger Word.
e) Repeat word, if no response than do motion. Eventually she will learn to skip move,
f) Walla, You now have a bird that will "Spin 360 Degrees" on command to earn a nut!

Those little nuts, so motivated by their tummies,

You can also use my above for more complex tricks by teaching the desired behaviors in steps.

Example: Fetch

a) First teach the bird they will receive a "Click" and "Treat" if they simply pick up the item in their beak. Then gradually make them move toward the treat (put out of reach).
b) then separately teach them when the object returns to your hand, you click. You can do this by picking it up yourself, place in hand (low to ground as if it was bird) then click for yourself.

Heck eat the nut yourself with a smile, it will make bird envious and want to try. You can even sometimes give them a nut while you are showing the desired behavior.

Thanks Maillet.. That's a great help! exactly the info I was after..

Wow, those were great training tips! One thing that we found very useful was potty training. We would hold Ziggy over the trash can or toilet and say "Go potty". When he did it, he would get a big hug and kiss. He learned quickly and now we never have to worry about him going on us when we spend time off the perch. This is really handy after a shower together - I hold him over the toilet, and he goes almost every time! I am sure someone is much more sophisticated in their potty training but this worked for us. I can also trust him that when he doesn't go on command, he doesn't have to!