Greetings Experienced Ones

Plumas

New member
Jul 23, 2016
1
0
San Jose, CA
Parrots
Rosy Bourke
I'm seeking some information on How To Train My Grasskeet (Bourke) to return to her cage after being out for some exercise and play time...any suggestions would be of help!
:greenyellow:
 

smbrds

Well-known member
May 17, 2016
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59
Central Florida
Parrots
Normal (or not so!) Grey Cockatiel
Welcome to the forum. She'd probably want to naturally go to her cage eventually, but teaching "Come here" or a word associated to get her to go back to the cage may help. 'Keets are intelligent birds, are very trainable. Just takes lots of time and patience. Use some favorite treats of hers to help with training.
 

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
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Texas
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U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Welcome to the forums! Happy you joined us.
 

Tsali

New member
Jul 22, 2016
313
10
Parrots
Tsali - African Grey- I am a one parrot parent. It's a full time job keeping Tsali healthy and happy.
Bribery usually works for Tsali, my African Grey. I will get his attention and show him his favorite forbidden treat - cheese and I pretend to gobble it up. I will put a tiny little piece in his cage in plain sight and walk away. It generally takes him 30 seconds to fly to his cage and climb inside to nab the cheese. I calmly and quietly close the door and reward him with a sunflower seed.
 

Anansi

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Dec 18, 2013
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Somerset,NJ
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Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Hello and welcome to Parrot Forums!

This is a two stage answer for me. First off, as David mentioned the cage should take on the role of something special. A shelter, a food source, a home. To create that association, I set up a meal schedule. Two main meals a day, with training treats, snacks and such in between. Their main meals, however, are only available in their cages.

So if the end of their out/training/playtime happens to coincide with dinner time, they actually look forward to getting back to their cages. The cages become associated with food, hence a good place.

Stage 2 is target training and recall. You want to work with them until they will reliably go wherever you ask. And the trick to this is making them want to do as you ask. Which, again, comes down to association. Every time your bird goes where you ask, make a big deal of it. Fanfare and treats raining down like manna from Heaven! (Only a slight exaggeration, here. Lol!) Done consistently enough, they'll be eager for your next instruction. Following your commands will be associated with good food and happy parront.

Having followed these steps, any resistance to going anywhere I ask is exceedingly rare with my flock.
 

SirEdwin89

New member
Mar 5, 2016
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Virginia
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Confetti (9y/o CAG), Ely (5 y/o Citron SC2), Barney (3 y/o MSC2), Baby (21 y/o Senegal), Peaches (16 y/o M2)
Conan (26 y/o Harlequin Macaw)
Welcome welcome, I can't offer any advice that hasn't been given yet, but glad to have you with us!
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,792
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome, and thanks for joining! The combinations of bribery and positive reinforcement are great principles! Please let us know how your Grasskeet progresses!!
 

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