Conditioning Parrots for Positive Reinforcement

 

What does conditioning mean for bird training?

In terms of positive reinforcement in parrot training, conditioning is the process of helping the parrot understand a simple concept—a click equals a treat. In a sense, the bird owner is creating a communication link that is simple for the parrot to understand. Once this link has been established, the owner can use this communication link to express to the parrot what he wants the bird to do. The owner can then use this method to mold the parrot’s behavior and teach the bird some classic and unique tricks.

How to condition the parrot for bird training

Before the actual bird training can begin, the parrot needs to learn the basics of the communication rules. This process does not need to be difficult and should be straightforward. In fact, any bird can be conditioned to understand these rules. With a little guidance and persistence, most parrots will pick up the processes rather quickly.

To begin with, the owner should purchase a clicker at their local pet store. Clickers are small boxes that emit a clicking noise when a button is pressed. If the owner cannot find a clicker, a noisemaker of some sort will also work. It is important to note that an owner can create noises by whistling or clicking their mouth and this method also works. There is no need to go out and purchase a clicker if a person prefers to use this method for training their bird.

Once the method for creating the clicking noise has been decided upon, the owner should find a treat the bird really likes. Most owners will use some sort of seed such as millet for smaller birds, or sunflower seeds for larger birds. Some birds might not be motivated with food. If this is the case, the owner should find something the bird is willing to work for. Some other motivational tactics could be given instead of food; bird toys or even more affection. Every bird is different and the owner should take some time to figure out what their pet bird is willing to work for to create the wanted behavior.

Working with Untamed or Aggressive Birds

If an owner has a parrot that has been caught in the wild, or is untamed, it may take much longer to condition the parrot to accept treats. For birds in this state, it is best the owner drop a treat into the parrot’s bowl and walk away. There is no need to remove the bird from its cage as the bird will most likely be fearful and unresponsive.

Many owners looking to start this training method usually have an empty bowl attached to the cage bars for training purposes only. This helps to alleviate any unneeded stress for the bird when removing the bowl in and out of the cage to include a treat. The bowl should be positioned inside the cage in such a way that the parrot can see when treats are dispensed into the cavity.

In the beginning, the bird might be hesitant to accept any treats and might wait until the owner steps outside the room to begin eating. This behavior is quite normal and the bird should be given time to adjust. Eventually, the parrot will look forward to the treat that is placed into its bowl and will start to consume the treats that have been placed inside. When the bird gets to the point of accepting treats through the cage bars, the next step of training can begin.

If the owner is working with an aggressive bird and feels the parrot will bite, treats can be given using a teaspoon or leather gloves can be worn for giving treats. If gloves are used, the owner should give the bird time to adjust as it may become frightened with this new object. It is important the owner never use the gloves to grab the bird as the goal is to make the training experience positive and the bird may start to associate the gloves with negativity. It is alright to use gloves to help eliminate the fear of getting bitten; however, be cautious when doing so and always work towards maintaining confidence when working with the bird.

Adding the Click to the treat

Once the parrot readily accepts treats, the owner should remember to click before providing a treat so that the bird will begin his conditioning training. This should be done over and over until the bird expects a treat after the click. Many birds will begin to look around in anticipation of a reward and this is a great sign the bird has been conditioned. When this occurs, this usually means the communication link has been established and the parrot can now move on to its first trick.

It's important to be patient when working with birds. Each bird has its own personality and will respond at its own pace. Most parrots quickly understand the rules of this communication link, while others might take a little longer to comprehend what is expected. Every bird is different and they also have different behaviors and personalities. Owners take note.