Clicker training a young and HYPER bird... help? advice?

[emsy991]

Hey guys,
So my conure is 10 weeks old ( a dusky conure ). She is super sweet, but very hyper. I wonder if this is normal for baby birds, sort of like puppies? She wants to climb on, bite, chew, and attempt to fly to (she came with clipped wings) EVERYTHING.
I would really like to get her used to clicker training (especially that click=treat), but she is too hyper and crazy to care about any treats. Not even sunflower seeds! She totally ignores them and then jumps off and attempts to fly somewhere. I understand she is exploring, but does anyone have any other advice? I have tried some other treats as well, but she is just too distracted. I cant take her in many areas of the house because Im concerned she will hurt herself. I even took out a few toys because I feared she would be harmed with all of her crazy commotion.

Im glad shes happy but I want her to learn about the clicker at a young age. Any ideas? Advice? It is greatly appreciated... thanks guys!

[cml]

Wait a bit, like a few weeks, and focus on just hanging out. Formal training can wait a little bit if the little one is too hyper ^^!

[emsy991]

I will wait a few more weeks and try again. I guess the issue is that it is really hard to keep her out. She is out of control. I love her to pieces and I'm glad she is enjoying herself, but I feel without some start to the training she could hurt herself. The area is totally bird proof, but she will not stop trying to fly onto/into things.

I read that some people almost put their bird in a time out. If they fly to a "no no" place they go in their cage for a few minutes until they understand that flying to the "no no" place means they will have to be put away... eventually they stop the behavior. I'm not really pro-birdie time out, so does anyone else have ideas how to discourage this behavior?

[cml]

I read that some people almost put their bird in a time out. If they fly to a "no no" place they go in their cage for a few minutes until they understand that flying to the "no no" place means they will have to be put away... eventually they stop the behavior.

This is a reallybad idea, and will only lead to the bird starting to associate the cage with punishment, something you DEFINETELY not want!

[emsy991]

Ahh yes that's exactly why I am not planning on using that technique.
Do you have other ideas?

[cml]

Ahh yes that's exactly why I am not planning on using that technique.
Do you have other ideas?

Bird proof everything, put all your decorations etc away, put blinds over the windows, and if you are hang up sheets where she crashes to lessen the crash.

She will grow out of it ^^!

[marie83]

Ollie was the same, too hyperactive to do too much in the way of training with. The important things to focus on at the moment is socialisation, introducing new objects and situations, carrier and step up training. I would leave the clicker training until at least 8-12 months.

[emsy991]

Marie,
How did you go about the crate training and step up training without the clicker? I would love to start those. Thanks!
-Emily

[marie83]

A clicker is unnecessary for training purposes but it is indeed a useful training aid. I use a mixture of training with and without the clicker and don't really find either method preferable over the other. The exception is when your struggling to issue the rewards in a timely fashion, the click just tells the bird the treat is coming.
For carrier training I just fed meals closer and closer and eventually inside the carrier for a while but only after I was sure I could get the birds back in their cages any time I wanted.
Step ups are pretty simple in a bird that is already tame, offer your hand, as soon as they make the motions to step up give the command, as soon as they are on your hand offer the reward. In a bird that is just learning to trust I tend to lure the bird with a treat.