I still can't figure out how to potty train a bird. I would like my cockatoos to do just that, but I am unsure on how to start the process.
Right now only one of my sulpher crested will fly to me when I call, I haven't started using sunflower seeds as treats yet. But the bird will fly when
I call so it can get its head scratched etc.
Now the potty training is a different story. Can someone who has done this advise me on what I need to do.
Thanks
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How to potty train?
Moderators: kirsten, garrett, damian, conniep
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: How to potty train?
by MFids on Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:40 pm
I haven't potty trained any of my birds, but it's much like potty training any other animal (or human child, for that matter). You praise them for going in a spot that you want them to go in... such as inside the cage, over a trashcan, or paper towl, for instance. If you potty train a bird to poop over a trashcan, and you get it so ingrained in them, they may stop going poo in their cage, which is an issue if you are gone for several hours during the day or you go on vacation.
Before you open the birds cage, say "Go Potty" or "Drop the Bomb" or "Bombs Away" (or whatever you want to use as the cue... just note, visitors may look at you funny if you tell your bird to "go potty"!!!). If the bird goes, praise the bird and maybe give them a treat. Whether or not the bird goes, you could bring the bird out, and every 10-20 minutes, put the bird back in/on the cage, or over something you want the bird to go to the bathroom over, and repeat the phrase. Once they go, praise/treat and repeat in another 10-20 minutes.
It's not so much about training the bird as it is training yourself to watch the birds body language (some birds squat, some wiggle their tails right before they go, so it's just a matter of watching for these signs and acting upon them right before the bird goes)...
My mitred conure likes to hang out with me, and so every 15 or so minutes I usually make him fly to his cage and tell him to "Go Potty". If he needs to go, he goes, then flies back to me. If he doesn't have to go, he'll just fly back to me. However, he's not trained, because if I don't make him go back to his cage he'll still poo on me... I wouldn't say he's trained, but if I make sure he goes to his cage every now and then, I can usually prevent him from going on me.
I tamed my cherry headed conure by praising her with kisses (and yes, I got a lot of bites on the nose and lips at first!). I couldn't get her to take any treats from my hands (no matter how much she loved them, if she took them, she'd drop them) when I first got her, so I tamed her down by giving her kisses on her beak each time she stepped up without biting. If she bit, I told her "No Biting! Be easy!" in a firm voice. Now, she rarely bites unless she feels insecure or scared or unsure (she has health problems, going blind, and does not have a strong grip, so my hand MUST be as steady as possible - on the other hand, the mitred I can flip him over on his back and toss him in the air!), and if I ask her for a kiss, she'll lean over and get as many kisses as possible! She's not really people orientated, however, but I tamed her down without treats! Point being, praises can work just as well as treats!
Before you open the birds cage, say "Go Potty" or "Drop the Bomb" or "Bombs Away" (or whatever you want to use as the cue... just note, visitors may look at you funny if you tell your bird to "go potty"!!!). If the bird goes, praise the bird and maybe give them a treat. Whether or not the bird goes, you could bring the bird out, and every 10-20 minutes, put the bird back in/on the cage, or over something you want the bird to go to the bathroom over, and repeat the phrase. Once they go, praise/treat and repeat in another 10-20 minutes.
It's not so much about training the bird as it is training yourself to watch the birds body language (some birds squat, some wiggle their tails right before they go, so it's just a matter of watching for these signs and acting upon them right before the bird goes)...
My mitred conure likes to hang out with me, and so every 15 or so minutes I usually make him fly to his cage and tell him to "Go Potty". If he needs to go, he goes, then flies back to me. If he doesn't have to go, he'll just fly back to me. However, he's not trained, because if I don't make him go back to his cage he'll still poo on me... I wouldn't say he's trained, but if I make sure he goes to his cage every now and then, I can usually prevent him from going on me.
I tamed my cherry headed conure by praising her with kisses (and yes, I got a lot of bites on the nose and lips at first!). I couldn't get her to take any treats from my hands (no matter how much she loved them, if she took them, she'd drop them) when I first got her, so I tamed her down by giving her kisses on her beak each time she stepped up without biting. If she bit, I told her "No Biting! Be easy!" in a firm voice. Now, she rarely bites unless she feels insecure or scared or unsure (she has health problems, going blind, and does not have a strong grip, so my hand MUST be as steady as possible - on the other hand, the mitred I can flip him over on his back and toss him in the air!), and if I ask her for a kiss, she'll lean over and get as many kisses as possible! She's not really people orientated, however, but I tamed her down without treats! Point being, praises can work just as well as treats!
Monica & Fids
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Re: How to potty train?
by saiyan on Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:57 pm
Thanks for the info.
I see a bit of breeders that are selling babies mention that the birds are potty trained. I would love to have my two sulpers do it only on the cage or playstand. Sometimes when they are on the cage they will fly to the floor, and I have to chase them back to the cage because of the carpet. There is only one that likes to fly to the dining room table and start chewing stuff up, so I have to keep my eye on him whenever he is out of the cage. It's funny because when he sees me coming toward him as he flys on the table, he will fly back to the cage. But yet, he still flys to the table. Sometimes I just give up and put him back in the cage.
I would like to know what some of these breeders are doing to potty train their babies, but I am not sure they will be willing to share that information.
Thanks again for your help.
Lester
I see a bit of breeders that are selling babies mention that the birds are potty trained. I would love to have my two sulpers do it only on the cage or playstand. Sometimes when they are on the cage they will fly to the floor, and I have to chase them back to the cage because of the carpet. There is only one that likes to fly to the dining room table and start chewing stuff up, so I have to keep my eye on him whenever he is out of the cage. It's funny because when he sees me coming toward him as he flys on the table, he will fly back to the cage. But yet, he still flys to the table. Sometimes I just give up and put him back in the cage.
I would like to know what some of these breeders are doing to potty train their babies, but I am not sure they will be willing to share that information.
Thanks again for your help.
Lester
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