How to get your cockatiel to dance?

[spaceparrot]

Hi! So, I was wanting to teach Charlotte and Data to dance. I've read up on it abit but I am still quite confused. I have played music for them before but I don't know what kind of songs they would like.

I've also read that cockatiels see their humans as parent-like figures so that if they see you doing or saying something they will imitate it. Is that true?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just put some music on, give the radio a try and see how they react to you having a dance?

Hope you are not expecting a waltz but they might just bob up and down a bit for you?

 

[smbrds]

They do imitate movement. I think the most common is head bobbing. Mine loves it. There is no Hey Macarena or Limbo but the closest to dancing associated is the head bob.

 

[spaceparrot]

I was just wanting them to Bob their heads because I've seen videos of tiels doing that and it was absolutely adorable! Plus it is also a sort of bonding activity and something fun to do together.

Thanks guys! I have tried a few songs but received no reaction. I think maybe I need to try different songs!

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Try singing to them yourself...childrens songs like Old McDonald or 3 little fishes or litttle brown jug...that might get them started....make the songs interesting by changing the tone of your voice for some of the words and bop your head as you sing...see if that works...I dont know about tiels but that puts my quaker PeterPan into dancing mood...I havent tried the dancing with Mr Biggles yet I think hes more an action man than a dance man but you never know...good luck with teaching your tiels to dance

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

This is PeterPans favourite head bopping song ...try it with your tiels and see what happens but you have to head bop to the beat too and they will watch you for a while before they join in...birds are great observers and they learn from what they observe

[ame="https://youtu.be/s_P9PU5FcMQ"]1953 HITS ARCHIVE: The Hokey Pokey - Ray Anthony (original version) (Jo Ann Greer, vocal) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[spaceparrot]

Thank you very much! I played it for them today but they were too obsorbed in chewing on the strings on my short to notice, lol.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Okay you got to put them on a perch to get their attention...Im no expert at bird training but I would train them one at a time and try to hold their attention as you train with a movement or a sound or both and as you want them to dance some head bopping would be good for you to do in front of them...it took a while for Peter Pan to do a head bop but once they discover they can dance with you they love it...they will do it all the time each time they hear a beat

 

[spaceparrot]

Thank you so much for the advice! I will try this!

 

[wrench13]

I know how I'd do it. Put the same piece of music on each time. Take treat and hold it in front of the bird , moving it side to side, or up n down. When he moves his head like you want for a bit, give him the treat. Make up a hand signal for dancing and use that every time too. After awhile you'll be able to get him to dance to any music. That's how I would go about it. Hey, maybe this is salty's next trick!

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

I know how I'd do it. Put the same piece of music on each time. Take treat and hold it in front of the bird , moving it side to side, or up n down. When he moves his head like you want for a bit, give him the treat. Make up a hand signal for dancing and use that every time too. After awhile you'll be able to get him to dance to any music. That's how I would go about it. Hey, maybe this is salty's next trick!

Super idea to get them dancing ...we might all steal that idea wrench 13

 

[wrench13]

Yeah, just don't everyone learn it before the end of the month (close of the POTM). Training works better if you start on the FIRST of the month, LOL.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I suppose it's whether you want a bird who will give natural movements because they want to or a dancing monkey IMO