According to research published in Scientific American, the average parrot may be at least as smart as the average two-year-old child.
Young children crave the stimulation of new activities because it helps their brains grow and develop. Here, it just makes sense that a pet parrot might crave the same and even perform equally well during training sessions.
Tip 1: Create a safe, private, distraction-free training space.
If you have ever tried to have a phone conversation in a crowded airport lounge, you already know how difficult this can be.
his is about how it will feel for your parrot if you select a crowded, noisy or visually distracting place to conduct training sessions. Your parrot needs to feel comfortable, connected and focused to enjoy training sessions and master the tasks presented.
What to do: Select a favorite perch or play stand where your parrot can sit during training. Put the perch in a familiar room that is quiet and private. Select some favorite toys or treats to use as reinforcement.
Tip 2: Start with a very basic lesson.
Just as you wouldn’t begin to teach a child about math by solving calculus problems, so too is it unwise to start out by teaching your parrot to sing whole songs or learn a series of complicated dance steps. This will be frustrating for you both.
Rather, experts at The Trained Parrot suggest that basic training is always the best method to start with.
What to do: A common lesson many hand fed parrots learn right out to the next is the command to “step up.” This command teaches your parrot to step off her perch and onto your finger or another perch.