How to Train a Bird

Training a bird is easy if you have some time to dedicate to the bird and the training. Once you start training the bird, it is important to work with the bird every day. A training period that is only done one in a while will not train the bird. As with any other animal or even a person, training must be consistent to work. Most of the bird training can be done without a book, but tricks will require a book for the specific breed.

Things You'll Need

  • A trick training book for the specific bird breed
  • Cage cover
  • Bird treats
  • Ankle collar and leash
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Instructions

  1. How to Train a Bird

    • 1

      Hand taming a bird is done by slowly offering the hand. At first, the bird will be aggressive or run away. Remove the hand and wait a while before offering the hand again. Some trainers use a snack to hand tame a bird. This way works with young and older birds that have never been hand trained. It may take a week or two to hand tame a bird. Clipping the wings will help keep the bird from flying away.

    • 2

      Training the bird to sit on the shoulders of the owner is done only after the wings are clipped. There are little ankle collars and leashes that are used to train the bird to stay on the shoulders. This is done by keeping the leash short so the bird cannot move off the shoulder area. After months of doing this, the bird can walk around with its owner and stay sitting on the shoulder.

    • 3

      Training a bird to talk is not as easy as most people think. There are CD's that can be used or the owner can talk to the bird every time they see each other. Birds that hear the same phrase or word repeatedly will start saying the phrase or word. The CD's are designed to repeat words repeatedly as the bird listens. This way is not the best way to train a bird, but it does work.

    • 4

      Training a bird to do tricks is something that requires a book about the different tricks and the techniques required to do the training. Birds can be taught to dance, play a piano, play hide and seek as well as repeat animal sounds. A book that has the training advice is recommended because every breed of bird is different.

    • 5

      Training a bird not to squawk is harder than teaching a bird to talk. When the bird starts squawking, you should place a cover over the cage for 15 minutes. Then remove the cover. The bird will eventually associate squawking with the cover. Over time, the bird will squawk when it wants to be covered and remain quiet when it wants to see what is around it.