Target Training

[Wayne361]

Like any new item taught to a parrot you need to practice before they catch on. Target training is one of the easiest tricks to teach a bird. Not sure if you are using a clicker but when bird touches stick click/reward. I never used a clicker but instead said verbal "good boy" and reward. Wolf has a valid question on age of bird training. For main reason IMO is you dont want to withhold food from a young growing bird.
Assuming bird isnt young, the advice given should work. All due respect to Wolf I never had an issue targetting down, up, sideways etc with Oscar. He knew (knows) touch stick = reward so he would go anywhere I put stick. Targetting is an essential trick to teach IMO. It leads up to flight training, desensitization to new objects, aids in teaching other tricks etc.
Once bird is motivated and realizes "touch stick = reward" you should be good. Start off with stick not too far away and have bird walk to touch. At first it is ok to touch beak and reward but only so bird gets idea or else bird wont move for stick and expect stick to touch him for reward. As bird realizes moving to stick to get reward you can progressively move stick further and further away.
I think there is a section on here regarding target training.....should walk you through steps. Maybe on Michael's blog. But info given is pretty much all you need.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

[Wolf]

I don't think that there should be any problems, but we are dealing with people and parrots. Because of this there could be reluctance to do this, especially if the human is rushing things a bit. There are so many things that you don't think could possibly go awry that will, it is difficult to predict which way the experience will go.
I did not see any disrespect, only someone giving their opinion and that is what we are all here for, I think.

[william.k.o]

I really don't know, but i think he's between 7 months and a year.

[Wolf]

I don't think that I would do more than 4 session of 15 to 20 min per day. Say 2 sessions in morning with a 20 to 30 minute break in between sessions and same in the evening and don't forget free time out of at least 2 to 3 hours or more if possible during the day. Adjust the time spent in training according to his responses such as if he has had enough to eat or if he is distracted too much . If individual treats are too big you may only get one 10 or 15 minute session twice a day. As long as you are patient with him and are consistent you will achieve the desired results.

[william.k.o]

What do you mean by free time out?
Like out of his cage or what?

[Wolf]

If he can be let out without escaping , yes. Free time out of cage.

[william.k.o]

I don't think he can be let out, because i don't know what he'll do, and i can't take him out, so i don't think he can have free time outside of his cage.

Oh, and if i do the sessions as you told approximately how long will it take for him to go around everywhere i put the stick?

[Wolf]

I don't think he can be let out, because i don't know what he'll do, and i can't take him out, so i don't think he can have free time outside of his cage.

Oh, and if i do the sessions as you told approximately how long will it take for him to go around everywhere i put the stick?

Well if the room he is in can be closed off, he won't do much. He might fly around a bit or he might run around on the floor or look for a place to hide for a while and/or look for something to chew on. so if there are no electrical cords where he can get them and no place that he can get trapped in, and no other animals in the room with him he won't be able to get into too much trouble. He will most likely return to his cage at dusk for food and water and to sleep. He really does need to be able to get out of the cage for a while every day, it is beneficial to them psychologically as well as physically. Perhaps you could open his cage door while you are in the room with him, and allow him to come out if he chooses with you there to keep him out of trouble.
I can't answer how long it will take, no one can. It all depends on you and him. They are usually pretty fast learners though.
I don't know how many people will agree or disagree with me , but since he is responding to your target training, which will continue for most of his life , I would include step up training as soon as possible.
Just so that there is no misunderstandings or illusions here, I will tell you straight up that the only reason that I am here is for the birds. For me, it is all about the bird, I mean no disrespect to anyone, but I will always take the position that is most favorable for the bird.
If you can target him, you should be able to target him about the room and back to his cage if needed. It is your decision to make, but at least consider it for the birds benefit.

[william.k.o]

Ok then, thanks so much for answering all my questions, you're great.

So i just wait for him to get out? Because i tried that already and he just won't.

[Wolf]

If you open the door while you are sitting there talking to him, he will eventually come out. H e will, no doubt do it sooner if you are not in the room with him, but I prefer to be there. When he does just let him do his thing as long as there is no danger to him or until time runs out. He may surprise you and come to you for help in getting back in his cage. This can be a great trust builder.
I have a 14 year old Amazon who lived in an abusive home until she came here in late Nov. For the first few days she wouldn't eat and it took her just over a month to quit screaming. She still goes to the top of her cage and just weaves back and forth and around and around, but nowhere like the hours of it at first. About three weeks ago she climbed onto a perch that I had attached to the inside of her door. I put it there to encourage her to come out as I leave her door open. That is as far as she will go and only for a few minutes at a time. She has startled herself on occasion and flew out into the room at which times she always comes to me and asks for help to go back to her cage. I have a tree that I built for my Senegal , so one of these times I put her there for a while. For the last two weeks, I have been able to put her on the tree for up to four hours although she will only come to the perch on the door. I am presently working on letting her walk about on the floor while I am there to help her when she needs it. She is very psychotic and quite dangerous to handle or should I say, try to handle or touch at any other time. But, and this is the point of this story, her scaring herself and flying out of the cage and then needing help, which she got, has lead to the beginnings of trust.
I want you to see that letting her come out on her own can be used for building trust in your bird just as effectively as anything else. I also want you to see that you cannot force this trust and how long it takes to accomplish anything is highly variable and depends on a variety of factors, some of which you can control and some you cannot.
I don't know why you got a parrot, but I assume that it is because you thought that he would be a pretty cool friend to have. I know that you are unsure about what to do and how to do it, you appear to me to be very much a goal oriented person and want to see progress now. That is fine and probably a benefit in your life but, you need to relax and not so driven by the clock when with Joey. He just doesn't grasp time in that manner. Just try to relax and enjoy a couple of hours with Joey, talking to him and watching him, learning to see and read his body language. Let it all pressures just go away while you are spending time with Joey. I know that you don't know it yet but, Joey is watching you and reading your body language, too. The more you relax and just enjoy your time with Joey the more relaxed and trusting of you he will become. This is because he is reading you. I think that, Joey wants to trust you but, he finds it difficult because you are nervous and he sees this. He is nervous too, he is young and little and in a new place with a nervous giant and so he scares easily. But he really is trying to please you.