THE HOW TO DO IT BIT. EIGHT QUICK & EASY TRICKS.
STEP-UP
STAY.
DANCING.
TEN PIN BOWLING.
WAVE GOODBYE.
FETCH.
RE-CALL
DICKIE BIRD DERBY
MORE TO BE ADDED LATER....B.J.
Many times I'm asked, 'Why is my bird, who used to be so
friendly now so grumpy.' Apart from the usual hormonal problems.
Could it be that you used to give him treats when he did something that pleased you???
Are you keeping up your end of the bargain? If the treat isn't working.... Change the treat
Professional trainers & performers always give a treat to ensure friendly compliance. Even if it's only a peck at a millet spray or a sunflower heart for a parrot. Half a heart for Budgies.....B.J.
Easy step-up..
Use a small piece of millet spray or other favourite food.
Hold the treat food on your fingers, palm up close to the perch so he can eat. During the next few days, move the treat onto your palm, so he has to step-up to eat from your hand.
After a successful day or two of step-up eating. You can take him from the cage for a fly round knowing you can return him with a treat in the cage & a small treat in hand as a step-up reward.
TEACH YOUR BIRD TO STAY
You will need a portable perch or a particular place you want your bird use & stay. This is really usful in an emergency situation so you know where your bird is.
(1) From a step-up remove your bird from his cage & with asmall treat in your free hand as a lure, to get & hold his attention
Watch his body language very carefully & give him a little peck
with the "stay" command if it looks like he's seen something
interesting elsewhere.
(2) Talk to him to keep his attention focused on you but keep the
treat out of sight between pecks, so he doesn't focus on it &
occasionally say "stay" without a peck at the treat.
After a little practice, allow him go & play & return for another lesson later. Over the next few days gradually increase the birds waiting time.
DANCING
Teach this on a table. Offer your bird his favourite treat & as he reaches for it slowly pull it away in a circular direction untill your bird has turned full circle. Let him have a taste & when he reaches for more. Again move it round until he's facing the way he was at the start. Give him lots of praise & another taste of the treat. When he's ready for more, try a figure of 8 this time. Do it nice & slow, don't be in a hurry & give him a taste of the treat at each twirl, now let him do something else & have another practice tomorrow. Increase the number of eights per treat. Take care not to make him dizzy.....OK....
TEN PIN BOWLING
My children used to play this game against their friends & their birds, using citizen band radio. Today I suppose they would be using Skype.
You need up to 10 plastic egg cups, 25g condiment (salt/peper) pots or something similar. Teaching is the same as for hide & seek, but ending with the cups or pots in a ten pin formation. Hide the treat under one of the rear cups & send off your bird. The score is counted by the number of cups knocked over per treat. The secret is knowing which pin to hide the treat. for maximum knockover. Birds being creatures of habit will usually look in the same succesful order for hidden items. OK....B.J
WAVE GOODBYE
This is an easily taught little trick. The first part is similar to the already learned step-up & shake hands. With a his favourite treat between the finger & thumb of your right hand. extend your left hand towards & close to your bird as for step up but without the step-up request. Your bird will, seeing your extended forefinger expects that step up is what you want him to do will attempt to put one foot on your finger. As he does so raise your finger higher just out of reach, but say nothing. He will think about the situation & raise his foot higher. Immediatly say bye bye & offer the treat, Remove your left hand out of reach. After he's tasted the treat repeat these actions 3 more times & take a break. Gradually increase the time between the wave & the treat till your getting 2 or 3 waves per treat....OK...B.J.
Teaching your Bird to Fetch.
A little game that will amuse & exercise your feathered playmate.
A playing card is ideal for learning & playing fetch. Bend the card slightly so it doesn't lie flat, making it easier for the bird to pick up.
Encorage your bird to play with the card. It doesn't matter if he tears it up, you have 51 replacements.
Play 'Peep-ho' with him, some birds realy enjoy it. When he's at ease & familiar with the playing card. Place a very small treat on the table, when he comes over for it. Cover it with the card.
He may think out of sight means gone. If so, lift the card so he can see it.
This will convince him, out of sight doesn't always mean gone.
If he picks the card up or he moves the card to get the treat.
Take the card from him & say 'Fetch.' Don't say, 'Thanks, or Thank you.' the treat is the thanks.
Practice this part for a few days for a few minutes at a time, twice a day otherwise he will get bored & the treat will loose its appeal.
If after a few days he is still pushes the card aside. Hold the card down with your finger until he bites at the card edge, then take it from him, saying 'Fetch,' & revealing the treat. Bitting the card will progress into picking it up.
You want the bird to associate the word fetch with giving you the card. Which he will do with practice. When this part has been mastered, ie. He picks up the card every time, he's ready for the next step.
You can add all the words of praise you want later. Now pretend to place the treat under the card. Say "Fetch" & give him the treat in exchange for the card. If he see's you holding the treat, he has no reason to pick up the card.
Slowly over a few days increase the distance he has to walk to give you the card.
Once you both have mastered 'Fetch.' You could think about a career in Showbiz....... B.J.
Teaching Recall
This is step-up from a distance
Teach step-up....... then, Jump up...... Then fly up....Increase the distance gradually. The treat has to be worth the effort........
B.J.'s Dickie Bird Derby.
I taught my birds this little game to keep them exercised. Find your birds favourite treat & tie a small piece on a string. Now by slowly pulling it along you can get you birds to follow. Gradually increase the speed. Stop after a short run & allow your birds to taste the treat.Take care to keep the speed downto a run, or the birds may be tempted to fly.
I remember the kids borrowing these birds & the equipment to raise money for a charity event They used a small cage as a starting gate as in a Grayhound Racing trap. They made some money from punters betting on their chosen bird to win.....
