Post by Bird Junky on Mar 3, 2012 11:27:10 GMT
B.J.'s SOME TIPS ON TRAINING.
Unfortunately some birds are not as bright as others, or worse
still not very cooperative for reasons of their own.
The method of training birds I have practiced for over 50yrs
is to teach without fear. I found it no more difficult to train,
one or six birds be they, Parrots, Penguins, Budgies or Blackbirds
Some of these well tried methods used by many profesional's,
are not very popular with the general public. Who have a
tendancy to put human feelings, needs & wants onto their pet
birds.
My one & only golden rule is to invite, not demand or command a
bird to do anything without offering them a small reward.
This includes putting my hand into their cage or personal space.
If any bird shows a dislike of being, picked up, stroked, or
squeezed, I don't do it, humans forget, in the birds eyes you are
only a slightly better looking equivalent of King Kong.
I have also trained birds of all ages belonging to various clients,
friends etc. & I treat them all the same.
Never expect a bird to do anything for nothing. Just one bite
size treat is payment enough.
Some birds are clever enough to refuse to comply with
requests that offer no reward.
Many tricks are just birds doing what birds do. It's how you set
set the scene, that turns a bird doing bird things into a
performance. As a trainer you must be ready to turn any mistake
into part of your act.
For instance, some time ago. I had set things up to teach two
birds to play a childs toy piano.
One bird watched as I tried to teach the other to tap the keys
with his beak. After the first succesful tap for a treat, the
bird stepped up onto the keys for more.
I moved my hand sideways out of his reach the bird followed.
Side stepping across the keys. This was far better than beak
tapping. By his third treat he was sidestepping up & down the
keys. I sent him off to play & called down the other bird, who
had been watching the proceedings.
When I tapped the piano he jumped on to the side of it & ran
quickly right across the keys.
This again was better than my origonal idea of having two
virtuoso's. I gave him his treat, moved him about 2ft from the
piano & using the treat as bait I got him to do it again. A new
mini act was born.
To my audience at the local nursery, I would go to several
Care, Rest & Retirement homes, to get the birds used to a
change of scenery. First I would introduced Tinkle the piano
player & I would suggeste that if anyone knew the tune about
to be played, please feel free to join in.
The Tinkle did his part, but oddly enough no one recognised
the tune.
As I put him away Tinker the stooge would escape & run across
the keys, while I scolded him he would run off & do it again &
again.
The audience thought the naughty bird very funny indeed.
Wing clipping is highly recommended for training perposes.
It makes things far easier for the trainer, novice or old hand.
I feed all foods as normal. but save a couple of treats as special,
only to be fed by hand as a reward treats.
One of my favourite was Sponge Cake. I would cut a slice for
myself & cut some into beak size pieces. I eat mine with a cup of
tea as I put the birds through their paces. Teaching them tricks,
games, etc.
Remember an unclipped bird flying off in a blind panic is an
accident waiting to happen.
Well thats about it, all you have to do is to persuade your birds you
are the most interesting thing in the world.
You will be teaching your birds to play the piano in no time.
Yours B.J
Unfortunately some birds are not as bright as others, or worse
still not very cooperative for reasons of their own.
The method of training birds I have practiced for over 50yrs
is to teach without fear. I found it no more difficult to train,
one or six birds be they, Parrots, Penguins, Budgies or Blackbirds
Some of these well tried methods used by many profesional's,
are not very popular with the general public. Who have a
tendancy to put human feelings, needs & wants onto their pet
birds.
My one & only golden rule is to invite, not demand or command a
bird to do anything without offering them a small reward.
This includes putting my hand into their cage or personal space.
If any bird shows a dislike of being, picked up, stroked, or
squeezed, I don't do it, humans forget, in the birds eyes you are
only a slightly better looking equivalent of King Kong.
I have also trained birds of all ages belonging to various clients,
friends etc. & I treat them all the same.
Never expect a bird to do anything for nothing. Just one bite
size treat is payment enough.
Some birds are clever enough to refuse to comply with
requests that offer no reward.
Many tricks are just birds doing what birds do. It's how you set
set the scene, that turns a bird doing bird things into a
performance. As a trainer you must be ready to turn any mistake
into part of your act.
For instance, some time ago. I had set things up to teach two
birds to play a childs toy piano.
One bird watched as I tried to teach the other to tap the keys
with his beak. After the first succesful tap for a treat, the
bird stepped up onto the keys for more.
I moved my hand sideways out of his reach the bird followed.
Side stepping across the keys. This was far better than beak
tapping. By his third treat he was sidestepping up & down the
keys. I sent him off to play & called down the other bird, who
had been watching the proceedings.
When I tapped the piano he jumped on to the side of it & ran
quickly right across the keys.
This again was better than my origonal idea of having two
virtuoso's. I gave him his treat, moved him about 2ft from the
piano & using the treat as bait I got him to do it again. A new
mini act was born.
To my audience at the local nursery, I would go to several
Care, Rest & Retirement homes, to get the birds used to a
change of scenery. First I would introduced Tinkle the piano
player & I would suggeste that if anyone knew the tune about
to be played, please feel free to join in.
The Tinkle did his part, but oddly enough no one recognised
the tune.
As I put him away Tinker the stooge would escape & run across
the keys, while I scolded him he would run off & do it again &
again.
The audience thought the naughty bird very funny indeed.
Wing clipping is highly recommended for training perposes.
It makes things far easier for the trainer, novice or old hand.
I feed all foods as normal. but save a couple of treats as special,
only to be fed by hand as a reward treats.
One of my favourite was Sponge Cake. I would cut a slice for
myself & cut some into beak size pieces. I eat mine with a cup of
tea as I put the birds through their paces. Teaching them tricks,
games, etc.
Remember an unclipped bird flying off in a blind panic is an
accident waiting to happen.
Well thats about it, all you have to do is to persuade your birds you
are the most interesting thing in the world.
You will be teaching your birds to play the piano in no time.
Yours B.J