Training birds to perch is a basic and important step that bird owners can take to allay bird fears and build trust between birds and their owners; Training the bird also helps build your authority and prevents the bird from becoming defensive. While these steps are fairly easy, their success will depend on the nature of the bird and your patience. With patience and a gentle touch, musks, parakeets, and other birds can be taught to perch on fingers or hands.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Training Preparation
Step 1. Exercise the bird 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes
Birds are creatures of habit and have short attention spans, so consistent, short training sessions are best.
Step 2. Find a comfortable place to practice
Birds have short attention spans, so it's important to create spaces with minimal distractions.
Confident or adaptable birds don't need a cage for training. If the bird is nervous or unfamiliar with your home, it may be necessary to cage the bird during practice
Step 3. Create a safe and comfortable environment
Close all doors and windows, turn off ceiling fans and other devices that can harm birds and keep other animals out of the room.
Make sure you are calm and gentle when training your bird; if you are frustrated, angry, or nervous, the bird is likely to be agitated
Step 4. Prepare special food in return for the birds
When calming a bird, familiarizing it with your hands, and teaching it the command to perch, it's important to reward the bird's progress. Rewards (such as fruit and nuts) should be provided specifically to teach birds to perch and are foods that birds do not normally eat.
- Small, easy-to-eat rewards can be quickly given to the bird to soothe and encourage it when you teach a command.
- Saying comforting words and giving compliments often will calm and encourage the bird.
Part 2 of 2: Training Birds
Step 1. Get used to the bird with your hands
Gently slide your hand into the cage (but not too close), until the bird is comfortable. Shy or nervous birds need several sessions to get comfortable with your hands. Do it constantly and always make sure to move slowly so that the bird does not startle.
Stand above bird's eye level to establish dominance. Standing too high can scare the bird and crouching too low will show your submission
Step 2. Extend your hand towards the bird
Be sure to move your hands slowly and keep your hands steady and confident. Birds will be nervous if the person handling them is nervous and will be reluctant or afraid to perch on their fingers if your hands shake or you drop the bird during these early sessions.
Step 3. Gently and slowly push your fingers under the bird's chest, just above the feet
Press lightly so that the bird loses its balance slightly. Birds must lift their legs when they feel they are losing their balance. When this happens, place your toes under your feet and gently lift them--the bird will perch on top of your finger or hand.
- If the bird is nervous or biting, you should start the exercise with a stick until he becomes more comfortable.
- A bird may use its beak to stabilize itself or even bite your finger or hand. If this happens, do not abandon the bird or show fear, as the bird will be frightened or take this as a sign of submission.
Step 4. Get the bird to "perch"
Use the bird's name when you say "perch" and give it frequent compliments. Many birds, especially if they are small, will perch on your finger with a slight push, as the finger resembles a perch.
- When the bird is perched, praise it and give it a special meal prepared in advance. Even if the bird only has one leg above your hand, you should praise it and reward it.
- With repetition and encouragement, the bird will learn to associate the command "perch" with the perch on the hand or arm.
Step 5. Repeat the exercise with the other hand
Following the same steps, familiarize the bird with the other, weaker hand. Birds that are habitual animals may refuse to perch on the opposite hand unless you make some effort to train them during this early stage.
When the bird is comfortable, you can start removing it from the cage before repeating perching training
Step 6. Continue to train the bird
If the bird is shy or nervous and refuses to perch on a finger or hand, use a stick.
- When the bird is perched on the wood, switch to the "tiered" technique. Place your finger to the side and slightly higher than the bird on the perch and induce it to switch to a new perch.
- Include each step with a "perch" command and give frequent praise when the bird follows your command.
- Instruct the bird to keep moving from stick to finger and from finger to log until the training session is over.
Step 7. Do it constantly, but patiently
Birds have unique temperaments and can be shy or nervous, so it's important to exercise patience when training your bird on a daily basis.
- Create a practice session routine. Birds will learn to wait for training sessions together.
- Reward it with praise and food even if the progress is small. Encouragement is the best way to make the bird feel comfortable and teach the bird to follow your commands.
Warning
- Cover transparent glass or mirrors as birds can fly towards these objects in a panic and injure themselves.
- Some birds, such as the quaker parrot, are known to be defensive and require more intense training than other birds. Check out books on how to train parrots and how to minimize and deal with defensive behavior.
- Wild birds should not be taken from their habitat and it is not recommended to train wild birds.
