After weeks of training with the help of the clicker, I’m able to get Kermit to perform several different kind of basic tricks. It’s a great improvement and I’m totally delighted!

Well, I didn’t expect Kermit to be like Kiki to be an ultimate performer in the future. I just hope with the introduction of trick training will help solving some of the behavior issues that start to surface as Kermit matures through his developmental stage.

The following command and tricks that Kermit performed in the video are:

1. Touch the Stick (Target Training) - Warming Up Session
2. Turn-Around Trick
3. Hand-Shaking Trick
4. Waving Hello Trick

In Kermit’s Tricks Collection, you noticed that I’ve included the touch the stick command (Target Training) as the warming up exercise for Kermit. It’s the usual habit that I exercised as a trainer. Even Kiki is not spared for the warming up exercises. Before getting her to perform any tricks or learning any new tricks, I will get her to perform some warming up exercise like touching the target stick or performing other basic commands like Step-Up or Step-down.

The purpose of the getting them to perform some this simple warming-up stints, will ensure that my angels (Kermit and Kiki) build up the training confident and the attention given to me. Usually after the a few exercises, Kermit and Kiki will be more attentive and sensitive to the cues. Try it and you understand the differences that I trying to elaborate.

The tricks that I taught Kermit were of the similar steps that was implemented on Kiki. The only difference is the additional presence of the clicker to help highlight the right behavior that Kermit does.

Anyone interested in teaching your companion parrots these basic tricks can refer back to my previous posts on Kiki’s trick performances. These posts highlighted some tips and simple steps in training the respective tricks. Good Luck! Like i usual like to say Patience is the key to success!

Related Posts:
Kermit’s Turn-A-Round Trick
Introducing Clicker Training
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Introducing Target Training
Kiki’s Basic T-Stand Tricks Collection
Hellooooo! Kiki’s Waving Hello Trick
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

Over this few months, Kiki had learned quite a number of tricks. I’ve decided to conduct a mini revision test to cover the tricks that she had learned. I got my brother to capture the video of Kiki doing her tricks collection. The collection consists of tricks and commands like:

1. Up / Down Command
2. Turn A Round Command
3. Nod Command (Nodding Head)
4. Fetch Command (Fetching/Retrieving)
5. Wing Command (Wing Flapping)

The test is a major success and Kiki passed my standards with flying colors. She’s definitely done me proud.

Kiki in actions…

Related Kiki’s Tricks Collection Postings:
Kiki doing the Fetching Trick
The Wing Flapping Trick
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick

After a few lessons for Kiki, I’ve decided to post some of the tricks that she has mastered over the months. The Turn-A-Round trick was the second trick that i taught her after mastering the basic step up and down commands. This trick is consider as a basic trick, suppose to be possibly learned within a day, but unfortunately my dear, Kiki took nearly 12 days to learn. Remembering that 17th September 2007 was when i introduced this trick to her, and mastered on 27th September 2007 Oh gosh! I’m almost going to label her as slow learner. Haha.

Anyway as long she master the trick, who cares how long she took to learn. I must admit you sure have to be extremely patient with this feather friend. I’ve gotta treat her like 3 years old kid learning to walk and play. In fact, i pretty excited every time she did this trick whenever i cued for it.

Anyone can train your parrot, is a fairly simple trick. Most important you need a T-Stand and your parrot’s favourite treat (For Kiki, she adores millets. Millet is not in her daily diet, so she will be more motivated when doing tricks), before you can start training your parrot.

How do I teach her?
I trained Kiki by placing her on the T-stand so she can concentrate without fidgeting around. My verbal cue for the trick is “Turn-A-Round”, you can think other shorter word depending on your preference. I start off by holding the treat to the side of Kiki (her right-wing side). When she start moving to the side, i bring the treat to her back. This lured her to the back. Next i bring the treat to her left-wing side, and she’s turned to the side. Finally bring the treat back to front, so she returned back to front. This way she completed one full cycle, and i rewarded her with the treat. Don’t forget to praise her. For me, i never failed to praise Kiki, “Good Girl!” when she did the right thing.

I continued to train her this way for several times of sessions of 10-15mins each. Once she’s comfortable and doing the cycle hesitation upon my verbal cue, and also without holding the treat on my hand to lure her, I start to bring the hand cue further. Slowly enhancing my hand cue, to only by turning my hand in circular motion.

Always remember to be patient to your parrot. Although it may seems to simple easy trick and shouldn’t take up too much time, but your parrot might surprise you!

Kiki took 2weeks to learn this treat!