When training you bird, teaching it good manners is a first priority. The "Up" command could be the very first behavior you select for your parrot training. It doesn't matter whether your parrot is a trusting, just weaned baby or an adult untamed bird, you can still use this easy process for training your bird. The process for training your parrot behaviors is much easier when training a hand-fed parrot than training a parrot that is not tame. When you work with an untamed parrot, you'll find it works best to use a spare perch or untreated wooden dowel which is rather long. This will allow the parrot training session to begin without the parrot being asked to step onto your hand at first. The first step is choosing location. I like to see people training their parrots outside the cage. Sometimes that just can't be arranged. You can work on training your parrot while the parrot inside the cage. This is easy if you have a large opening as the door. Any cages have very large secondary doors with smaller openings for inserting food and water dishes, making it easy to train inside this type of cage. Choose a dowel or perch appropriate for the type parrot species you own so your parrot will be able to stand comfortably on the perch. In the first session of parrot training, you should position the dowel or perch above the parrot's feet but also below the breast. At the same time, say "Up" clearly. Don't shout or be loud, simply say the word 'Up'. As you speak, slide the dowel slowly toward the bird and it will naturally place a foot on the dowel or perch. Once the bird steps on the perch reward it with loving sweet praise, telling it what a wonderful parrot it is. Repeat these steps for 10 minutes per parrot training session with two sessions per day if possible. One longer session is not effective; if you can only train your parrot one session per day, stick to 10 minutes. Training your bird requires consistency in order to be successful. Once your bird has performed the Up command, do not allow it to refuse to respond on cue, yet do not punish it. Simply push the perch toward it a bit more. Your parrot must understand something is expected when you ask it to step up. When training your bird, provide love, attention, and treats when the bird performs properly. When the bird responds, tell it how pleased you are and how much you love it. A treat can be given at first, but praise and love are the best rewards; tame parrots never get enough! As your bird gets comfortable stepping on the perch, you can slowly shorten the distance from your hand to the parrot. When training untamed parrots, do not shorten the perch more than one each week or you could stress the parrot, causing loss of trust. Progress slowly but surely toward your parrot training goals. Soon, a day will arrive that you notice the distance from your hand to the bird on the perch is small. After your parrot becomes really comfortable with your hand that nearby, begin the final parrot training step - offer your hand or forearm (depending on the parrot's size) instead of the perch. Ask the parrot, by saying the UP command, to step directly onto your arm or hand. The time required for training your parrot this behavior depends on your consistency and your parrot. If the parrot was stressed in the past or made afraid through trauma or abuse, it can take quite a long period of consistent training. If your parrot is simply learning about you and building trust, you must prove to it that you won't hurt it and the entire process for parrot training can be successfully completed quite quickly. When training your parrot that was hand-fed, you can count on the entire process being quick and easy. You may even begin with the final step and simply speak the command while asking the parrot to step onto your hand. Be sure to watch your parrot's body language for clues to the level of trust and level of comfort with the parrot training activities you are doing. Your parrot will generally communicate its comfort level using body language. You simply have to pay attention to the clues.
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When training you bird, teaching it good manners is a first priority. The "Up" command could be the very first behavior you select for your parrot training. It doesn't matter whether your parrot is a trusting, just weaned baby or an adult untamed bird, you can still use this easy process for training your bird.
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