Parrot training

Parrot training (also called parrot teaching) is the application of training techniques to modify the behaviour of household companion parrots. Training is used to deal with behavior problems (like biting and screaming), to train husbandry behaviors (such as allowing claw trimming without restraint or accepting a parrot harness), and to teach various fun or entertaining tricks.

Parrot Psychology

Though very trainable and intelligent, parrots are a prey species and naturally much more cautious than predatory species such as dogs. They often must be trained more slowly and carefully. Parrots can, however, eventually be taught many complicated tricks and behaviors, and remember them for years. Trained parrot shows are found at some zoos and amusement parks.

Parrots need socialization. Training parrots tricks help make them a much better pet and teaching them tricks have been linked to solving behavior problems. Bird trick training requires patience and time and a commitment to working with your parrot for several minutes each day. Working positively with parrots to train them bird tricks means short bursts of time that meet your birds intellectual and socialization needs. [Diane Burroughs, Chirp N Squawk] -- () 01:11, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Common Tricks

Tricks commonly taught to pet parrots may include targeting, coming on command, fetching, shaking hands, spreading wings, and putting rings onto pegs. Professionally trained parrots in shows may be taught more complex behaviors such as riding bicycles, flying through hoops, flying free outdoors, talking or singing on command, or roller skating.

Flooding (Not Recommended)

Animal training techniques like flooding have been commonly used to tame parrots. This would typically involve the owner wrapping a biting bird in a towel where it would first resist its owner, and then finally give up, forcing the parrot into submission. This type of training is effective for some birds, but has mixed consequences with others. Flooding can cause a prey species like parrots to become untrusting, fearful, or withdrawn, thus making the development of a bond between the companion parrot and its owner more difficult. There are more effective, trust-building training techniques available.

Punishment

Bird Training 101: If you have a bird with behavior problems, expert [http://www.birdsupplies.com/Articles.asp?ID=159&Redirected=Y Diane Burroughs of Chirp n Squawk] strongly recommends that you develop a plan to resolve it as soon as possible. Common behavior problems include screaming, biting, feather picking and fear behaviors. Parrots develop behavior problems for a variety of reasons. Usually the parrot behavior problems are not their fault. But most behavior problems can be corrected. Remember, that parrots are very intelligent and parrots pick up bird training cues quickly when they feel safe. Investing 10 to 15 minutes each day in bird training and developing a bird behavior plan that your whole family adheres to is often all it takes to resolve the issues and keep your parrot an enjoyable member of your family.-- () 01:10, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Parrots in general do not respond well to physical punishment. It is sometimes recommended to punish a misbehaving parrot by spraying it with water or flicking its beak with one's finger. However, such techniques are more likely to cause confusion and occasionally fear, and are not considered good training methods. Covering the cage has been recommended as a 'punishment' for screaming; while this can be effective, it is not punishment. The parrot quiets down because it is naturally quiet when it is dark, and not because it has learned it should be quiet to be uncovered.

Negative punishment is commonly used with parrots. Negative punishment involves taking away something a parrot likes when it misbehaves. Most tame parrots love attention, so negative punishment for parrots typically involves the trainer leaving the room or ignoring the parrot for a short time when it screams excessively or otherwise misbehaves. While quite effective, negative punishment is not the fastest way to train a parrot and is generally only suitable for training a parrot "not" to do something.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive training puts you in the coveted leader position. Thinking games lower bird angst. Your parrot will begin looking to you for cues on how to behave. By using positive reinforcement and keeping bird training sessions fun, your parrot will try to please you to get positive attention as a reward. According to Irene Pepperberg's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Pepperberg] famous avian research, pet bird's have the intelligence of a 3 to 5 year old child. They require mental stimulation to remain emotionally healthy. Bird trick training exercises your birds' brain with the benefit of you and your parrot bonding more closely. () 01:21, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Training a parrot with positive reinforcement techniques focuses on using rewards to strengthen or increase the frequency of a behavior. Positive reinforcement is a trust-building training technique.

Examples of positive reinforcement training with a companion parrot are to take a parrot who is afraid of stepping up onto its owners hand, and rewarding it with a desired treat when it shows relaxed behavior next to the owner's hand. The parrot would then be rewarded for allowing the hand closer and closer, and finally, would be rewarded for stepping up. Another example would be for an owner to wait until a screaming parrot is quiet for a very short time, and then immediately reward it with praise and attention. The owner would then gradually increase the amount of time the parrot must be quiet to receive the extra attention.

With this type of positive reinforcement approach to training, the parrot is only rewarded for behaviors that bring it closer to the final desired outcome (stepping onto its owner’s hand or being quiet). For this technique to work effectively, it is common to have to reward a parrot several times for making very small amounts of progress; like rewarding the parrot ten times in a row, just for taking one step closer to its owner’s hand.

Training a parrot with this type of positive reinforcement approach is the least abrasive approach to training parrots, and often the most effective parrot training technique to use when a companion parrot owner desires to use a training technique that will develop a stronger emotional bond with their parrot.

Positive reinforcement is also very useful for trick training. A desired trick behavior can be shaped gradually, rewarding a parrot for approximations to the desired behavior. Trick training is generally considered to be very positve for parrots; it is a good way for an owner to bond and interact with their bird and provides enrichment and challenge to the parrot.

Clicker training is a particularly popular form of positive reinforcement training. In clicker training, a parrot is taught to associate a click with receiving a reward. The click noise can be used to mark the instant a parrot does the desired behavior, making for more efficient training.

External Sources

* [http://parrot-training.com parrot-training.com: Website devoted to the subject of parrot training]
* [http://www.behaviorlogic.com/ behaviorlogic.com: Website about animal behavior issues]
* [http://www.clickertraining.com/glossary www.clickertraining.com Glossary: Positive Reinforcement]
* [http://www.pricelessparrots.com/parrot-training.htm www.pricelessparrots.com: More about parrot training]
* [http://chirp-n-squawk.blogspot.com Chirp n Squawk Bird Talk Blog for the Latest in Training and Safety for Parrots and Birds]
* [http://www.birdsupplies.com/Articles.asp?ID=159&Redirected=Y Bird Training 101 - Training Tips from Parrot Expert Diane Burroughs of Chirp N Squawk]
* [http://www.birdtricks.com Birdtricks is one of the leading providers of Parrot Training advice and products on the market today]

ee Also

* flooding
* Clicker training
* positive reinforcement