Many of friends asked me how do I train Kiki and Kermit to be an ultimate performer? There’s no secret on how train them to be like one. Many parrot owners will suggest best to start training since young. Does that mean if I have a adult bird, the bird will never be an ultimate performer?

Many experienced trainers and even parrot books suggested to start off training from a young age. Frankly speaking, age is not the key issue to parrot training. Even an African Grey which is in its mid-20s is still learning new things. But it’s always good to start training early, as it’s one best method to prevent and eliminate behavioral problems.

When I got Kiki and Kermit, I started basic training as soon as they get settle down to the new environment. To date (based on 18th April 2008), Kiki had already mastered 14 parrot tricks and Kermit mastered 4 basic parrot tricks. That’s an achievement! Both of them are still learning new things, so I expect the figures to grow!

So start off quickly with some simple training like step-up command. This is the first basic command, that I introduced to my parrots when I first go them. Then from there, add-on with other basic tricks like Turn-A-Round. Always be consistent with your training and train daily.

It’s always good to allocate a specific time when to conduct training session. Both of my parrots have their own specific time for training, once in the morning and the other at the evening. I always try to allocate 2 training sessions per day, although the morning slots are usually optional. You can have training sessions as much as 3 per day of 10-15 minutes, but no longer that.

Conclusion, the golden words to the success in parrot training:

1. Start training early
2. Be consistent in training
3. Train daily
4. and Patience!

Good luck and happy training your parrots!

Related Posts:
Kermit’s First Basic Tricks Collection
Kermit’s Turn-A-Round Trick
Introducing Clicker Training
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Introducing Target Training
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick

On my earlier post, I shared about Kermit undergoing a series of Clicker and Target Training with positive reinforcement. It was a huge improvement and it started to unleash Kermit’s learning capabilities. With the help of the clicker, it seems to make Kermit understand better what I want during the training. Furthermore, I find the sound of the clicker (partly because the clicking sound is always very distinct and consistent) as an effective stimulus bridge to the rewards - treats.

I taught Kermit the most basic trick, the Turn-A-Round Trick. It’s also the first basic trick that I taught Kiki. I’m sure Kermit should be able to master the trick like Kiki without much difficulty, but it’s just matter of time. Below is a short video of Kermit during a training session, performing the Turn-A-Round Trick. Apologized for the poor quality of the video due to poor lightings.

I used the similar simple steps that was used on Kiki, on Kermit, but with the additional help of the clicker. With a consistent training schedule of 2-3 sessions per day and 10-15mins each session.

After 3 days, Kermit is able to perform the Turn-A-Round trick upon my hand and vocal cue. I’m totally impressed with Kermit’s performance. I really hope with the introduction of trick training will help to improve and eliminate Kermit’s “one person bird” and screaming behavior. Wish me good luck!

Related Posts:
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick

Kermit is now 5 months old now and it has been a difficult task in training him up. I’ve tried just using positive reinforcement training as soon as he was fully weaned, but the results weren’t that satisfying. Kermit is totally different from my talented lovebird, Kiki. I’m forced to adapt a different way of training from the usual method executed on Kiki.

I have great luck in training Kiki just only with the use of positive reinforcement training. Kiki can easily pick up the new tricks and behaviors through the training. Kiki is truly talented, a Smart Alec that I will use to describe her as.

Based on my daily observations on Kiki and Kermit during their training sessions, here are some of the findings of the 2 comparisons:

Kiki during a 15 minutes training session

• Better attention span
• Proactive
• More enthusiastic and easily excited
• Responsive to human vocal commands

Kermit during a 15 minutes training session

• Poorer attention span (Tends to looks elsewhere)
• Doesn’t seem to be proactive
• Not enthusiastic nor easily excited
• Less responsive to human vocal commands
• Less confident

You can see the vast differences among the two species. It’s never surprise to see Kiki mastering a new behavior or tricks in less than 10 minutes. She’s more of the hyperactive and more enthusiastic participant as compared to Kermit. Kermit has a much shorter attention span as compared to Kiki.

I’m able get Kiki to perform all the behaviors and tricks that she learned over 20- 30 minutes continuously, and after 30 minutes (although not recommended as it can easily possible leads to fustration if the parrot failed to perform the correct act) she still has the attention on me. As for Kermit, his mind start to wander of after 8-10minutes. I will say it’s definitely difficult to maintain the attention from a Senegal Parrot as compared to a African Lovebird. Furthermore, the slightest sound or motion of an object (including a fly flying around the vicinity) will instil fear in Kermit, diverting his attention and disrupting the whole training session.

There are a few factors that contributed to the unacceptable results in Kermit’s Training session. I have to admit the failure of shaping the new behavior, partly the fault lies on me. At certain part of the training, when Kermit suddenly performed the right behavior, I wasn’t able to reinforce and treat immediately at that moment.

Next, there’s also disadvantages of using positive reinforcement training with treats, you have to offer the treat immediately when the parrot performed the right behavior at that very moment. By doing so, the parrot will then understand and link the right behavior with the treat. Thus the parrot will know that everytime he/she performed that behavior he/she gets the treats. But many times during Kermit’s training session, I committed the mistake of not offering the treat immediately at the split second when the right behavior is performed. Any time later than that, Kermit will not be able to link the right behavior with the treat. It’s definitely one stressful task!

Two weeks ago, I started introducing Clicker and Target Training along with positive reinforcement. The results were really amazing, and Kermit was able to perform the his first trick, the Turn-a-Round trick after the 3rd day of Click and Target Training. Kermit had learned to associate the clicking sound with food. With this great advantage, I’m able to sound the clicker at the very right moment when Kermit performed the behavior that I want him to do.

I’m truly amazed, the clicker training does enhance the training experience. I’ve yet to explore more on the clicker training and unveil the power of clicker training for new tricks and behavior training. Hopefully I will be able to get my brother to capture a full motion clip on Kermit performing his first ever trick, the Turn-a-Round trick. So do stay tune!

For the past Trick Trainings that Kiki learned, I used to believe in the usual method of the PRT (Positive Reinforcement Training), by holding the treats to lure them to do certain behaviour, to be the most effective way to train them. But soon, I noticed I have to correct this statement. Especially when training them in performing Advanced Trick which involve several steps chaining together. Holding treats as cue to lure them to do certain actions can be a big mistake.

I notice whenever I do my fingers (where index fingers and thumb together) in the manner where I’m holding a treat, Kiki will be lured over to both my fingers. Many might ask what’s wrong about luring her to the fingers? They don’t see any big issue to that. But I foresee many possible problems ahead:

Problem 1:
Kiki may thought there’s treat within my fingers and lured over. She may start with some nip to “dig” out any possible treat within my fingers (where there isn’t any in this scenarios). Trust me birds are different from human beings, I’m not saying that they are really stupid and dumb, but just that recognize certain distinct hand or verbal cues for certain things. Like Kiki, she already recognized this as a kind of hand-cue for treats. So whenever she sees this and start “digging” out the treat within my fingers and find out there isn’t any, this might stress her up and I’m asking for a nasty bite from her. I’ve encountered that couple of times when she failed to get what she wants. I think in a long run might not bring any good for Kiki. I believed that might be the possible cause which contributes to Kiki’s recent nippy behaviour.

Problem 2:
There are really disadvantage by holding treats in our hands. Like the past trainings that I did for Kiki, I noticed she’s more willing to “dig” out the treat from my fingers rather than paying attentions in completing the actions that I cued for. It does affect the performance and the attention given during the training session, especially when teaching introducing new tricks.

I soon come across knowing about Target Training from a few animal taming books (like about Dogs and also Parrots of course). Many might asked what is Target Training aka Targeting? Targeting is believe to be the most useful behaviour and the most basic foundation skill a parrot bird must learn. Targeting actually saying that your bird will follow the target and touch it that you ask for. The target can be anything, a stick or a pen, as long it can serve as a pointer. Make sure that this item that you used as a target stick must be unique and never be left to allow your bird to play freely, this will defeat its purpose. Do take note!

I started my Target Training for Kiki yesterday. I DIYed a special stick (actually just a normal stick with green tape at the stick so Kiki won’t be confuse with normal dowel poles) as my target stick. I held the stick in front of Kiki and asked her to “touch”. Whenever her tongue touched the stick, I praise and reward her. If she tried to chew on it, I will quickly remove it and added with a firm “NO”. In fact, Target Training is like a very basic treat, Kiki managed to understand with 5mins. Touch the stick = Reward. But I just don’t stop the Target Training after 5 minutes, I continued to train her for a few more sessions. The objective is to drill the idea of touching the target stick to get the reward deep into her thoughts.

After the Target Training, I started to try out the effectiveness of my target stick. I was totally amazed by the effectiveness of the target stick, Kiki never hesitate going to the location that I point with my target stick. She even touched the purple toy car (that she afraid all the while) that I pointed with my target stick instantly. In my opinion, Target Training is definitely an effective alternative not only to introduce an unfamiliar prop or object, teaching new behaviors and tricks, but also an indispensable way in the bird’s taming process.