My Meyers Parrot Training Progress

[modifieddesign]

I received my first Meyers Parrot (but not my first bird or parrot, although currently my only one) on 05/29/2015. I would like to document my training progress in this thread as well as my experience keeping a Meyers.

I sought out a Meyers after much research due to their qualities and not so much looks. Although I like their looks, but they aren't flashy.

She hatched March 6th, 2015 and was bred by Birdie Boulevard.

She was shipped to me and I had full plans of leaving her alone for a couple of days to adjust. But she had other plans. The entire ride home she ate Roudybush pellets out of my hand through the crate door and made soft noises towards me.

When I got her home I let her come out on her own time, which didn't take long. I then lured her into her cage (24x22x35 inside, 70" high overall with playtop and legs) using raw shelled sunflower seeds which she loves now. And then I was going to leave her alone. But after exploring her cage and eating some more she just began staring at me. For a long time. So finally I ignored what I was told and started interacting with her.

I got her out about 3 times for around 10 minutes each time. In that time I taught her to step up and to perch (step down). I was pretty impressed how fast she picked it up.

The next day I took her out before I fed her and practiced stepping up more and perching more. She does it everytime now and loves her reward seed.

Before dinner I took her out and decided to see how she reacted to a target. She loved it. Too much so in fact. She wants to eat it. But I would simply gently touch the top of her beak before she could bite it and reward her. She started following the target to get treats within a few minutes.

I thought that was pretty good for the first 36 hours. We also worked on a bit of socializing with my young daughter, and wife. She steps up and takes rewards from both.

So happy with this bird and everything I've learned from Parrot Wizard videos and soon the book.

I think she is going to take to these methods very well. I'll update on this thread often.

I'll also post pics soon.

Thanks

[Pajarita]

Please forget target training with a baby. You did not send your daughter to school when she was a toddler, did you? Well, parrot toddlers should not be sent to school either. She needs to bond with you first and you don't achieve that with training regardless of what the trainers tell you to promote their trade. Step up and down don't require training, all hand-fed birds do it on their own without it so, please, just cuddle her, spend hours with her on you (she needs the comfort and safety of having another body next to her), talk to her, scratch her head, neck and cheeks, offer her treats without her having to work for them and treat her like you would a baby and not an adult. Juveniles and/or fledgings might look all grown up but they are still babies emotionally.

[modifieddesign]

Actually my daughter did start school courses as a toddler.

I'm obviously still bonding with her and petting and cuddling. But no, she didn't step up on her own. I am only using positive renforcement and only tried the target just to see what she did. My main concern is the basics. She seems to thoroughly enjoy the time.

If she reacts so well to it I see no reason to not do it. I started teaching her to step up as a way of bonding. She of course didn't trust me at first so I won her over with treats and had to teach her to step up so I could hold her.

[modifieddesign]

Lots of petting and holding today. By the end of the day she would lay in my hand like this and let me rub on her. Trust came a lot quicker than I would have thought. So happy with this bird.

2015-05-31 21.06.54.jpg (36.62 KiB) Viewed 8576 times

[Michael]

Sounds like you're off to a great start. It's never too early to start training except it may just not be as effective. Some things you can do this young and others will come with age. But as long as the bird is eating well and getting its needs met, there's nothing wrong with an early dose of training. Good habits stick for life when properly trained and then maintained.

[modifieddesign]

Thanks, Michael. She seems to enjoy it and respond to it so I surely couldn't see why I shouldn't. Your videos have helped this whole process be much easier.

Can't wait to read the book.

[liz]

Welcome to the forum if I didn't do this before (I don't remember things very well).
It sounds like you and your baby are having fun. In captivity your baby does not have to learn to forage for food. You will have to teach her what is good by eating in front of her then offering her some that came out of your plate. You can play with her toys but teach her "mine" for things she should not have. All she has to do is eat, play and fly to keep from being board.
She will learn her words the same way so use the same words for each thing.
Pajarita is right though. Don't over load too soon. Your baby will do things as natural as a child. When the situation comes up teach her the word no in a calm voice and that should be the most important thing she learns.
Myrtle and Rambo know the word so well that they use it on me.

[modifieddesign]

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

[Wolf]

It sounds like you are off to a great start and are enjoying yourself. I think that the young bird does need to keep its mind as well as its body working so the it grows up strong and flexible both mentally and physically. I, as others have mentioned, also think that one should be listening closely to the bird so as to not go overboard in our own enjoyment of the progress that the bird makes in response to our teaching attempts so as to not stress the little one too much. You are in a better position than I am to judge that in your bird, but I just wanted to share with you and hopefully encourage you as well.

[modifieddesign]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

So far I just stop and move on to scratches and snuggling once she loses interest. Seems to be about 3-5 minutes tops and she checks out after that.

Is it ok to stop rewarding stepping up once she does it easily? She no longer needs to see the seed reward. She also stepped up for the vet today.