New Tricks?

Trick Ideas

  • "Turn Around"

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • Basketball

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Fetch

    Votes: 4 30.8%
  • Recalling (flying and or waddling)

    Votes: 7 53.8%
  • High Five

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • Other (comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
The little nugget (Gizmo) has finally gotten used to and LOVES his nutri berries, so I think it's now time to start getting him accustomed to some tricks to provide good mental stimulation.

Training sessions will be short, about 5-10 minutes at least 4-5 times a day during my homework breaks, so it should be pretty consistent.

The only trouble is...finding something to teach him. The options are too overwhelming for such an indecisive person to choose from.
He has stepping up and stepping down an easy task, so I'm not too worried about that.

All options in the thread are things off the top of my head, and I'm very open to ideas :D !
 
Last edited:
Dec 14, 2014
686
2
Parrots
R.I.P Kiwiberry, GCC.
I voted recalling, but depending on his shoulder pooping habits, maybe that's something you could do.
No idea if you can edit polls you've made, but if so, maybe potty training could be there? :)

I see you mentioned fetch, pretty funny, my first budgie I had while growing up would play fetch, I didn't even train him. It wasn't as consistent as it could have been if I had trained him, but still, it was fun, until he'd start humping the ball ...
 
OP
EAI

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
I voted recalling, but depending on his shoulder pooping habits, maybe that's something you could do.
No idea if you can edit polls you've made, but if so, maybe potty training could be there? :)

I see you mentioned fetch, pretty funny, my first budgie I had while growing up would play fetch, I didn't even train him. It wasn't as consistent as it could have been if I had trained him, but still, it was fun, until he'd start humping the ball ...

It seems like fetch is the most popular, well as of now! Right now, I'll probably be picking that first while his flight feathers are slowly growing back.

The reason why that wasn't put in there is because that topic is kind of controversial--the negatives being that it can be dangerous if it holds on too long. I actually might be doing that now....not sure if it counts, but when he does his pooping ritual -waddling backwards then puffing out all his feathers at the end of a perch/bed/edge of any height - I usually have him do it over a napkin or something easy to clean...
 

Mango121913

New member
Aug 9, 2014
544
0
Ripley WV
Parrots
Solomon Island Eclectus
Voted recall. Seems Mango is starting his terrible two's early. Sometimes when it's time to go back in his cage, he waits till I get close and flies off. Then he thinks if I go and get him he doesn't always want to step up.
 

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
Media
2
212
Texas
Parrots
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
I think Julie has the right idea and I think Gizmo is smart enough to learn every trick on the list.
 
OP
EAI

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Why don't you teach one trick at a time, but eventually try all of them?

Sorry for the misunderstanding. My plan is to go slow and teach him one trick first then move on once he's got it down. I haven't started anything yet because my options keep bouncing back and forth :49: !
 
Last edited:
Dec 14, 2014
686
2
Parrots
R.I.P Kiwiberry, GCC.
I voted recalling, but depending on his shoulder pooping habits, maybe that's something you could do.
No idea if you can edit polls you've made, but if so, maybe potty training could be there? :)

I see you mentioned fetch, pretty funny, my first budgie I had while growing up would play fetch, I didn't even train him. It wasn't as consistent as it could have been if I had trained him, but still, it was fun, until he'd start humping the ball ...

It seems like fetch is the most popular, well as of now! Right now, I'll probably be picking that first while his flight feathers are slowly growing back.

The reason why that wasn't put in there is because that topic is kind of controversial--the negatives being that it can be dangerous if it holds on too long. I actually might be doing that now....not sure if it counts, but when he does his pooping ritual -waddling backwards then puffing out all his feathers at the end of a perch/bed/edge of any height - I usually have him do it over a napkin or something easy to clean...

Isn't there a way to do it so that they fly to a certain spot when they poop? Or at least not poop on people, I know Veimar mentioned something about that (training them not to poop on people), so hopefully (s)he will see this and chime in lol
That's one of the problems I need to work on with Kiwiberry, I don't want my shirt full of poop once she's harness trained and we're at the park ... :22:
 
OP
EAI

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
Can you start multiple things at the same time or one trick has to be mastered before moving on to another?

Ah man, I might have forgotten about this thread... :54::54: thank you for bringing it back (makes me want to update any others I forgot lol)

I would rather teach one trick at a time so they won't get confused between two tricks, right now we're doing fetching/basketball since he's been really good at recalling aka waddling.
 
OP
EAI

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
I voted recalling, but depending on his shoulder pooping habits, maybe that's something you could do.
No idea if you can edit polls you've made, but if so, maybe potty training could be there? :)

I see you mentioned fetch, pretty funny, my first budgie I had while growing up would play fetch, I didn't even train him. It wasn't as consistent as it could have been if I had trained him, but still, it was fun, until he'd start humping the ball ...

It seems like fetch is the most popular, well as of now! Right now, I'll probably be picking that first while his flight feathers are slowly growing back.

The reason why that wasn't put in there is because that topic is kind of controversial--the negatives being that it can be dangerous if it holds on too long. I actually might be doing that now....not sure if it counts, but when he does his pooping ritual -waddling backwards then puffing out all his feathers at the end of a perch/bed/edge of any height - I usually have him do it over a napkin or something easy to clean...

Isn't there a way to do it so that they fly to a certain spot when they poop? Or at least not poop on people, I know Veimar mentioned something about that (training them not to poop on people), so hopefully (s)he will see this and chime in lol
That's one of the problems I need to work on with Kiwiberry, I don't want my shirt full of poop once she's harness trained and we're at the park ... :22:

Sounds like potty training to me :p
If I really want to make sure I don't get pooped on, I turn on a faucet (don't ask, I don't even know myself) or I place him on his tiny play stand and he'll release everything! It's funny, I haven't really considered or considered doing that so I guess he's self taught?
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Normally the progression is turn around, and then wave, and then fetch.

Basketball IS a fetch trick...

Fetch is a "foundation" trick for about 100 other tricks.

You just make the fetch tricks more complex by adding in new little wrinkles.

Like instead of bringing me the ball, you put it in the basket this time.

Fetch the toy/treat from the bucket on the chain.

Put the coin in the bank.

Put the toy groceries in the little dollhouse grocery cart push it to me.

Put the baby in the little carriage, and push it to me...

THOSE ARE ALL JUST FETCH TRICKS. IT'S THE SAME BASIC BEHAVIOR YOU TAUGHT THEM IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES.

ONCE THEY LEARN IT, THEY KNOW IT. YOU'RE JUST VARYING THE TARGET TO KEEP IT INTERESTING FOR EVERYONE.
 
Last edited:

Sheeji

New member
Feb 18, 2015
100
Media
1
0
Al khobar Saudi Arabia
Parrots
16 month old Congo African grey called Leo
I wish there was a progressive list. Sometimes your bird would get a trick and you have fun with it for a while but then you're stuck.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I wish there was a progressive list. Sometimes your bird would get a trick and you have fun with it for a while but then you're stuck.

Well, the vast majority of the tricks out there, are variations of the fetch tricks.

The thing about trick training, and where it's useful is to keep them from getting bored, and doing something where they're the center of attention, and doing something fun and new, getting the one on one attention they crave, and YOU are the taking on the role of the parent/bird teacher.

You can switch all sorts of fetch tricks and puzzle tricks around for them, and give them a variety. That way they don't get bored as easily. Doing the same thing over and over again wears out. Those are usually the best stuff to teach them over time. Because there's a lot you can do with the same basic sets of behaviors.

Really, trick training should be no more than 15-30 minutes a day. Same time every day. Part of the daily flock routine. Something they look forward to. Keep the lessons, short and interesting, reward them with praise, attention, and treats, and keep the interaction light and positive.

I tended to lean towards the 15 minutes tops end of the scale. EXCEPT with Demitre who just thrived on this stuff and couldn't get enough of it. All I had to do with him was set him down on the table with a batch of toys, and he would "show off" and do them on his own... He had a natural proclivity for it.

Inca was more like show me one behavior and I won't pester you any more. Okay, I did it? Can I go now? GOOD BIRD! Here's your treat.

Py would do it for a little while, and then lose interest. When he showed signs of losing interest, we stopped.

It's amazing how many people end up turning into "soccer mom" when they start trick training their pets... THAT'S WHAT YOU AVOID DOING AT ALL COSTS.

The "discipline" of trick training is them learning to take cues from you... NOT driving them into the ground making them do these behaviors. That will make for a stressed out parrot, who eventually hates everything about it...

Mine were not "performing" parrots. Demitre probably had the smarts, and the disposition for it. (I certainly didn't!)
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I wish there was a progressive list. Sometimes your bird would get a trick and you have fun with it for a while but then you're stuck.

TANI ROBAR'S old site was really good, and her books and video series contain a lot of this information, complete with a step by step how to break it down and teach it to them guide...

That's how I learned most of this.
 

djdancer

Member
Jan 7, 2013
202
0
Birdman666

I found the book: Parrot Tricks: Teaching Parrots with Positive Reinforcement by Tani Roba. I did not find the video series. I also bought T[FONT=&quot]he Basics of Parrot Training - Live Workshop DVD - 3 Disc DVD.

My birds already know how to step up, follow and touch a target stick and give me their foot. Is there anything more I'm going to learn from "Teaching Parrots with Positive Reinforcement or am I going to waste my money. I basically wasted $40 by buying "The Basics of Parrot Training from goodbirdinc.com.

I'd like to teach my guys like you've taught yours. :)

Thank you!!
[/FONT]
 

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