Utilizing punishment as training tool seldom works for birds in bird" target="_blank">www.birdcages.net">bird cages. They learn much faster and more effectively with positive reinforcement techniques. By rewarding your bird for its good behavior, you will see a dramatic improvement in a short amount of time. It’s an easy method to use, you’ll just need to be a little more aware of your bird’s behaviors and be prepared to act in accordance with them.

Start small by narrowing your training down to one specific behavior that you would like to reinforce. If you’re looking to get rid of a negative behavior, reinforce the opposite behavior. For instance, if your Macaw constantly screeches, make an effort to reward her whenever she’s being quiet. Wait for your bird to exhibit the behavior spontaneously. Once it happens, immediately reward your bird with either verbal praise or a small amount of food. Do not over feed your bird otherwise he will no longer see food as a reward. When utilizing verbal reinforcement, speak softly in a slightly higher pitch, similar to how you would speak to a small child. When utilizing food as a form of reinforcement, consider offering her a sunflower seed, a piece of an apple, a popcorn kernel or something of similar size. When rewarding your bird’s behavior, try to be as consistent as possible. Absolutely every time you witness the good behavior you should reward your bird right away. If you have others living with you, have them pay attention to your bird’s behaviors when you aren’t around so they can also reward positive behaviors. About the Author: