how soon to start target training??

[stlcausntrbl]

Hi, I go next weekend to WI to pick up my new baby grey. Since this is my first baby, the rest are all rehomes, it's a whole new ball of wax for me. Since I live in MO and have an 8 hour drive, I will pick up my new baby on sat and will spend the night in a hotel with her and then drive home the next day. I was wondering if while we are in the hotel for the night, if that would be too soon to start clicker training her??

[Michael]

Getting comfortable and settled in is not the only issue. Often, baby birds are still too young to really care about learning behavior or working for food. They were just weened and it's hard enough to get them to eat in the first place and the last thing you want is to limit their food.

Instead, focus on introducing lots of new foods, developing treats, developing a bond, taming, getting used to hands, grabbing, etc. Baby birds are very moldable and eager. Formal training doesn't have to start until the bird is willing to make the effort consistently to walk over to take food from you.

Check out the early bits of my blog to see how I did not formally train Truman (Cape Parrot) when I just got him because he wasn't ready: http://TrainedParrot.com

[stlcausntrbl]

thanks for your answer I will read that today..

[Cali]

I just joined this forum. Got my baby Senegal yesterday. I too am eager to do target training. I did a short session today and I was surprised that she did participate for a few minutes. Just like a busy toddler, when she got tired of it, she grabbed a napkin on the table and shredded it instead. It was so cute how she let me know she was done.

She is 2 1/2 months old and so far pretty pliable and accepting. I misted her today and my 4 year old girl wanted to dry her. I told her the birdie might be scared of the little hand towel, but she loved it. She let my daughter put it over her shoulders like a cape because my daughter insisted she would be cold. LOL

I've never trained a bird before. Just horses. But they are prey animals too and I think my horse experience will be helpful.

[StephanieJimmerson]

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I just got my 1 1/2 year old senegal parrot yesterday. She is sweet (does not bite), but she does not step up and freaks out when I try to get her out of the cage. I decided to start from square one with training. She has no problem eating treats from my hand, so I figured I need to start clicking. But I need to know 1. how often do I need to give her "clicked" treats? 2. How many treats per session? 3. When should I start to try target training? Also, when I sit next to her cage, she is very relaxed and acts silly. Do I need to form a better bond before I start training? Do I need to let her get better familar with her new environment before I start? Others believe that I should leave her in the cage so she can get a good sense that she is safe for a few weeks.. Help!

[stlcausntrbl]

Have you tried letting her come out on her own and then trying to pick her up?

[StephanieJimmerson]

Yes but only once for about thirty minutes. Should I try more or starting clicking ?

[stlcausntrbl]

I would try starting clicker training. I have only had my new baby for a week and have started clicker training. My older rehomes seemed to catch on to the clicker training faster than the baby, so I would say give it a try. You might want to try in the cage first, and then you could target it out of the cage and then eventually onto your hand. Give it a try...

[StephanieJimmerson]

Thanks!! How many training sessions per day? How long each session? And while I'm getting her use to the clicker, about how many treats per session?

[stlcausntrbl]

I do 2-3 sessions per day, and I keep it to about 5-10 minutes per session, and treat for everything that she accomplishes.Getting her used to the clicker should only take 4-5 times and just 5-6 treats per time. They usually learn that click means treat really fast.