Bird Training
Teaching a Parakeet to Perform Tricks – Target and Clicker Training
Aug 26th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The Parakeet, Budgerigar or “Budgie”, Melopsittacus undulatus, arrived on the European pet scene in 1840 and has since become one of the world’s most popular pets. However, perhaps because they are small and inexpensive, Budgies are sometimes not viewed as “real parrots” by their owners, and consequently are not given the chance to show off their many talents. In addition to being wonderful mimics, Budgies can learn a great variety of tricks…and seem to take pleasure in doing so!
Trust
Getting your pet to accept your presence, and then to be comfortable with your hand in its vicinity, is an essential first step in training. This is generally quite simple, as budgies are sociable by nature and rather miserable without human or avian company. Please see this article for more on basic care and creating trust. More >
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Loading ...Small Cockatoos with Big Personalities – Introducing the Corellas
Aug 12th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Cockatoos are often considered to be the most intelligent, playful and trainable of all parrots. But most new parrot-keepers believe that all cockatoos are large, noisy and very expensive, and tend to pass them by. While this applies to many of the world’s 40+ species, one group – the Corellas – averages only 12-15 inches in length; among the cockatoos, only the Cockatiel is smaller. Corellas possess all the wonderful traits of their larger relatives, and few of the drawbacks. In fact, the Goffin’s Cockatoo or Tanimbar Corella may just be the best cockatoo pet for most people.
Corella Overview
Despite their small size, Corellas demand a great deal of attention and space, and cannot be relegated to life in a cage. Successful owners usually find that they become more like dogs than birds in their interactions with people. Well-habituated cockatoos of all kinds love physical play and touching, often to an amazing degree. They also tend to be unsurpassed when it comes to learning tricks. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Myth-Busters – Do Hand-Reared or Parent-Reared Parrots Make Better Pets?
Aug 5th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. This is the first in a new series of what I’ll call “Myth-Buster Articles”, which will focus on beliefs or practices that have aroused debate among bird keepers. After reviewing the available research and my own and other’s experiences, I will attempt to sort fact from fiction. Today I’ll compare the “pet value” of hand-reared, parent-reared and “co-parented” parrots.
General Considerations
“Hand-reared” refers to chicks that are pulled from the nest soon after hatching and fed by hand until fledged. Such birds have long been considered to be the gold standard in parrot pet. However, behavioral problems that are sometimes exhibited by hand-reared individuals have led some to question the value of this technique. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Understanding Parrots – “Bad” Pet Behavior may be Perfectly-Normal
Jul 21st
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Parrots are complicated, social animals, and as such can be very confusing to owners. What is perceived as “bad” or “destructive” behavior has roots in millions of years of evolution. Understanding your parrot’s natural history – how it lives in the wild – is key to your pet’s welfare, and a rewarding relationship with it.
Understanding Your Bird’s “Wild Side”
Good parrot care begins with a thorough understanding of parrot natural history. Parrot ancestors arose 100 million years ago…your own intentions, however well-meaning, will never overpower the instincts that have evolved since then. This is a very important point to keep in mind – parrots are wild creatures, driven by instinct, and, even after many generations in captivity, are in no sense domesticated (i.e. as are dogs or sheep). They do have remarkable learning abilities that often enable them to modify their instinctual responses. However, when considering parrot care and training, it is paramount that their true natures be considered. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Do Parrots Understand What They Say? – “Yes”, According to a New Study
Jun 10th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Most parrot owners firmly believe that their pets understand at least some of what they say. My own experience also indicates that this is true – there are just far too many examples of parrots’ utterances fitting the situation to be mere coincidence. Then, of course, there was the famous Alex, an African Grey Parrot whose amazing learning abilities shocked even seasoned animal behaviorists (please see article below). A recent study took an interesting new approach to analyzing parrot speech, and yielded some surprising findings. More >
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