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appropriate age to start training

Discuss the methods and techniques of clicker training, target training and bonding. These are usually the first steps in training a young parrot.

appropriate age to start training

Postby TheNzJessie » Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:49 am

i got my rainbow lorikeet yesterday he is 12 weeks, (i know its to early to start training) he is super tame and wants to be around me 24/7 steps up every time all the basic stuff that would be classed as 'taming' but what is an appropriate age to start training?
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby Michael » Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:40 am

As soon as you can determine a positive reinforcer and the parrot begins altering its behavior to get it. Basically, as soon as it will move its butt to get a treat. So if you can hold a treat and it walks over to get it, you can just as easily teach it to walk somewhere else (ex target) to get that treat. Past targeting, the other tricks follow pretty easily.
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby TheNzJessie » Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:48 am

he flys over from one side of the room to the other to get a piece of apple from my hand. if i can do this on cue would that be classed a as a trick?
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby Michael » Tue Jun 08, 2010 9:16 am

Sure. Once you can encourage behavior, putting it on cue is perfectly fine.
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby TheNzJessie » Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:01 am

this is him getting his reward. which my my shoulder, he takes my shoulder over food as a treat i dont know if thats good or bad.

its just the beginning i was just testing to see if he would actually fly to me. and he does. he is not clicker trained yet so i dont class this as training really.

this is day 1
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Jessie-ME
:)
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TheNzJessie
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby Michael » Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:07 pm

Nice job. Even if you don't use clicker/treats, if you can achieve reliable and consistent recalls this way, it can definitely be classified as a flight recall and a trick. Remember that training requires some kind of reinforcement (positive or negative). It doesn't necessarily have to be food. If the parrot consistently comes to you when you call it just cause it wants to be with you, your presence is positively reinforcing. There is a chance that this is coincidence or that it's just baby motivation that will wear off as it gets older, so just remember to keep practicing and being consistent.

Also, I'm not sure if you were being quick just for the sake of the video or not. But if the parrot feels reinforced by being on you, make sure you hold it for a bit longer before you put it back for another flight. It has to soak in the enjoyment of being with you or it will stop flying to you cause it will learn that you will just put it back and make it do it over and over again for nothing.
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby TheNzJessie » Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:48 pm

just being quick for the video :)
Qwil-:budgie:
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Jessie-ME
:)
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby LiaraTivona » Sun Jun 13, 2010 1:30 pm

TheNzJesse wrote:just being quick for the video :)

I was wondering the same but I figured that was why.

And I just have to say, your camera has the cutest voice.
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby HyperD » Sun Jun 13, 2010 3:37 pm

Hehe I had the same thought.... I am not keen on most accents but the NZ accent is quite nice :)
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Re: appropriate age to start training

Postby TheNzJessie » Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:00 am

lol i couldn't find my video camera so i used the one on my ipod nano....so i had to get my sister to hold it :)
Qwil-:budgie:
Jango-:rainbow:
Jessie-ME
:)
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TheNzJessie
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Types of Birds Owned: Rainbow lorikeet
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