Parrots are intelligent and social birds that can become wonderful companions. However, like any pet, they require proper guidance to develop good behaviour and manners. This article aims to provide you with valuable insights and techniques for managing your parrot's behaviour and teaching them good manners.
Understand Parrot Behaviour:
To effectively manage your parrot's behaviour, it's important to understand their natural instincts and communication signals. Parrots may exhibit behaviours such as biting, screaming, feather plucking, and territoriality. By understanding these behaviours, you can address them appropriately and provide suitable alternatives. One of the ways I understood my parrot’s behavioural instincts was by a cause and effect method.
Whenever I saw Mango doing something unusual, I reflected like this-
Cause: Why might he be doing this?
Effect: Were there any physical indication after a few minutes about how he feels after doing it?
Positive Reinforcement:
Positive reinforcement plays a crucial role in parrot training. Reward your parrot with their favourite treats, praise, and attention when they display desirable behaviours such as stepping up, staying calm, or mimicking positive phrases. This positive association encourages them to repeat those actions. One of Mango’s favourite treats are apple slices, which we give to him occasionally.
Socialisation:
Parrots are highly social creatures, and proper socialisation is essential for their well-being. Expose your parrot to different environments, people, and other animals (if safe) to help them become comfortable and well-adjusted. Positive experiences will reduce the likelihood of behavioural issues arising from fear or aggression. We always let Mango spend about an hour with us daily after dinner outside of our usual encounters with him during the day.
Training Commands and Tricks:
Parrots are capable of learning a variety of commands and tricks. Start with basic commands like " UP", " DOWN" , “GOOD JOB” and “NO”to establish trust and cooperation. Use positive reinforcement and repetition to reinforce these commands. As your parrot progresses, you can teach them more advanced tricks to engage their cognitive abilities and provide mental stimulation.
Enrichment Activities:
Parrots are intelligent and active birds that require mental and physical stimulation. Provide a stimulating environment with a variety of toys, puzzles, and foraging opportunities to keep your parrot engaged. Regularly rotate toys to prevent boredom and offer new challenges.
Time and Attention:
Parrots thrive on social interaction and require regular quality time with their human companions. Ensure you dedicate sufficient time to play, train, and bond with your parrot. Neglecting their social needs can lead to behavioural problems. Mango usually goes on walks with my family and me during weekends and loves to play in our neighbourhood park. Make sure you have clipped the wings and also have a chain or leash to tie to their ring on the leg.
Consistency and Patience:
Consistency is key when managing behaviour and teaching manners to your parrot. Establish clear rules and routines, and be consistent in your training methods. Patience is vital, as parrots may take time to learn and adapt. Avoid punishments or negative reinforcement, as these can harm the bond of trust you're building with your parrot.
Managing behaviour and teaching good manners to your parrot requires understanding, patience, and positive reinforcement. By comprehending your parrot's behaviour, providing appropriate training, and creating an enriching environment, you can foster a well-behaved and happy parrot companion.