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

I decided to conduct a Simple Revision Test on all the Basic T-Stand Tricks that Kiki has learned. I got my brother to capture the revision test and compile it into a tricks collection. The collection includes Kiki performing:

1. Hand-Shaking Trick
2. Waving Hello Trick
3. Wing Flapping Trick
4. Turn-A-Round Trick

Kiki in action…

Overall Kiki absolutely did a great job. The results of the revision test are definitely a successful one as shown in the clip above. I received a few emails and questions posted on YouTube asking me what are the first few tricks to be introduced to their birds. The tricks in the Basic T-Stand Tricks Collection performed by Kiki, are the ones that I really recommend. No other special props required in the training, all you need is a quiet and dimly lit room and your bird’s T-Stand. I believe these are relatively easy tricks that any birds can do, even many training books recommended these as the first few basic tricks to introduce to birds with totally no trick training experience.

As I always say in my posts, PATIENCE!
Patience is definitely the key to success!

Related Posts:
Hellooooo! Kiki’s Waving Hello Trick
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick
The Wing Flapping Trick
Kiki’s Trick Collection

Lately, I have been moving on introducing real basic tricks to Kiki. Earlier on was the “Through the Hoop” trick and now the Bell trick. I just don’t want to make things hard for Kiki, but still let her constantly learning new things and enjoying the moments with me. The thought of bell trick recently just come across in my mind, when I was packing Kiki’s extra toys and spotted this untouched little bell in a plastic box.

It’s a real simple trick that Kiki learned almost immediately. She has to shake the bell a couple of times and land back to the ground properly and not toppling it. I’ve only demo in front of her once, then later whenever I cued for bell, she’s able to pick that up and shake for a few times before letting go. I really enjoy seeing her doing that. I was wondering getting her to perform to my friends during our Christmas events. Who knows she might end up getting a couples of Xmas “Candies” from my friends? *Haha*

Kiki in action…

How do I teach her?
As I said earlier on, it’s a relatively easy trick all is required is a normal bell with a simple notch (this allow Kiki to use it as the handle of the bell) on top. First the objective is to introduce the new props to Kiki, possible techniques are placing food treat near the prop to encourage her to touch. For Kiki, I used the target stick instead as she had been target trained. I used my target stick to tap on the bell, whenever successful touch or grab the bell, I will praise and reward with her favourite “candy”. Once she’s totally comfortable with the new prop, I started to move on with my actual training.

First I did a demo in front of Kiki to let her understand the purpose of the game. The moment I placed the bell in front of her, she immediately grab hold and shake it. I’m totally amazed she make a successful attempt on the first time. I praised and reward her to let her understand that the behavior I wanted for this trick. Whenever she threw or drop the bell immediately without any shakes, I will ignore and refrain from giving any treat until she achieved the action I wanted. I continued these procedures and still yet to perfection, but overall I’m satisfied with her performance in her first training. Good job, Kiki!

If you met training scenarios that your parrots doesn’t pick up the bell shake, be patient. First encourage them by praising and rewarding them when they touched the bell. Then after a few rounds, try hold off the treat alittle longer until they started picking up the bell. If they achieved that, praise and reward them accordingly. Soon after a few rounds, you will be seeing them shaking the bells before letting go to the ground. Thumb rules: Give them time, have patience!

Related Post:
New Training Coming On

After letting Kiki exposed to so many advance and difficult tricks, I’ve decided to take a step backwards in teaching Kiki something relatively simple and straightforward. I introduced to her a simple trick called Through The Hoop Trick. It’s a really simple trick that Kiki took only a couple of minutes to understand and master it. It’s a simple trick and anyone can try (including you, the fans of Bryan’s Angels and Kiki, of course) training your birds, and all is needed is just a Hoop. A hoop that is just big enough for your bird to go through. As for me, I couldn’t find a decent hoop in the market for Kiki, so I ended up DIY a customized hoop for Kiki using plastic coated metal wires from hardware store.

Kiki in action…

How do I teach her?
It’s a relatively simple trick for Kiki, as I said she mastered it all within minutes. But time spent on the training might varies on any other birds, especially birds that have never undergone any serious training before. As per normal whenever before I start introducing new tricks, I will let Kiki attend some warm-up session (running through some basic commands and tricks like Turn-A-Round, Wing Flapping & etc). This is to ensure that I gain full attention from Kiki, and it does make training session easier and manageable. Usually the training progress seems to be much more better and effective.

Once Kiki is ready for the new lesson, I start off introducing the new prop which is the hoop to her. For this trick, I used my target stick to introduce the hoop to her. She immediately accept the hoop, and started playing and nibbling with the prop. I started my actual lesson immediately after the introduction was completed. First I placed the hoop on one hand and the other hand holding my target stick at the opposite exit of the hoop. This is to lure Kiki to go through the hoop and touch my target stick. Every successful try through the hoop, I will praise her and reward her with her favorite “candy”. There will be situation where instead of going through the hoop, she went over to nibble the hoop. When I see this, I immediately remove the hoop, this is let her understand refraining from biting the hoop for this trick. I repeat the procedures for a couple of time, until Kiki is totally familiarize with the proper behaviour for the trick.

Finally is add in the cues and fade off the presence of the target stick in the trick. For vocal cue, I used “Hoop” and my visual cue is basically done by knocking the hoop to the ground. You can consider other cues for your birds, as long they recognize and are comfortable with. I still get Kiki to perform the trick with the presence to the target stick but with the add-on of my vocal and visual cues. This is to let Kiki understand whenever she sees these cues, she will have to go through the hoop. I repeat the procedures for a couple of time again. Soon after she’s comfortable, I started removing the presence of the target stick, and Wallah! She doing the trick upon my cues.

During your training, if your birds aren’t ready to response just to your vocal or visual cues. Don’t worry, take a step back and repeat the procedures with the presence of the target stick. Then try fading off the target stick again in the trick. Always remember the thumb rule - Patience!

Related Post:
New Training Coming On

On my previous post, I’ve covered that Kiki is learning The Shell Game Trick. She’s now progressing fairly well. I’m really lucky that my brother was around and he assisted me capturing Kiki during training. I’m here to present you the latest video of Kiki performing a chained trick - Kiki’s Open & Fetch Trick. In fact to be correct, it’s not really a complete trick but just a component of segment in The Shell Game Trick that Kiki was learning since last Sunday. The Youtube video that I’m sharing, featuring Kiki opening the pink shell upon cue and fetch the red lego brick hidden within the pink shell.

As I said earlier on, it’s a chained trick which comprised of two behaviors that Kiki had learned earlier on: The Retrieve Trick (Fetch Command) and The Opening Shell Trick (Open Command). Kiki has totally no problem in executing the retrieval of the red lego brick, as she has performed the fetching trick of his favorite yellow lego brick. With the target stick introduced during Target Training, Kiki was able to accept the red lego brick almost immediately, and this further shorten the time spent in introducing new props. My primary concern in the Open & Fetch Trick was to let Kiki understand the concept of opening the pink shell.

Introducing of the pink shell was fairly straightforward and easy for Kiki with the presence of the target stick. I have to do a few demos in front of Kiki on how I open the pink shell (without the presence of the lego brick). After a couple of times of guiding the motion with Kiki, on the opening of the pink shell, she soon understand the concept and gradually improved in her technique. What I can say about Kiki, she’s really smart and a fast learner. She amazingly surprises me of mastering this trick component within 30 minutes. That’s an achievement! Well done Kiki!

Kiki open the pink shell and retrieve the red lego brick…

Below is the breakdown process on how I step-by-step guided Kiki in achieving the current Open & Fetch Trick. These are very simple steps that I will into various sessions to allow Kiki have enough time to progress, and this reduce any possible chances of stress or frustration during training. Kiki was able to complete the whole breakdown process and understand the Open & Fetch Trick in no more than 30 minutes.

The Breakdown Process of the Open & Fetch Trick

1. Introduction of New Props (The Pink Shell & Red Lego Brick)
2. Learning How to Hold Pink Shell from the handle
3. Learning How to Open the Pink Shell in correct motion (Open Command)
4. Learning How to Retrieve the Red Lego Brick (Fetch Command)
5. Step-By-Step Chaining Process: Open + Fetch
6. Full Training of the Chained Trick

The Progress Checklist for The Shell Game Trick

1. Introduction of Trick Props Done!
2. Learning How to Open the Pink Shell Done!
3. Learning How to Retrieve the Red Brick back to my Hand Done!
4. Chain Process 1: Open the Shell and Retrieve the Red Brick Upon Cue Done!
5. Identifying of the Correct Shell with the Red Brick Hidden (Fixed Positions) Done! But Correct Probability 50%, More practise Required!
6. Identifying of the Correct Shell with the Red Brick Hidden (Random Mixed Up Positions)
7. Full Process Dry Run

Kiki definitely still has a lot of work to do in complete learning the full process of The Shell Game Trick. With her current progress, I’m already very delighted and satisfied. She has done a great job again. I’m looking for her to graduate from this Shell Game Trick “course”.

Related Posts:
New Training Coming On
Introducing Target Training
Kiki doing the Fetching Trick

Kiki’s back in action again. This time she recently picked up a new sport that I introduced to her, Basketball. She’s definitely doing well and understand the basic game rule and objective - which is to place ball through the ring. Till now she tend to miss a few shots, but I’m already impress with her performance. She still has lots of training to undergo to perfect her skills. With her talent and intelligence, I’m sure she’s able to make it to the PBA tournament (PBA aka Parrots Basketball Association). *Haha* Just Kidding.

She still attending the frequent Basketball training, hopefully by the next progress report she’s able to meet the perfect scoreline. Ganbatte Kiki! Don’t disappoint your readers and supporters!

Related BasketBall Trick Posting:
Making of the Basketball Prop

I wasn’t working on project today, and have a whole day with Kiki. I decided to give me a try on teaching Kiki the waving trick. It sounds to be an easy trick, but I met some obstructions during the training session with Kiki. Days ago and even now, I’m still training Kiki to offer her right leg for the Hand-shaking trick. The progress is good, but with a major problem. Kiki tends to nip my cueing fingers first before performing the hand-shaking trick. I’m trying now to eliminate this negative action in the trick. This worries me alot when I teach Kiki the waving trick.

How do I teach?
This trick is rather simple all you need is one simple T-stand and a stick (I use a empty pen case, but a RED one because I used a BLUE one on my previous somersault trick for the trick, I’ve wash it thoroughly before use, so it’s perfectly safe). Later I will explain why a stick is required for this trick. First I bring Kiki over to her familiar training ground and placing her on the T-stand. Usually before starting any teaching I will give her some warm-up exercise (like Step-Up/Down Commands and Turn-A-Round Command), so to ensure she has full concentration and attention on me. First I introduced the stick to Kiki (for me which is the empty pen case). It’s important to have the stick for this trick, initially I used my fingers to train, but the attempts are less effective and confusing. Why? Kiki mistook my cue as Step-up, she tends to hop on to my fingers instead of lifting her legs. That’s why with the use of the stick prevent the confusion.

As soon as Kiki is comfortable with the stick, seeing her playing and mingle with the stick. I kick of with my first phase of the training session. First objective is to get Kiki to lift her left high (because I holding the stick using my right hand - later on transforming my right hand as cue. If you intend to cue using your left hand, then train her left leg), to do this I hold the stick near her. Make sure don’t the stick too near, the stick has to be out of reach. Kiki will try every means to touch or grab hold to the stick. She tends to use her beak trying to nip on the object, every moment she did that, I remove my stick immediately. Whenever Kiki lift her foot slightly trying to grip onto the stick, I immediately treat and praise her. To let her understand that she’s doing it correctly. I continued to repeat this until she’s totally comfortable, lifting her legs without hesitation.

Then after, I started to introduce a verbal cue to her to do the trick. I use “helllloooooo”. I usually get Kiki to perform tricks with verbal and hand cues together. I noticed it’s far more effective this way. So whenever I bring the stick near her and cue “helllooooo”, she will lift and wave her leg. Once she’s totally comfortable and doing the trick without hesistation, I moved on with the finally phase of the trick.

Finally phase, Objective is to fade off the presence of the stick and introduce a new hand-cue to the trick. I used my right hand, index finger in waving motion to cue Kiki to do the waving trick. I try training with the verbal cue and the new hand-cue, whenever she successfully perform the trick, I treat and praise her accordingly. Wah-lah, that’s how I got Kiki to do the wave.

Helllooooooooo! Kiki!

Oh yah, if any of you have problem getting your parrot to perform the wave with your new hand-cue, try moving a step back and use back the stick again to cue for the wave trick. Once your parrot is comfortable, try slowly fade off again.

As what I have promise everyone earlier on on my previous posting to share the video posting on Kiki doing her Ring Tossing Trick. I personally think it’s quite a hard trick for Kiki. Throughout her learning path, she did vent her frustration on me. With patience and repeating and summarize the basic steps over and over again. Finally She masters and understands the whole concept within a week. I guess the crucial part is to build and select the right size of prop for them. The Ring is the important part in the game, have to light and small. Have to thank Mum for helping me source for the suitable plastic rings.

How do I teach?
After building my stem prop and sourcing the rings, I started introducing the props to Kiki. This is to ensure she’s not afraid of the props and willing to mingle and play with them. I’ve took a 10-15mins session just to introduce to her. There are time where Kiki showed signs of fear of the props, but after a couple of times of coaxing she totally comfortable with the items. As soon as she’s totally not afraid of the props, I started my formal training in the next session.

First Objective, I had to teach Kiki to pick up the ring. Trust me, It’s one tedious task. Why? You have let Kiki know the correct way of pick up the ring, this step is extremely important and it affect your next progression of putting the rings into the stem prop. I try holding Kiki’s “candy” under the ring where I want Kiki to touch. Everytime successful touch of the ring, I treat and praised her. Now without the presence of the “candy” under the ring, I placed the ring and let Kiki touched. The moment she touch the ring, I treat and praise her. Once she’s comfortable, I moved on by holding the treat longer, until she picked up and hold the ring correctly. When she do that correctly I will treat and praise her. This part you have to be patient, for Kiki, she failed couple of time picking the ring correctly and couple time she showed little bit of frustration, which leads me to terminate the session immediately. After letting Kiki to calm down around 30mins I continued, repeating the whole cycle of picking the ring up. I continue to treat and praise her when she done it correctly.

Finally Objective, to bring ring to the stem prop. It’s extremely hard for this, because it’s hard to let her know she have to drop the ring onto the stem prop and not anything outside or off target. Basically when I trained Kiki on this, I have a day which is totally no progress at all. But have to be determined, patience again. Beginning of each session, I demo how I play by putting the ring onto the stem in front of Kiki (I think she understand, because she’s staring and observing using one side of the eye). First I try putting the stem near Kiki and place the ring beside her. Everytime she pick up the ring in her beak, I will hold the ring from the other side of the ring and force it into the stem prop. Every successful try I treat and praise her. This is let her understand better that she has to place the ring onto the stem prop. I repeated that a couple of times. Then after I left her to place ring to stem prop herself. I can guaranteed the success rate of her doing it herself is 0.1%. If she fails = no treats. Whenever she fails I’ve to go the initial method of guiding the ring to the prop. After a few session, she’s able to do it correctly.

Then after, I try to bring the ring further and add a few more rings to make it more challenging. Every successful tries, I will treat her and praise her. After day of days of practise, the success rate is nearly 95%. 5% are those silly mistakes where she didn’t place the ring properly to the stem prop.

Good luck for those who want to try this trick.

Previous Related Posting about Ring Tossing:
Kiki learning in frustration
Changing to new lessons?
New trick learned but need more practice

Lately, Kiki has been very acrobatic and hyperactive, she’s into climbing I guess. I have seen her climbing up to my work desk through the extension cord from the ground. The extension cord acts as a ladder, a bridge to my work desk. I didn’t hesitate to teach her the Somersault Trick after she’s performed so many stunts around the house. It’s a fairly simple trick which Kiki learnt it within a day. I never ever doubt about Kiki’s capabilities in learning new tricks.

Kiki performing the trick…

How do I teach?
First a perch is require. Since Kiki has tiny feet I have to find a small perch suitable for her to perform trick on top of it. I have to ensure that Kiki is possible have full grip whole of the perch. I use a pen instead, I think is ideal and it does save cost too.

To get things started, I place Kiki on the perch. The other hand holding off the treat below her foot level. This force her to lean forward and left handing upside down like a bat. Next, I bring the treat back on top of the perch and this force to climb back to the perch to recover herself. When she did this, I praised her and gave her the treat. I repeated this cycle a couple of times until she can comfortably complete the cycle herself without the step by step coaxing her.

Soon she confident in doing the trick, I slowly enhance a recognizable hand cue and voice cue. Upon the hand cue and voice cue, when she able to perform the trick, I praised and treated her accordingly.

Kiki’s no longer afraid of rings.
Kiki’s no longer hesitate to learn ring tossing
Finally. I’m delighted with her performance lately. She’s progressing and she can manage to put all 3 rings to the prop stem. She finally met her objective. I do notice she now never ever behave frustrated when performing the ring tossing trick. I guess hard work and patience really paid off.

Well, I won’t say she 100% will everytime manage to fit the ring into the stem prop. There are couple of times she missed the stem. I rate the success rate at 90%. I think is already very good for her get such good result. I think what she actually need is more practice. I will be posting the Youtube video of her doing the ring tossing trick soon. Hope everyone will stay tune for that. *Smiles*