How to Teach a Parrot Tricks

By Holli Ronquillo

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Quiet room
Parrot perch
Bird treats

Teach the 'Step Up' trick

Step 1:
Place the bird on a stand or perch.
Step 2:
Gently move your index finger toward the parrot, placing your finger on the parrot's abdomen.
Step 3:
Repeat aloud, "Step up." The parrot should instinctively step onto your finger.
Step 4:
Praise your parrot and give him a treat for stepping onto your finger.
Step 5:
Teach the parrot that every time you say "Step up", he should step onto your finger.

Teach the 'Turn around' trick

Step 1:
Place the parrot on a perch.
Step 2:
Hold a treat at the parrot's eye level, and say "Turn around."
Step 3:
Slowly move the treat around to the parrot's back. The parrot will either turn its head (as it is supposed to do) or turn its whole body to see the treat.
Step 4:
Praise your parrot and give him a treat for turning his head.
Step 5:
Work to eventually bring the treat in a 360 degree turn so the parrot has to move a full 360 degree turn to receive a treat.

Teach your parrot to speak

Step 1:
Start with a simple word that only contains one to two syllables. Teach only one word at a time.
Step 2:
Repeat the word slowly to your parrot, and repeat several times until the parrot makes a sound in response.
Step 3:
Reward the parrot with a treat, no matter what response is given. Repeat the word again.
Step 4:
Repeat the word several times until your parrot can mimic the word you are using. Use plenty of praise and treats.
Step 5:
Once your parrot has the first word down, you can move on to the next word or phrase.

Tips & Warnings

Keep training sessions positive and relatively short.
Teaching your parrot new tricks can even help with mild to moderate behavioral problems.
Don't attempt to teach untamed parrot tricks. You should be able to touch your parrot without getting bit.

Photo/Video Credit

Photo by Tambako (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/)

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