Things You'll Need
- Sunflower seeds
- Dried fruit
Instructions
Step-Up Command
Speak the words "step up" to your Quaker parrot, and place your finger directly in front of your parrot's feet, at about chest level.
Push gently into the Quaker's chest just above it's feet with your finger to initiate the bird's feet to move. This knocks the birds slightly off balance, and will eventually cause the bird to step up. It will not harm the bird.
Repeat these steps until the Quaker parrot steps up onto your finger, and immediately reward the Quaker with a treat, such as sunflower seeds or dried fruit. It will take several tries before the bird learns to step up.
Building Vocabulary
Speak to your Quaker parrot 15 to 20 minutes daily. Talk to the bird just as you would talk to a child.
Leave the television or radio on a child-safe channel in the bird's room when you leave the house. This will help the bird build appropriate vocabulary.
Tell the Quaker parrot what you are doing before you do it. If you are changing its food or water bowls, tell the bird you are going to change them. Ask the parrot questions; you won't likely get an answer back because a parrot's language ability is limited to only repeating what it hears, but this will help build vocabulary.
Preventing Biting
Avoid reacting to the bite, such as screaming "ow" or "ouch." The parrot may think it is a game and continue biting. The biting will get worse, and the parrot's bite will eventually draw blood if you react to the bite.
Push your finger towards the parrot's beak, not away from it, when a bite occurs. The parrot will release your finger.
Place the parrot immediately into its cage every time it bites you, and lock the cage door for 5 to 10 minutes.