Target?

[kiwitheparakeet]

Hey guys ! I have not taken Kiwi out of his cage yet, but I am planning to tomorrow morning . He seems to be doing fine today. While I am waiting, I wnat to get Kiwi used to the target stick a little more. He will touch it if I tap his beak with it, but I think he won't learn to ddo it on his own. @Michael, Your trained parrot blog for the target stick says, and I quote,"He will touch the stick out of curiosty" Kiwi is not doing that. He just sits there.

I hope Kiwi is learning good, and not that I'm teaching him bad, but he just...well...I don't know isn't learning fast enough. I have been trying to teach him since 5 days after I got him, which is July 28. I want him to be able to celebrate Christmas (Hanakkah or Kwanza)with the family, instead of being all by himself, locked up in his cage, in the back of the house in my room. Does anybody recommend a professional trainer that could help me? Petsmart? Petco?

My aunt has a rescued Sun Conure , her name is Lola, and she is hand tamed and will climb on your arm at any time. I want Kiwi to do that. It might take a long time, but as long as he's learning something I am fine with that. I want him to sit by me watching TV or playing video games.

I think Kiwi is a loving nice bird but he can be a little bit fiesty sometimes and I am ok with that.

Kiwitheparakeet

[Michael]

You did not read the article in its entirety or you would have known the solution. I am not going to help anyone who isn't going to at least put in the most minimal effort of helping themselves. Once you have actually READ the entire article, tried it, and still have specific questions, then I'd be happy to help.

[kiwitheparakeet]

Thanks Michael!! Kiwi is getting the hang of it, although I still have to put it under his mouth.

[heyyo]

Shoving a stick (releaser) on or around his beak produces a fixed action pattern (the instinctive touching of the stick with beak) which you have seen - you then have to exploit this by clicking and pulling the stick (to signal the end of the required behaviour & make him stop) then reward him so he learns this behaviour produces a reward. You will have reinforced this behaviour and he'll reproduce it out of his own will, ie. he'll seek the the stick out (and not only when you prod his beak).

You have to make sure he's in the mood, ie. hungry and then he'll be more interested in the reward on offer (for touching the stick) - even then you have to shape the targeting behaviour (him seeking the stick), you have to reward each progressive behaviour he takes toward the stick.

I think the article is too complicated for you (no offence, I only came across these concepts studying for my psychology degree) not only due to the content but also the lengthy, detailed way it is communicated. Watch the video over and over, and if you don't know what to do then I suggest asking at a pet store for them to show you the whole process, live.

If you have been trying to train him since July and still haven't gotten anywhere then i'm sorry you won't have it figured by Christmas but don't abandon him.