Bird pet training: What to expect
Birds are adorable creatures that often put warmth in our day with their songs and feathery antics. Unlike furry pets, though, birds warm up not by cuddling which can send pet owners to outright confusion. So how do you go about with your bird pet training?
The first queue in bird pet training is to acknowledge what you want to achieve when the training is over, which can be limited to the specie of bird, bird size, and age. Some birds can be taught to "talk" or follow simple instructions. Generally, these bird pet training tips will get you started for Day One.
Tip #1: Bird Personality
The first thing to consider in bird pet training is the general personality of birds. As mentioned, most birds (with the exception of some) do not like to be cuddled. In fact, touching a bird's head is often threatening to them and might set off aggression or further elusiveness. For one, birds don't like to be excited. Just imagine running off to a flock of wild birds and see the flock's reaction.
In bird pet training, as in anything else, trainers should first make a bird feel comfortable with your presence which can be carried out by a gentle approach. However, birds are birds so it would save your frustration if you let a bird's personality be. Persisting to cuddle a bird who wants otherwise can be disadvantageous to the bird pet training and instead cause the bird to lose its trust in you.
Tip #2: Bird body language
Being able to tell what a bird's body language is one key to a successful bird pet training. Birds that simply stare at you when approached, hop away, or try to bite your finger are signs that the bird is not comfortable with you or does not trust you at all. When you see any of these, it may be wise to change your approach towards your bird. A pet owner should be able to tell when a bird enjoys his/her company and not.
Tip #3: Repeat, repeat, repeat
Like any other pet, repetition is the way to success in bird pet training especially that some birds are inherently smart while others may require extra effort. After making sure you have your bird's trust, do simple exercises everyday (such as training a bird to perch on your hand) when your bird is not hungry or tired which can cause it to be fussy and refuse training.
Also, never forget to reward your pet if it has learned to pull off a trick because a happy bird is a smart bird.
