Positive Good Bird Reinforcers

• Singing especially in the same tone your bird uses
• Verbal Praise
• Tidbits of favorite foods
• Neck or head scratches
• Mimicking calls or whistles you've established with your bird
• Mutual head bobbing

Bird Training for a Good Bird

The single most important thing you can do to have a good bird is bird training the step-up on command. Each person who wishes to interact with your bird should engage in bird training for the step up command on a routine basis. The step up command should be so ingrained that your bird automatically stops what it is doing and steps onto your hand when you give the command.

As flock animals your bird will automatically try to attain the top place in the "pecking order" of your family unless you and other family members demonstrate that human's are in charge. Step up teaches your bird just that. That you are the top of the "pecking order." When step up is practiced on a routine basis, your bird will be able to predict your responses and your place in the pecking order and will trust you more. Your parrot will have less of a need to test you and will become more cooperative in all of your expectations. When step up training is practiced in various locations throughout your house and especially when your bird is removed from it's cage, territorial behaviors will be dramatically reduced.

Even so, as your parrot matures into adolescence and adulthood, she will routinely test her place in the pecking order, especially during breeding season. Your parrot may become more moody, scream more and even nip and bite. This hormone related testing can be expected to last anywhere from a few weeks to three months. If you've trained your bird to step up on command and maintained this skill, you will have a much easier time during hormonal surges.

Step-up Command

1. Approaching your bird in it's thigh region, present your outstretched fingers like a perch for your bird to step-up on.
2. Gently tap you bird between it's thigh and belly and say "step-up."
3. Once your bird is on your hand offer verbal praise or another method of "parrot praise."
4. Have your bird step-up from one hand to the other several times, saying "step-up" each time.
5. Practice "stepping-down" onto your birds cage or a stationary perch using the same technique.
6. Practice stepping onto and up from stationary items and unfamiliar items to improve trust.
7. Practice "step-up" from inside your bird's cage to reduce territorial behavior.

Recipe for a Good Bird

Because parrots are instinctively social they are very receptive to positive bird training such as Good Bird Basics of Parrot Training. Much of a bird's personality is dependent on early handling and nurturing hand-feeding. A well bred and well kept baby parrot that has been properly nurtured will develop into a real sweetheart!

So, what can you do to enrich your baby parrots disposition so that you always have a good bird? First, it is important to find a good breeder who has provided your baby with Abundance Weaning, plenty of nurturing and numerous socialization opportunities.

Before your baby bird comes home, learn about bird trainng techniques that work to prevent common behavior problems as your parrot enters adolescence and adulthood. Learn about what to expect from your particular parrots species. After your pet bird comes home, continue to set appropriate limits and socialize your bird to new experiences, new people and opportunities to interact with all members of your family.And, use Good Bird Training techniques.

Establishing Trust Is The Key To Good Bird Training

Never scare your bird or attempt to obtain dominance by acting aggressively or yelling at your bird. If your bird feels unsafe around you, it's behavior will become defensive instead of cooperative.

Learn to read your birds moods. If your bird is not in the mood for attention, let it be.

Just like a child, proper bird care is essential for a good bird. Keep your bird's flight feathers trimmed to decrease it's natural desire for dominance.

Maintain a degree of routine to enhance and maintain trust.

Spend a minimum of 30-45 minutes a day interacting with your bird.

Reward only good bird behavior.

Establish a time-out area for your bird when it acts aggressively. As a social creature, your bird will learn to modify it's behavior in order to have more flock time.

Bird sleep is important. Make sure your bird receives 10-12 hours of Uninterrupted sleep per night. Grumpy bird's turn into aggressive birds.

Feed your bird a balanced diet in accordance to what your avian veterinarian recommends.

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