New Bird, New Home: A Stress Free Guide Teaching Your Bird

Watch your bird to be certain everything about his brand new area is okay. Is he fearful of a specific toy? Are the perches setup properly? Is your bird soiling his water or food dishes? See the way the bird awakens in his distance.

New bird on the block? Want to understand your parrot? Learn essential bird teaching techniques & build a lasting bond. Learn how to transform your feathery friend into a dance partner.

If something requires tweaking, then do it straight away. You might have heard a good deal about positive reinforcement instruction when it has to do with puppies, but you may use it as well. Positive reinforcement works exceptionally well on smart animals such as birds. The notion behind positive reinforcement would be the fact that you reward good behaviour, and dismiss unwanted behaviour.


Negative behaviour gets no benefit in a ideal world, the undesirable behavior diminishes along with the desirable behaviour raises. The secret to using this technique together with parrots would be to immediately recognize the desirable behaviour so you are able to reward this, and to identify exactly what the payoff will be. For many parrots, the payoff may be a food cure, and for many others it may be a little focus.

Here’s a good illustration of how it is possible to take advantage of this method: Let us say you’ve a parrot that cries for attention. You’ve decided that the crying isn’t as the parrot is sick, hurt or lonely. Many times, a parrot is positively strengthened for yelling; if the bird cries the proprietor could scream back in the bird or face the bird !

What pleasant attention the yelling gets! The bird does not know your crying is really a reprimand. He believes that your crying is the way of connecting the crying party, which can be so much pleasure.

Screaming back in the bird positively strengthens the yelling. Thus, to receive the crying to stop, you need to strengthen the silent minutes. It is quite simple to dismiss or pass with a silent parrot. As opposed to ignore the silent moments, strategy the silent parrot and state,”Great quiet!” Do this always enough, and the bird will find the concept that being silent and enjoying by himself receives focus and crying does not.

Bear in mind, you can not simply ignore the crying and dismiss the silent minutes; lonely spouses ought to shout because that’s their method of getting attention. However, if sufficient care is lavished on a silent parrot, he’ll have less motive to shout for attention.

It is possible to take advantage of this method for any kind of behaviour you’d love to alter — it operates on individuals, also! A new bird ought to go through a time of quarantine from the other creatures for 30 to 40 times to ensure he is not carrying any infectious diseases.

In this period , he must pass on a battery of veterinary evaluations. Once that is finished, you may bring your bird to the flock. Deal with a bird that is fearful precisely exactly the exact identical manner that you would address a timid bird, but having a bit more caution. Be tender for this bird, and then do not rush into attempting to ”tame” him.

Have a few weeks or longer to enable the bird to be utilized to his new environment. To get a bird which does not understand how to measure up, instructing it’s easy. First, put your bird on a perch along with a finger, not even having a level surface. Put your finger below the foot and lift lightly.

It is crucial that you lift or the bird will probably only be holding your finger with a single foot and have another foot around the perch. Say, ”Measure” Repeat this a couple times daily before your bird knows that ”Measure up” implies you need him to stand in your own hand.


When the bird is familiar with your hands being shut, attempt to get the bird temporarily on the torso or head, then pull away gradually. You would like the bird to comprehend your signature is not frightful, and may really be fine. Try this for so long as it requires for your bird to become familiar being touched.

Positive Reinforcement Coaching A fearful bird isn’t utilized to be touched by men and women. Maybe he had been raised with his parents instead of being hand-fedhe had been wild caughthe was a”breeder” bird to get long enough to overlook that which human touch is really like. Maybe the prior owners never managed the bird, and also even so the bird had an extremely negative experience with individuals.

No matter the circumstance, this can be a bird that will have to obtain a little confidence in his new house and new individual flock. A few of important notes about instructing this behaviour: First, you need to produce your hands an extremely sturdy spot to stay on.

If you are worried about the bird status on your own hands, the bird will probably be anxious, too. Should you waver even after and twist or fall the bird since you are fearful, the bird could probably recall that and may refuse to step on your hands , or he might even bite. Additionally, be certain you instruct the Measure Up evenly with both handson.

If you merely teach it along with your appropriate, your bird might become cautious of stepping on your left. Bear in mind, birds are creatures of habit, therefore attempt to educate the behaviour in various different situations. When the bird is great at stepping on your hands, have family and friends reinforce the behaviour too, just be certain they’re sure about holding the bird.

Stick Training Your Dance Parrots may be effectively potty trained, in contrast to popular opinion. It only requires patience and consistency, however it’s simpler than you might imagine. There are two or three main strategies to get it done, which means you merely need to select the ideal way for you.

A lot of men and women recommend that you don’t play your bird a lot of for your very first couple of days, but that depends upon the bird. If you have obtained a gregarious youngster that’s utilised to hands on drama, then surely you’re going to want to oblige. If you have obtained a rescue bird or even the old bird which has not had much hands on expertise, you’re better off letting the bird to require a while to get to understand his environment and his new relatives.

If you approach a timid bird cage, then he might climb into the trunk, but may watch you, searching for indications that you are not as frightening as you look. If you provide the bashful bird a bite, he might hesitantly carry it.

This really is a good bird to use — he wishes to be part of your own flock, he’s simply wary of the new environment. Educating”Measure Up” Start working with this particular bird with”conditioning” him into your existence. Permit him to become familiar with household life prior to making any demands .

When he’s completely comfortable once you approach the crate to provide water and food, move your hands closer to the bird to get a minute as you support the crate, but do not touch the bird. Do not push contact. The notion is to state the bird into a hand’s existence.

Introducing A Brand New Dance into the Flock You will find a number of old school ”punishments” which are circulating over time, and they do not get the job done. Listed below are a couple: Get to understand what your bird resembles without assuming anything .

Does he know how to measure up, or would you need to instruct him? Does he enjoy healthful foods or would you’ve got to instruct him to attempt new things? Do not presume the bird is similar to others, or he is similar to some other birds of the species.

Every bird is a person. After the bird is familiar using a light touch, then experiment with attempting to have the bird to step on your finger, or in the minimum, letting you scrape him on the mind. How you move has a great deal to do with all the progress you have created, as well as the kind of bird which you have.

You’ll have an extremely distinct experience using a budgie than you may with the Amazon parrot. A budgie is very likely to scramble away from you, along with an Amazon is far more inclined to lash out having a sting. But should you choose this process very gradually, and you show no fear, you may gently direct the bird to getting your friend.

Your proximity along with your signature should become addiction with time, instead of something that you push about the bird. Permit the bird to become used to you instead of insisting he reacts how that you need from the start.


Do not begin trying to tame this bird before he’s settled down and will be used to his new residence. Permit him to drink and eat in peace. Do not alter his surroundings too much from the first couple of weeks. After a time, you’ll see signs that the bird is prepared to start contact.

He’ll consume or preen as you’re in the area, act with fascination when you support the crate, or he can even strategy if you provide a deal with. Now’s the time to begin pushing a bit farther to find out what the bird can probably take.

Simply take this type of taming very gradually, and the bird will probably warm into the notion of owning an individual friend, we expect! Do not purchase a bird ”to” your other creatures if you don’t are aware that the birds will get together. When they don’t, then ensure you have a means to reunite the bird, or even be ready to maintain him and give him as much attention and love as you perform the recognized bird. Don’t whatever you do, put a fresh bird into a recognized bird’s cage.

This may be a recipe for failure. If you would like to present the birds, then take action on neutral turf. As opposed to continually understanding exactly what the parrot is doing wrong, begin to comprehend and praise exactly what the parrot is performing correctly.

This educates the bird far more than just simply” punishment” Potty Training Stick instruction is exactly like educating the Measure Up, but utilizing a perch or dowel instead of your hands. For many birds, this might be the very first sort of jelqing coaching which you do; maybe a bird is a tiny hand shy or likely to scratching, however for many birds, adhere coaching ought to come following hand taming.

Verbal Cue you’re able to add a verbal signal into a bird’s ”company,” which may later translate to you having the ability to control where and when said ”company” is completed. Each single time you understand your bird is simply going to let loose, then state the cue at a really excited way, then praise the bird.

Finally the bird will probably come to connect the ”company” together using the cue. Afterward, once you use the cue, then the bird ought to drop the bomb in which you pick.

Physical Cue if you would like your bird to fall onto something special, like a paper plate or piece of paper, stand with all the paper and then wait till the bird is prepared to ”go,” then catch the waste together with all the paper and then compliments the bird. Do this enough, and the bird will soon probably come to know that when the newspaper is under it, you’re anticipating some ”company” to be carried out. You’re able to add a verbal signal for this procedure, also.

As soon as you’re prepared to start touching the bird, then do so very carefully. If you believe you might get bitten, attempt ”stick coaching” instead of trying to get into the bird together with your palms. Don’t use gloves! Gloves have a tendency to terrify birds and really make them afraid of palms. Furthermore, if you tame your bird with gloves, then you’ll need to begin all over again once you would like to utilize your own un-gloved hand, since the bird will probably be used to the glove he might be terrified of your own hands.

Pick a couple of different-shaped sticks or dowels, such as at least one long dowel. The notion is that you might have to recover your bird out of a high place daily, and when he’s stick trained, then that is going to be much simpler. It usually means they take one another. It does not signify they will consistently take one yet, but it is a fantastic first step.

Feeding Birds ingesting yet another have become very secured, and therefore are not likely to struggle unless they do not have sufficient resources or space, so make sure you provide every bird sufficient of everything he or she wants to stay comfortable.

Struggling Struggling is quite clear; beaks are available and they’re flying! Keep these critters nicely away from one another. It’s not likely that birds which struggle at first assembly could ever get together. They won’t admit the other whatsoever, and this may go on for ages! At least it is far much better than fighting!

Ensure your new bird gets his own cage along with different place away from your other creatures initially. With lots of birds, fulfilling is love at first sight or even intense jealousy and territoriality, accompanied by battling. You do not wish to risk a struggle and harm on each side. Additionally, some species will probably ring up on a brand new bird and destroy it.

Before enabling your critters to cohabitate, then you need to be certain they will get together. A timid bird differs from a bird that is fearful, though a timid bird could act fearfully. You will observe that a timid bird gets a interest in family when you are not focusing your attentions on him.

Is it true that the bird view what you’re doing? Can he be enjoying contentedly as you go round the space? Maybe he’s simply not utilized to human contact but remains interested in everything you need to give you. Give a couple of hours of alone-time once you first introduce him into his new residence.


Do not attempt to play the bird immediately; he must have the enough time to locate the water and food dishes, and select a preferred, comfy perch. He might also need to research his toys. A muddy bird could float around the cage once you stumble in the area, but more probably he’ll cling to the trunk, staring in your warily, being really quiet in order to don’t find him.

He’ll freeze in position whenever somebody is close. When you support the crate, a bird that is fearful could hiss or click on his beak, or create additional fearful noises. He isn’t interested in you; he just would like you to move away.

theory behind the water spray on bird

Spraying The Truth With Water This System accomplishes one of 3 things.

1. The bird would think that it’s bath time, which is excellent pleasure for most birds.

2. This is going to earn a bird fearful of plain water.

3. The shock of this water tends to stop the behaviour, however the bird has truly learned the behaviour will begin again.

The theory behind the water spray would be ”aversion therapy,” however, it simply does not function in such a manner for birds. Please don’t envision or tap on your bird’s beak for a punishment. Some critters do enjoy gentle tapping of their beak, but that is more for bonding moment, perhaps punishment.

Wobble Or Reduce Occasionally a bird will probably bite the hands he’s standing , and the proprietor could wobble the bird or fall him. This isn’t punishment. This is supposed to avert the sting, which is really essential to instructing the bird to not snack. Therefore the twist or fall way of preventing a sting is good if done lightly, so long as you realize that it is not a punishment.

Time Outside You may provide your pick a ”workout,” that will surely instruct him some thing , however, that would generally not drive home the concept that some thing that the loaf did was incorrect . A “workout” is generally more for your parrot parent to collect her or his own composure following a sting or even a bout of crying. Yes, even a ”workout” can function to quiet a crying bird and may function to quell sound, however only if the parrot is praised if he’s being silent.

Violence Never use any sort of violence from a bird. That is animal abuse also does not function to educate the bird anything besides to be fearful of you.

Educating the Measure Up is vital to the association between you and your bird, and might even save his life . The Measure Up is quite easy; it is if your bird measures onto your hand or finger. Birds are not hatched knowing the way to do so, and that means you’ve got to instruct the behaviour.

Your finger looks like a perch, and so that the fantastic thing is that there is something instinctual about stepping onto it. Many birds, but learn this more rapidly than others. Baby birds which are only learning how to browse the world learn that at a snap. Normally, if you find yourself with a young bird, then he’ll come to you understanding the way to get it done.

All you need to do in order to reinforce the behaviour is state ”Measure” each single time you provide your hand or finger. Bear in mind, do not ”punish” or scold a bird when he’s got an ”accident” This is likely to occur. Training is not an specific science. Every bird is a person, and a few can never come to understand this behaviour, but some pick this up fast.


Caution: If you educate your bird firmly he should just ”move” if you state the cue phrase, he may ”hold it ” for a very lengthy time period, and might even become sick. Permit the bird a suitable location at or around the crate in which he could ”move” openly. Yes, that is correct, hopeless. It simply does not do the job. Parrots are creatures of habit and instinct, and ”punishment” for these is quite different than punishment because of us.

For these, punishment isn’t getting exactly what they need, but it needs to be countered by getting exactly everything they need for real learning to happen.

The first few days home with your bird can be quite simple or a small traumatizing to your bird, based on his character, where he’s lived earlier, his era and the way he’s introduced in your house. Birds are extremely flexible creatures, and if you’ve put up a cozy location for your bird to live, he should not have too much problem settling . It’s likely that your friendly bird will require to adhere training straight away.

Other birds could be fearful of rods. That is fine; you may simply have to state the bird into the existence of the sticks. Begin with bringing the sticks to the space. Put them a couple feet in the crate and leave them for around a week.

After that, transfer the sticks closer into the crate slowly, day by day, till they’re appropriate next to the crate. When the bird looks comfortable with all the sticks being near, transfer them into the peak of the crate, or perhaps inside the crate. Permit the bird to get the sticks to his own when he selects. In a really gentle, cozy minute, attempt to receive your bird to stay to the rod.

Now, it should not be an problem. After it’s possible to get your bird to sit around the rod, apply the “laddering” method in which you request the bird to step up on your hands, then ask it to measure onto the rod, then your hands, etc, till it becomes just like a match. Try this for a couple of minutes in a time a few times daily, but do not create the exercise dull to the bird. When the bird is more comfortable stepping up on one sort of perch or dowel, attempt different types with unique colours and textures.

Additionally, ensure you don’t utilize a sleek dowel, a bird may be scared to step on a lustrous surface. Repeat a few times weekly to keep to strengthen the behavior.

My Closing Thoughts

With patience, positive reinforcement, and these helpful tips, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding friendship with your feathered companion. Remember, a happy bird is a chatty bird, so get ready for some unforgettable conversations (or, should we say, squawks) in the future!

If you found this blog helpful, It would be great if you could share it with your family and friends who might find it useful as well.

You might like to read these as well 🙂

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Understanding Your African Grey Parrot Nature and Type

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