Teaching the parrot to step up on your finger is a very
important command. Though it might look basic in its appeal, the step up
command has a keen significance for the bird. It implies the bird that you are
its guardian and thus has a superior authority. In fact, many times pet parents
who do not to train their birds to sit on their fingers, find it very difficult
to familiarize the birds with them. Understandably it affects the relations
between a bird and its pet parents. Hence teaching a parrot sit on your finger
is the first and foremost thing as soon as you bring it to the home.
Here are a few tips on the ideal training sessions for
teaching your parrot to sit on your finger:
Training Sessions
Parrots find it difficult to pay attention to an activity
for a long period of time. So, a long training session will only annoy it.
Hence for the best results you need to repeat the small, quick sessions
frequently.
·
Ideally, 2 or 3 training sessions are
recommendable. Occasionally you can extend it to 4 sessions.
·
Initially, each session should not be more than
10 minutes in the beginnings. Later you can increase the session's length to 15
minutes.
Training Area
The parrots are very much affected by its surroundings. So,
you need to find an area that shouldn't have any colorful objects, other birds
or any noises in the background. Such areas will distract them and make it even
more difficult for them to concentrate on the training session,
·
The Ideal area for training session should be a
clean area without much of visual pollution. There shouldn't be any bright
colored objectives in the area.
·
If the bird is new then you can better opt for
training it inside the cage as that will look more comfortable to the bird
rather than your huge house that is full of different types of objects.
·
You can offer an even cozier feeling to the bird
by preparing a nest for him. Don't worry! You won't have to gather the straws
from each nook and corner to make one. Nowadays many ready-made nests are
available in the market. You can make your parrot sit in that while training
it.
Bird's Personality
Birds have a personality so you need to train them
accordingly.
·
The confident birds with matured appeal can best
be trained in an open environment of your room.
·
Unlike dogs, birds take some time to learn
things. So, you need to be patient. Becoming excited or yelling at your bird
will only startle it and further complicate the things. The bird will start
fearing you and that would further affect the outcome.
·
If your bird is very shy or scared of human
beings then you should first use the wooden stick for the training purpose and
allow the bird to perch on it. Because of its natural look, the wooden stick
would seem more agreeable to the bird rather than your finger.
Training Rewards
Even before you start the training session, you need to have
some treats ready for the bird to offer it as rewards.
·
Fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables can be the
best eatables to be used as a reward.
·
However, avoid the eatables that are either too
filling or will take much time for the bird to finish, such rewards will only
absorb its attention and deviate the bird from training.
·
Instead of offering it large pieces of
vegetables you can go for very small portions that could be eaten quickly.
·
At each instance, of stepping up on your finger
you should offer the bird its favorite food as a treat. Not only will it keep
the bird motivated but will also keep it from climbing down or flying off your
finger.
How to Behave Like a
Trainer
As a trainer you have 3 major objectives: familiarizing the
bird with your hand, making it receptive to the training and gradually offering
it to progress further.
·
You first need the bird to get familiarized with
your hand. So before you start the session, take your hand close to the bird in
a steady, confident yet gentle manner. Keep a safe distance as a distracted
bird might bite you. When you bring your hand near to the bird avoid moving the
fingers.
·
The standing position also holds an importance
here. Try not to bend too much while training the bird as bending is an
indication of submission. You can be at the level of the bird that would make
it easier for the bird to follow you.
·
In a steady, confident motion bring your hand to
the bird. Jittering, shaking hand can further startle or frighten the bird and
prevent it from being cooperative. Make sure that your actions are neither too
fast nor too slow.
·
Gently pushing your finger right above the legs
of the bird conveys the intended message to the bird after a few repetitions. A
slight push just below the leg will demand a reaction and the bird will
ultimately lift a leg to balance it. As soon as it does that, bring your finger
just below the bird's feet so that it should step on your finger. Lift it up
slowly while allowing to step the second foot too on your finger.
How to Give
Instructions
After 2-3 sessions when the bird seems quite confident
stepping up on your finger you can start talking to them in 2-3 words.
"Step up, cuckoo"!" "Come here birdy!" Such short 2-3
words phrases would gradually be used as an instruction. It will help you to
instruct the bird vocally whenever you want it to step up on your fingers.
·
For the best results use these short phrases as
soon as the bird lifts up its leg. Hence gradually the instruction will attract
the same reaction (of stepping up on your finger) from the bird when you use
the same phrase.
·
For even better results ensure that your
instruction should be fewer constants and more vowels and sing rather than say
the instruction as birds are more receptive to singing.
Important Things to
Remember
·
In case if you are a bit too scared to use your
finger initially or the bird is too shy or wary, then you can also use a wooden
rod instead of your finger. Ensure that the rod should be adequately wide to
offer a sure grip to the bird.
·
If the bird holds your finger with its beak for
stepping up do not be frightened or pull away the finger as that is read as a
sign of submission
·
Once the bird starts stepping up on one of your
hands you can repeat the same training session with the opposite hand too. Many
people don't find it necessary to offer a separate training to the bird for
stepping on their opposite hand. However, as the bird does not
"recognize" your opposite hands they may refuse to step on that.
Hence, it is recommendable to train your bird to step on your opposite hand as
soon as they learn to step on one of your hands.
·
Reward your bird reasonably. Offering them a
treat randomly during training session would only confuse the bird. So, make
sure that you would treat it only when it lifts up its foot and place on your
finger or when responds to your verbal instruction.
·
All work and no play makes jack a dull boy and
your bird is not an exception here so ensure that your bird should get quality
"off-time" while enjoying and playing with you.
·
Training does not need to be tedious or boring.
Do not increase the training session length unreasonably even if your bird is
cooperative.
·
Cut your nails properly before the training as
initially the bird can bite you and with long nails, it can seriously injure
your cuticles. Besides, long nails might also scare the bird and discourage it
to step on your finger.
Conclusion
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