Kashi is so smart! :D

[Ash]

Today I decided I would try and do some target training with her.
First I showed her what to do by doing it with Mr Parrot first.

She saw he was given a treat.

After that she was excited and when I said touch, guess what she did. She touched the target. I was like wow. Yes I did give her, her treat.

Then I moved the target on the other side of the cage (just to test her). And guess what she did, she went straight for the target. I did this a few times and other places etc. I was like wow, I never thought she would catch on so fast.

I was told she was an aviary bred bird, and had no contact with other humans. So I'm pretty sure that's the first time shes done target training.

I really did not expect such results so fast.

Is it normal for a young parrot to catch on so fast? (She's about 12 weeks old)

 

[roxynoodle]

They are really smart! I'm amazed sometimes at what they figure out how to do. My Nanday just took a tail feather that fell out last night to use to move her newspaper to where she could grab it to rip it up. There aren't many animals that use tools, but parrots are one of them.

I have never used target training. I'm going to do some reading about it thanks to your post!

 

[wenz2712]

I have heard that target (Clicker Training) is very good. I havent tried it myself yet, but people I do no that have done this training with their Birds have had very good results

 

[Ash]

They are really smart! I'm amazed sometimes at what they figure out how to do. My Nanday just took a tail feather that fell out last night to use to move her newspaper to where she could grab it to rip it up. There aren't many animals that use tools, but parrots are one of them.

I have never used target training. I'm going to do some reading about it thanks to your post!

Target training/clicker training worked very well for my other Alexandrine.

I really wanted to teach her it, so I could teach her "step up". I found it easier to teach my parrots to step up with clicker/target training.

Everyone in my family (aren't bird people) think parrot's aren't smart, they think im pretty crazy for even trying to train my birds.

Your Nandy sounds so cute and smart

 

[pagie]

they are so bright and such quick learners, Jimmy has been eyeing up our christmas tree for few days now, this morning he managed to open his D clip locking his cage door (???) and made for christmas tree, I was in shower. Came out to Jimmy having time of his life, was destroying most of the lights, chewed up candy canes and was basically swinging on tree like a monkey. It was quite funny, so not too angry but will need to work out a better locking system for cage!!

 

[Ash]

Aww, how cute!
And they are so smart!

I see your also from NZ.

 

[roxynoodle]

Lol, I've seen birds that have even learned to open small padlocks their owners put on their cage doors! I'm just lucky I guess that none of mine have ever done it. I've seen my Nanday trying many times though, but her cage has a very different way it opens. You have to press 2 parts to open it. She just has no way of reaching both at the same time (thankfully!).

I guess I was lucky that I never had to teach my larger birds to step up. Apparently the breeders did that. My Nanday just did it in the pet shop for me, and I knew the breeder taught my Blue Crown.

So I've only done it with budgies, and it's been a long time now. Clicker training wasn't in vogue back then. I did it very slowly and patiently using romaine lettuce, that they loved. I started by first getting them to take it from my hand through the bars. Once they were good with that, I started making them take it from me from my hand inside the cage. Eventually I put it between the thumb and forefinger of my right hand so that they couldn't reach it without at least putting one foot on my hand. And then eventually they learned to trust getting on my hand and letting me take them out of the cage. I admit it was a process that required quite a bit of time and patience though.

 

[pagie]

yip down in christchurch

 

[BillsBirds]

Being flock animals, birds will learn from watching other birds quicker than any other way. Talking, also. In my rescue work, when I get a hard to tame or train bird, I have used other birds to set an example. With great success. Not always, mind you. But, very often this has worked.