Bird Training
Bird Training Tips to
Improve Your
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| You need toys to keep them occupied and
entertained and you need a bit of time each day to interact with them. However there’s one more tool
in your bird ownership tool kit that you cannot do without.
Forgetting this singularly important tool
and you and your bird may spend most of your lives together completely
miserable. Certainly not what you intended right? Bird Training |
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Yes you read that correctly. Bird training is just as important as healthy food, a roomy cage and toys and activity for your bird. It doesn’t matter what species you have. You could have a pretty little parakeet or a large Macaw, a perky lovebird or a glamorous Cockatoo – each and every bird needs bird training and here's why.
Bird training establishes and reinforces trust – Birds are flighty creatures by nature. In the wild, when they’re facing danger, they fly away. It’s how they survive. Your bird, regardless of how long you’ve owned it, is still going to have this flight tendency.
If they cannot fly away when there
is danger then a whole host of behaviors can surface. They’re completely natural
behaviors however they may be unpleasant for you. For example, if your bird
cannot fly away, they may scream when they’re afraid or stressed out
They may bite and they may even attack. Birds can do quite a
bit of damage when they’re frightened. If bird is biting already
check out our section on
parrot biting. It doesn’t have to be anything serious
either. A bright red sweater, a new person or something as innocent as a puppy
playing in the yard outside your bird’s window can scare your bird.
If you’ve spent focused time training your bird then they will acquire many
skills, one of them is the ability to adapt to new situations and to trust you.
Bird training requires patience from the owner, a clear and consistent routine
and positive reinforcement. When your bird starts to see a pattern of behavior
and reward, they will begin to relax. They will trust.
Bird training eliminates boredom. A bored bird is a destructive bird. And it can
actually make them sick. Too many birds decide to pull their feathers out to
relieve boredom – to feel something, anything. Bird training engages your bird’s
thinking skills, it activates their problem solving skills, and they become
involved.
Bird training makes sure your bird knows who is boss. Often, particularly when
birds are going through the sexual maturity process, they start to think that
they run the show. They’re the boss and it’s easy to let them be the boss.
They
scream, you let them out of their cage. They bite, you put them back in. However
it can quickly get out of hand. It can even get to the point where your bird is
pushing you and your family members around. Is it the bird’s fault? Absolutely
not.
Bird training is a very effective and positive tool to teach your bird that
you’re the boss. You create the rules, you establish the reward and you follow
through. When your bird performs a desired behavior they receive a reward from
you.
Bird training eliminates bad behavior. Even if you have the sweetest bird on the
planet, it’s a very wise idea to train your bird. The proper commands taught
with positive reinforcement training techniques will ensure both that your bird
feels comfortable and safe in your home.
It will establish a structure and rules
for your bird to follow. Ultimately the end result is a bird who doesn’t
misbehave.
If you’re dealing with a bird that already has behavior problems, then by all
means begin a bird training program today! You’ll be amazed with the results.
Here's an article on how to pick a
good bird training program.