B.J.'s TIPS ON TRICKS.

 

Unfortunately some birds are not as bright as others, or worse still not

very cooperative for reasons of their own. This is where the breeder

trainer has the advantage. It's not that he/she is clever, they just have

a far wider choice than the average pet keeper.

If you already know your birds favourite treat, keep it just for teaching,

this will make it extra special.

If you don't know, offer several treats at once & watch him/her. It wont

take long.

If you have a new bird or birds that have not learned basic Step-up, place

a perch in the cage closer & parallel to the bars so all the birds can reach

all of a selection of treats you hold up to the bars.

Once you have the birds favourite. treat Your halfway home. Second best

treat is just as good if it's more convenient for you.

I never expect a bird to do anything for nothing. Just one bite size treat

Is payment enough.

Some birds are clever enough to refuse to comply with requests that offer

no reward.

My own favourite treat is sponge cake. For a practice session, I sit with a

slice of cake & a cup of tea. I trim off 3 or 4 small pieces for training,

& eat the rest with my tea, while training is in progress.

Many tricks are just budgies doing what budgies do. It's how you set the

scene, that turns a bird doing bird things into a performer.

As a trainer you must be ready to turn any mistake into part of an act.

For instance, some time ago. I had set things up to teach two budgies to play

a toy piano. One bird watched as I tried to teach the other to tap the keys

with his beak.

After the first successful attempt, the bird stepped up onto the keys for

another treat. So I moved my hand & treat sideways & the bird followed,

side stepping on the keys.

This was better than beak tapping. By his third treat he was side stepping

up & down the keys.

I sent him off to play & called down the other bird, who had been watching the proceedings.

When I tapped the piano he jumped on to the side of it & ran quickly right

across the keys, for his treat.

This was better than my original idea of having two virtuoso's. I gave him his

treat, moved him about 2ft from the piano & using the treat as bait I got him

to do it again.

A mini act was born. First I would introduce the piano player. I suggested

that if any one knew the tune about to be played. Please feel free to join in.

He did his part, but oddly enough no one recognised the tune.

As I put him away with his treat, the stooge would escape & run across the keys.

While I told him off, he would run off & do it again & again

The young children thought the naughty bird very funny indeed.

 

Well I think that's enough for now. Hope it may help you with your bird.

Yours B.J.

This is really interesting BJ. Do you take your birds to somewhere for them to perform for kids? Do you have other tricks you've taught them?

Hi Yes I have a couple more for later. I was never a professional performer. My family have always been in animal

 

training side of the business.but I only did it as a hobby. I''ve bred & trained birds for various entertainers & for the gen

 

public over the years.. Trained pet birds fetch a lot more money. All you pet budgie breeders out there take note.

 

I used to put the birds through their paces at, Nurseries, Care homes & Daycare centres, for free. Just to

 

get the birds used to different environments. Hope that answers you questions.

 

I did press the Quote button but nowt happened. Yours B.J.

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by Bird Junky

Hi Yes I have a couple more for later. I was never a professional performer. My family have always been in animal

 

training side of the business.but I only did it as a hobby. I''ve bred & trained birds for various entertainers & for the gen

 

public over the years.. Trained pet birds fetch a lot more money. All you pet budgie breeders out there take note.

 

I used to put the birds through their paces at, Nurseries, Care homes & Daycare centres, for free. Just to

 

get the birds used to different environments. Hope that answers you questions.

 

I did press the Quote button but nowt happened. Yours B.J.

 

 

It's possible your cursor may have been slightly above the Multiquote button, so that you actually clicked on the voting buttons, and I don't think those do anything.

 

 

Doing those demos with your birds must have been very rewarding. Your story brings back memories of when I used to take my Sheltie in to my kids' elementary classes and teach the children about pet ownership and obedience competition. Kids that age are fun to work with. They are interested and they absorb a lot.

 

 

 

I've not yet gotten to teaching any budgie a trick. But I'm impressed with other people who do. I'm mostly content with just getting some of mine to like me! But I'm looking forward to reading more about your budgie training.

I love the idea of teaching your budgies to do tricks to entertain kids :-) keep up the great work