The tame Australian parakeet (also known as the falk or cockatiel) makes a great pet to pet, play with, and even dance to. However, it will take some time and effort for your Australian parakeet to become tame. When taming a parakeet, you have to do it slowly. Do the training in short sessions in a quiet place. If your parakeet is young, there is a chance that the taming process will go faster and your pet bird will be easier to tame.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Encouraging Your Bird to Socialize
Step 1. Stay calm and don't move suddenly around your new Australian parakeet
Don't try to tame it until your bird has gotten used to its new environment for a few weeks. Keep an Australian parakeet in a quiet and secluded place.
Step 2. Try talking to your bird from outside its cage
You can say whatever you like as long as you use a calm tone of voice without any change in volume. Also, speak softly (don't speak loudly). If your position is higher than your aviary, crouch down or position yourself so that your head is only slightly higher than your bird's eye. This way, you won't seem like a threat to your bird, but you won't appear as if you'll comply. Do this for a few days before you try to tame it.
Step 3. Make sure your bird is comfortable with you
Once your bird has gotten used to your voice, it will start moving toward you when you sit down and talk to it. At this point, you should be able to start taming training, but slowly, of course.
Step 4. Give your bird a treat
Generally, barley stalks can be used to train Australian parakeets, as these birds are usually attracted to food. However, you can also provide Australian parakeets with safe food, of course, in small amounts. Pass treats for your bird through the bars of the cage, but don't give it right in front of its head. This way, your bird will be encouraged to want to move on its own towards you and grab its food. Hold the barley stalk or food firmly when your bird pecks once or twice, or allow him to peck and enjoy his food for 5 seconds if he is showing good behavior.
Only use barley stalks or any other type of snack you use as a snack. Your bird may find it disinterested to be trained if it can eat the same food without putting in the effort
Step 5. Repeat this activity every day
Take time each day to talk to your bird. Place your hand near the cage and reward your bird if he stays calm when your hand is near his cage. Set aside no more than 10 or 15 minutes for each training session, once or twice a day, to keep your bird from feeling anxious. At the end of the exercise, encourage your bird to come closer to you before he can get his treat.
Even if your young Australian parakeet wants to keep playing with you and looking happy, keep training sessions limited to 15 minutes, as the young need to return to their cage to eat and get plenty of rest
Part 2 of 4: Training Your Bird to Get on the Fingers and Climb
Step 1. Open the cage only when your bird is comfortable
Once your bird is comfortable, it will remain calm when you approach it, and may even eat the treats that come right out of your hand. It can take weeks or months for an adult Australian parakeet not used to interacting closely with humans. Once you've reached this stage, you can encourage your bird to get out of the cage, although some birds who aren't used to socializing won't want to leave the cage on their own.
Before you open the cage, make sure all the windows and doors in your room are closed and that there are no other pets in the room
Step 2. Keep your arms extended toward the bird throughout the exercise
If your bird is already willing to approach you and eat the treat right out of your hand, start approaching it the same way, but this time with your bare hands. Extend your two fingers horizontally and hold this position until your bird is calm. Give him a treat if he manages to stay calm. Keep in mind that limit this exercise to 10 to 15 minutes, one to two times a day.
Step 3. Push the bird up onto your finger
Extend your hand directly toward the bird's perch or touch its leg. If you are able to hold the position without making your bird agitated, gently push the lower part of your bird's chest with your finger. The gentle push is enough to upset her balance, so that your bird will place one foot on top of your finger.
Step 4. Encourage him to follow the instructions given to go up
Each time your bird starts to climb onto your finger or hand, say a short command like “get up!” or "up." Praise your bird when he does it and give him a small treat. Give back the compliment if he manages to get up on your toes with both feet. Limit each exercise to a few minutes, and make sure you give a positive compliment or response at the end of the exercise.
Your bird will probably use its beak to test the stability of your finger. If the beak hits your finger, try not to pull your hand right away
Step 5. Teach your bird to go up and down stairs
Once your bird has successfully climbed onto your finger when you tell it to, teach it to come down or move to another perch using the same method. Encourage your bird to do this by teaching him the 'jump' command or repeating the 'up' command, so that it will move from your left hand to your right hand, and back again and again. Do this exercise daily, until your bird is willing to do it when instructed without having to be given a treat or a treat.
You don't need to give any special commands to jump. Instead, you can repeat the “up.” command
Part 3 of 4: Practice Other Tricks
Step 1. Try doing a clicker exercise
As the exercise becomes more complicated, the bird may be confused about why you are giving it a treat. Therefore, try using a clicker (a device that makes a 'click' sound), or making short, loud noises (such as the sound of a pen tapping on a tabletop) whenever your bird shows good behavior. These sounds will grab your bird's attention while you give it a treat. Once your bird is trained, you can use the click or tap sound of a pen as a reward only. However, before your bird is fully trained, you will still need to give it a treat.
It is recommended to use a clicker or other distinctive sound instead of verbal commands, as these sounds will always sound the same and may not be heard outside of practice
Step 2. Continue to do clicker exercises to teach additional tricks
Clicker training is a great way to train pets. Whenever you want to start practicing a new command, use the clicker or make a distinctive sound like the sound of a pen tapping every time your bird shows good behavior or does your command. Give treats immediately after, and continue to practice every day until your bird will respond to your command with a click as a reward.
Step 3. Train your bird to feel comfortable in the towel
Once your bird is comfortable outside its cage, place your bird on a white or ivory towel on the floor every day for the duration of the exercise. Gradually lift each corner of the towel and immediately lower it back down if your bird starts to struggle. Repeat this process daily and reward your bird if he manages to stay calm, until you can finally wrap your bird in a towel. If this exercise works, you can easily wrap your bird in a towel, making it easier if you need to take him to the vet, or in case of an emergency.
Step 4. Teach your bird to talk
Repeat a phrase a number of times and have an interesting expression and tone of voice. Do this when your bird is feeling calm and happy. If he looks at you and shows reactions, such as nodding his head or dilated pupils, he may be interested in the phrase or word you are saying. Keep repeating the word or phrase, but stop immediately if he gets bored. If your bird tries to imitate you, give him a treat as a reward.
- Male Australian parakeets can make more sounds than females because males make more complex sounds to attract the attention of the opposite sex. The female Australian parakeet can also talk, but her voice may not be as clear as that of the male.
- Most Australian parakeets can talk by the time they are eight months old. However, if your bird seems interested in the words you say, you can train them from the time your bird is four months old. However, the exercise will be more difficult for adult Australian parakeets who are not used to talking or imitating sounds.
Step 5. Encourage the bird to whistle and dance
While watching your bird, nod your head or wiggle your fingers while following the music at a steady rhythm. If your bird is swaying along, give him a click and a treat as a treat. As practice progresses and you discover music that attracts your bird's attention, it may sway more energetically as it lifts its wings. In addition, whistling while doing dance practice can also encourage your bird to whistle or make his own voice.
Part 4 of 4: Dealing with Bird Bite
Step 1. Try not to react immediately if you are bitten
If your bird bites, try to minimize your reaction. Striking your hand, yelling loudly, or ending a taming session may actually encourage your bird to bite again. Of course it will be difficult for you not to react because of the pain you may be experiencing. Therefore, try to avoid serious bites by leaving your bird when it begins to show signs such as hissing, an erect crest, or a crest flush with its head.
If the bird continues to bite, wear thick gardening gloves
Step 2. Don't try to punish your bird
Australian parakeets usually don't understand what you mean when you try to punish them. The birds may be happy when you scream and return them to the cage, or they may show a bad attitude. Focus on giving praise if your bird is showing a good attitude, or use subtle punishments such as ignoring him, or carefully picking up his toys.
Step 3. Wipe the bird only when it is calm
Many Australian parakeets only enjoy being stroked on their crest or beak, and some don't like being stroked at all. Wipe gently, and stop immediately and keep your hands away if your bird starts hissing, biting you, or flattening its crest.
Tips
- To reduce distraction, do the exercise in a quiet place and make sure that only you and your bird are there.
- The Australian parakeet tests objects of interest with its beak and tongue. If the crest is half raised, and the beak looks open like it's examining something, these are likely signs that your bird is curious, not angry or resentful.
