How to Potty Train a Quaker Parrot

Quaker parrots are small green parrots that range from 11 to 12 inches in height. According to the website "quakerparrots.com," "Quakers are intelligent, comical and engaging birds." You can potty train these smart birds so that they will go to the bathroom at a designated area outside of their cage, such as a toilet or trashcan, making it easier for you to clean their cage. One of the creators of the magazine, Winged Wisdom, Carol Highfill, compares training a parrot in this manner to training a dog or cat. "Observation, positive reinforcement, persistence, patience, and consistency are the keys to successful potty training," Highfill says.

Things You'll Need

  • Trashcan or toilet
  • Parrot treats
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Watch your bird for two days. Observe how frequently it goes to the bathroom. Watch it first thing in the morning, and especially after every meal. Become familiar with its habits and body language right before it uses the bathroom.

    • 2

      Pick a command for telling the bird to go to the bathroom. You can say something like, "Go potty," or, "Do it now," or some other phrase that you prefer. Practice saying it, keeping your intonation the same.

    • 3

      Watch your bird for signs that it needs to use the bathroom. Stand in front of the bird's cage and have the bird step up onto two of your fingers.

    • 4

      Walk the bird over to a trashcan or toilet and give your bird the "Go potty" command. Praise your bird after it goes to the bathroom.

    • 5

      Give your bird a special treat every time it relieves itself after you say the command.