Starting training, but problems?

[dohcsvt]

I have the training stands and took my birds food away before bed ( a sun conrure and a green cheek conure). First thing in the morning I place them on the stand one at a time and try to get them to relate the clicker and a treat. But, they would not eat the treats. I am using what always appeared to be thier favorite treats, but they will just take it in thier mouth and drop it...if they take it at all. Both birds are doing this, so I thought that they might have a food source in the cage I forgot about, but nothing there. So, I put them back in thier regular cage and give them breakfast and they tear into it like they are starving.....I am so confused?

I think I am going to take them out one at a time (which is how I try to train them) and attach a bowl of food to the training stand and leave them there for the 10 minute training period. I am hoping that will help them understand that the stand means food. I still am just confused as to why, if they are hungry and I am offering a treat essentially just for sitting there that they will not eat it. One bird acting this way could be a fluke, but both?

Has anybody else had this problem, and if so how did you work through it? Thanks for your help.
Ottis

[Michael]

Next time, instead of using "treats", try using the food you feed them in the cage. Put one on training perch and hand feed "breakfast." Once the bird is used to taking the food from your hands, start clicking when you give it. Experiment with different foods to learn which are most desirable. Start with known foods.

[dohcsvt]

Thanks for the response. I will try that and post back tomorrow after I give it a try.

[dohcsvt]

Ollie spent all ten training minutes this morning eating treats out of my hand, while he was on the stand. He gave me a wierd look when I first started clicking at him, but he got over it very rapidly. Stanley , however is not as enthusiastic as Ollie. He spent about 5 minutes eating the treats with one fly off, and then was done. So I think that we are making progress. Time will tell.

[Mum2rory]

Go Stanley, sounds a little cheeky to me. Keep up the good work, I am sure he will get it after a while. Amazing how stubborn and strong willed these little guys can be.

[dohcsvt]

Just update. Good news and bad news.

Ollie did VERY well this morning. The first 5 minutes was spent acclimating the clicker to the treat. The second 5 minutes was spent targeting, and I think he is getting it, he is a SMART little fellow

Stanley however, over the course of 10 minutes took about 3 treats from me. I tried all his normal treats, then I tried his normal food, then I tried new stuff. He just does not seem interested. My wife has stated that she thinks he is a "special needs bird" from some of the things he does. I think he is just a diamond in the rough. Patience and love will show through!!

[KiwiMango]

[quote="dohcsvt"]
Stanley however, over the course of 10 minutes took about 3 treats from me. I tried all his normal treats, then I tried his normal food, then I tried new stuff. He just does not seem interested. quote]

I don't know enough to help you with the training, but have you thought about trying to replace the treat with a toy? My quaker is the same way. I started target training him about a week ago and he just will not take any kind of treat, even after taking his food away 3 hours before. He'll either ignore it or take it from my hand and immediately drop it. I found that my quaker loves twigs, and I have started giving him a twig as a treat. It's not long at all before he'll accidentally drop his twig and then training resumes and he'll have to work to get it back.

[dohcsvt]

I don't know enough to help you with the training, but have you thought about trying to replace the treat with a toy? My quaker is the same way. I started target training him about a week ago and he just will not take any kind of treat, even after taking his food away 3 hours before. He'll either ignore it or take it from my hand and immediately drop it. I found that my quaker loves twigs, and I have started giving him a twig as a treat. It's not long at all before he'll accidentally drop his twig and then training resumes and he'll have to work to get it back.

Thanks, I will try that. I am only a few days into this, but I can already tell that Stanley will take some extra time.

[dohcsvt]

So, this appears to be turning inot a daily report (I work for the Government, so it was expected LOL)
Anyway, Ollie is doing great. Appears to be understanding the command "target" and has actually walked completely across the perch to "target".

Stanley however, appears to be a problem child. He still will not take any sort of food while on the perch...even though he is hungry. So I moved him to the top of the cage today and fed him treats, while clicking for ten minutes. I plan on gradually moving him off the cage, onto the perch and then move the perch away from the cage, all the while feeding him treats. I figure that Ollie will be halfway through learning to "wave" before Stanley even begins target training!

[Mum2rory]

Go Stanley! He sounds stubborn and knows what he wants. Doesnt every family has a "problem child" Just takes patience and love. He will - or should - get it eventually - I hope. LOL