Training your parrot in a few easy steps should begin with teaching it the "Up" command. This is a basic 'manners' command so training your bird will teach it how to behave and you can easily manage your parrot using this command. This parrot training works with both tamed and untamed parrots.
Training your bird behaviors is faster and easier when working with a hand-fed, young parrot rather than one that is not tame. You might find that it works best to use an untreated wooden dowel or an extra perch you have on hand. Just be sure the perch or stick is fairly long if training your parrot who is not tamed. This way, training your parrot can begin by asking the bird to step on a stick rather than your hand or arm.
The first step is choosing location. I like to see people training their parrots outside the cage. Sometimes that just can't be arranged. You can work on training your parrot while the parrot inside the cage. This is easy if you have a large opening as the door. Any cages have very large secondary doors with smaller openings for inserting food and water dishes, making it easy to train inside this type of cage. Choose a dowel or perch appropriate for the type parrot species you own so your parrot will be able to stand comfortably on the perch.
The second step to watch for when training your parrot, during that very first session; simply place the perch below the bird's breast and above its feet. Say the word "Up" clearly but not loud or your parrot might be startled or scared. As you say the word, move the wooden dowel slightly forward so that your parrot will place a foot on the perch and step onto it.
Training your parrot means that each time it steps up on command, you should offer a reward. Tell your parrot what a great bird it is and offer a treat during early parrot training sessions. Do these steps for 10 minutes per session. I find that training your parrot in two sessions per day works best. If you can't train but one time daily, don't use longer sessions; 10 minutes is sufficient.
Training your bird requires consistency in order to be successful. Once your bird has performed the Up command, do not allow it to refuse to respond on cue, yet do not punish it. Simply push the perch toward it a bit more. Your parrot must understand something is expected when you ask it to step up.
When training your bird, provide love, attention, and treats when the bird performs properly. When the bird responds, tell it how pleased you are and how much you love it. A treat can be given at first, but praise and love are the best rewards; tame parrots never get enough!
As your parrot becomes comfortable stepping onto the perch, slowly shorten the distance from your hand to the bird. I find that when training untamed parrots, shortening the perch more than once a week can stress them and actually create a loss of the trust you've built. Progress slowly and regular training will help you and your bird accomplish your parrot training goals.
Soon, a day will arrive that you notice the distance from your hand to the bird on the perch is small. After your parrot becomes really comfortable with your hand that nearby, begin the final parrot training step - offer your hand or forearm (depending on the parrot's size) instead of the perch. Ask the parrot, by saying the UP command, to step directly onto your arm or hand.
Parrot training in manners-type commands can progress quickly or slowly. A lot depends on you, your consistency and your parrot. If the parrot has been over-stressed or made fearful through abuse or trauma, it can take a longer time. If your parrot is only learning to trust you, the process can occur quite quickly. If your parrot is a tame, hand-fed baby, the process can happen in only a few days.
When training your parrot that was hand-fed, you can count on the entire process taking a short time - in fact, you'll probably start at the final step with the parrot stepping right onto your hand. I recently brought a just-weaned budgie home. He was not hand-fed but very young and trusting; he was learned the "up" command within a week and consistently performs the behavior whenever requested.
When training you parrot, watch for signs of its level of trust and comfort with the training by paying attention to body language. Parrots communicate with humans by using body language; all you need to do is watch for clues.
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