Basic Training - Part 2

The Crystal Parrot - Last month I started talking about the types of interactions you can have with your bird. You can have focused, or in your face interaction; casual interaction; or ambient interaction. These all contribute with the way your bird will act with you, your family, friends and strangers, and new experiences.
When your bird is young, or when you just bring an older bird home, you have the perfect opportunity to start laying down the foundation for a happy life together. Baby birds are like blank slates that can be taught and guided into adulthood by their human parents. Older birds that are new to the household are like fish out of water and you can change old habits of behavior more easily than when the bird is settled in. Without each of the three types of interaction, however, you may create a monster you don’t want to live with.

First your bird needs to have both a cage and a safe place to play outside the cage. Its cage should have different kinds of interesting toys, and different types of perches. In previous months we’ve discussed selecting a cage, so I’ll skip that part, but keep in mind that your bird should be happy in its cage and have things to do to shred, destroy, and play with. A play area outside the cage is also important so your bird does not have to be on you or in your face when it’s out. Again it is important to have toys and maybe something tasty on the play area to keep the bird interested in staying put. Many birds will go searching for their owners if left unattended on play areas, so its not only important to watch your bird when its out, but to make sure your bird has things to do when its out.
Ok, with an appropriate cage and play area in place, let’s look more closely at the second type of interaction – Casual interaction. We will look at ambient interaction second, and focused interaction last.
Say you are watching TV or reading a book. Have the bird on its play area in the same room. Every few minutes look over, and tell the bird its being a wonderful bird and playing with its toys very well. “Good job!” works well in my house. You can walk over and hand the bird a toy or a treat, maybe give a little head rub, but leave your bird to play on its own with only your encouragement. Talk to your bird while it’s playing on its play area; let it know what you’re doing, and why what its doing is good. You can never encourage a bird too much to do the right thing.
What you have done is help your bird know that it is part of a flock, but it can play on its own, unconfined by a cage, and be rewarded by its flock (you) through praise and occasional petting or treats. You are teaching your bird independence and confidence.
How does this help you? There will be many times in your life with your bird that you have other things to do than sit and focus only on your bird. You may have friends over for a movie, have a baby, get married, and start college or so many other life changing situations where the bird cannot be the center of attention all the time. By teaching your bird that it can be part of a family while still playing and hanging out on its own you will save yourself the headache of a bird that does not know what to do with itself. Bored birds become ones that tend to scream, feather pick, mutilate themselves, and do many other not so pleasant things to themselves and their human flock.
Sometimes teaching independence is a challenge. Your bird wants to be with you all the time, or keeps jumping off its play area. You have to be consistent, and persistent. Keep putting the bird back on its play area. When you put your bird back, try not to make a big deal. Birds love drama, and if you make jumping off the play area more fun than being on the play area, no amount of praise is going to convince the bird its better to stay put. Once your bird is back on its play area, then hand it a toy or a treat and praise it for staying put. If you need to look over at your bird every couple minutes to encourage it, do it. Take more time between praising, so your bird spends more and more time playing on its own.

Next month we’ll look at the other types of attention you give your bird, and discuss how to use these types of interactions to help you and your bird live in harmony.