💻Online Consultations 💻
✅️One of the goals for Yoshi was to help him feel more comfortable interacting with his human family members. In the past, Yoshi displayed some aggressive behaviours, which understandably led his humans to interact with him less and with increased caution. This caused the younger family members to become quite fearful of Yoshi, a concern that needed to be addressed.
Jasmine, our Melbourne consultant, introduced target stick training because it is a low-pressure, hands-off activity that helps build trust and confidence in both birds and humans, especially the younger family members. This method is also effective for teaching other behaviours, such as loading into a crate, which was another important behaviour for this family to work on. Yoshi also exhibited heightened behaviour around food, which sometimes led to biting. To resolve this issue, Jasmine recommended offering reinforcement from a syringe.🍌
😬When Yoshi was first introduced to the target stick, he was quite wary and not comfortable approaching it. Jasmine helped Yoshi's humans break the targeting behaviour down into smaller approximations to ensure the training progressed at Yoshi's pace.
Look at Yoshi now! 👀
🎥 Video Description: Yoshi, the black-capped lorikeet, is inside his sleep cage. His human holds a target stick through the cage bars, and Yoshi climbs along the bars to touch it, then takes a lick of fruit purée from a syringe.
🌿Foraging Friday🌿
🧠We all know how fantastic foraging is for challenging our parrots mentally, as they use their brains to problem-solve and work through each activity.
But did you know that foraging can also be a great way to encourage physical exercise, especially for those “perch potatoes” out there❓️
🔃When teaching our birds to forage, it’s important to start with simple, easy-to-access activities. But once they’ve got the hang of it, you can mix things up by placing those same activities in different locations.
Jasmine got creative by using a recycled box filled with leaves, bark, and paper twisties stuffed with pellets. She secured the box to a rope swing in Luna’s aviary with a zip tie, encouraging Luna to climb along the rope, forage through the box, and then return to her perch—a steadier surface—to enjoy one of her twisties. Luna repeated this several times until she finished her meal! 🦜
🏋♂️ Foraging isn’t just fun—it’s a full-body workout!
🎉Parrot Training Academy 101 Workshop 🎉
📅Get excited because our Parrot Training Academy 101 workshop is fast approaching! If you're in Adelaide, Melbourne, or Perth and haven't registered yet, we highly recommend doing so now!
It's going to be a fun-filled day packed with behaviour and training insights where you'll learn all the foundations for living and working with parrots. 🦜
✅️Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow parrot enthusiasts and discover new techniques to enhance your bond with your feathered friends. Register today and get ready for a day of learning and fun.
🔗Links in the comments 🔗
🎥Video Description: The video begins with a Green-winged Macaw on a training stand, sidestepping toward a target stick held by a person at the other end of the stand, the macaw reaches out and touches the stick with his beak.
In the next clip, a Double Yellow-headed Amazon is perched in her cage as a person clicks a clicker and offers her with a treat.
Following this, a Blue and Gold Macaw is seen on a training perch, sidestepping to the other end where a person is pointing, and receives a blueberry as a treat.
In the final clip, The Double Yellow-headed Amazon is on a training stand, where she mirrors the arm movements of a nearby person by lifting her wings up.
🌿Foraging Friday🌿
🦜Crows ash pods stuffed with pellet dough, topped with pellets.🦜
Luna approved✅️
🥜Simply grind your bird's pellets into a powder, mix with water to create a dough-like consistency, then press the mixture into a Crow's Ash pod. Top with whole pellets for extra crunch and flavour.
Crows ash pods are sourced from our friends over at Chipper Parrots
🌞Sunday Funday 🌞
🦜It's time to showcase your feathered friends! We want to see the amazing tricks your birds have been perfecting lately.
To get the ball rolling, check out this classic gem of little Banjo the green cheek conure showing off his "playing dead" trick.👏
❓️What’s your feathered friend been up to?
Share your bird's tricks with us!👇
🎥Video Description🎥
In this clip, Banjo the green cheek conure is perched on a soft pink blanket. Jasmine holds her fingers in the shape of a gun and calls out “Bang!” In response, Banjo performs his impressive “playing dead” trick by rolling over and lying on his back. Jasmine marks the behaviour, and Banjo quickly rolls back onto his feet to claim his well-deserved treat!
🌿Foraging Friday 🌿
📦Foraging boxes can be a great way to stimulate your parrot's natural foraging instincts.
Start by filling a cardboard box with a foraging substrate of your choice—Jasmine uses gum leaves.🍃
🫘Add a portion of your bird’s daily diet into the box; for example, Jasmine hides pellets in blocks, gumnuts, and paper.
Finally, include some of your bird’s favorite toys to make the experience even more engaging.🧩
🥇Parrot Life Olympics 🥇
⛹♀️Luna is set to become the Opals' new 'top shooter'—or should we say, 'top squawker'!
If your bird were to join the Olympics, what sport would they compete in?🦜
⚽️Would they be a champion swimmer, a skilled soccer player, or perhaps a master gymnast? Let's celebrate the unique talents of our feathered friends!
Share your bird’s sporting talent in the comments below. Pictures and videos are welcome - we can’t wait to see your Olympians in action! 🤸♂️
🎥Video description: On a table, there's a basket ring. Luna, the blue and gold macaw, picks up a green ball and drops it into the ring. In the next clip, Luna is perched on her training stand, holding the ball in her beak. She flies to the table and places the ball into the ring. The clip ends with Luna knocking over the basket ring.
💻Online Consultation 💻
🦜Jasmine had the pleasure of working with Sheree and her two beautiful conures, Connie and Morrie.
Sheree hoped that Connie and Morrie would become friends, but when she introduced them, they ended up fighting. Jasmine has been introducing a more gradual approach, ensuring both birds remain calm and acclimate to each other's presence at their own pace.
Another important aspect was working on individual behaviours, such as stationing and targeting, to make managing both birds easier. In this video, Morrie is working on stepping up onto a perch, while Connie is practising a stationing behaviour. ✅
🏡In-Home Consultations 🏡
🦜Some of you may remember Nova the cockatiel. When Jasmine first started working with her, she was very fearful of humans and would always retreat to high places to hide.
Through consistent application of the techniques taught in their sessions, along with a lot of patience and understanding, Nova and her humans have made remarkable progress.📝
✅Nova has gone from avoiding human interaction entirely to stepping up, asking for scratches, and practising flighted recalls.
Her humans also reported that she has become more curious and comfortable around visitors. Jasmine witnessed this transformation first-hand during a follow-up session when Nova hopped right onto her hand.🥳
🎥In this video, Nova the cockatiel is perched on a T-stand. The owner extends a finger and recalls Nova, who flies over and lands on the owner's finger, receiving a sunflower seed. After a few seconds, the owner points back to the T-stand, and Nova flies back to it.
🏡In-Home Consultation🏡
👩Yesterday Jasmine had the opportunity to work with Storm, Riley, and their flock in an In-home follow up Consultation.
In this video, Storm is working with Tifa, the black lorikeet, who had previously been avoiding hands and hesitant to hop off her humans willingly. 🤚
✅Jasmine implemented training strategies that focused on cooperative step-ups and step-offs, leaving Storm and Riley with effective techniques to continue practising.
🎥Description: Tifa, the black lorikeet, is stationed on a T-stand training perch. When her human offers his hand and says "step up," Tifa places both feet onto the hand and is reinforced with a small peice of apple. The human then turns Tifa around so she faces the perch and holds a treat on the other side. Tifa hops off the hand and onto the perch, receiving another treat.
❓Did you know that some of the most complex behaviours begin with basic training and foundation behaviours❓
📆To help you build a solid foundation, we're excited to announce our upcoming Parrot Training Academy 101 Workshop, which will be held in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne over the next few months.
This workshop is designed to guide you through each step, ensuring that you and your bird develop the essential skills needed for advanced training, effective communication, and bond building. ✅
🦜Join us for an exciting day filled with learning and hands-on training!
👇Links to our Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne workshops in the comments. 👇
❗Attention Bird Lovers of Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne!❗
🤯Are you ready for PTA101? Join us for a fun-filled day dedicated to everything birds! We'll dive into numerous essential aspects of bird care and training, complete with plenty of hands-on practice. Whether you're a seasoned avian enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this event is for you!
Don't miss out on our early bird prices and get your tickets today. 📅
👇Links in the comments 👇
🦜The Process and Importance of Microchipping Companion Parrots🦜
🏡Microchipping our birds provides the best chance of being reunited with them if they accidentally get loose. While other identification methods like leg rings are popular, they pose risks such as getting caught on toys or cage bars and can be easily removed if the person who found your bird decided to keep them.
Microchipping involves placing a tiny chip into a bird's left breast muscle. (Birds that weigh under 100 grams are sedated for the procedure, while larger birds can often undergo the procedure without sedation, depending on factors to be discussed with your avian vet.) When scanned, the chip reveals a unique identification number. It’s important to note that these microchips are not tracking devices; they are solely used for identifying and returning lost birds to their rightful owners.🔢
💉In the first section of the video, Jasmine, Our Melbourne consultant, prepares Luna for the microchipping procedure, practicing cooperative care behaviors such as cooperative restraints, needle stick training, and scanning. These behaviours were then generalised and practiced with other family members.
Thanks to Dr. Matt and the team at Melbourne Bird Veterinary Clinic Jasmine was granted permission to film behind the scenes of the microchipping procedure, allowing her to share the process with us all. 🩺
❓Does this sound familiar: "My bird won't leave me alone!"❓
🚫It's a common complaint: when a bird is out of their cage, they cling to their owner, which can be frustrating. This typically happens because boundaries weren't established early on, and the bird doesn't have designated areas in the house or hasn't been taught independence. In young birds, this can lead to codependency issues, which may develop into unhealthy pair bonding as the bird matures.
Setting up other areas in your home for your parrot can effectively address this issue. However, it is crucial to make these areas fun and engaging to ensure your parrot actually wants to spend time there. A plain perch alone won't hold their interest for long, making you a far more attractive option. To keep them entertained and content, you need to create a stimulating environment.🌿
👇Here are a few tips for setting up the perfect area for your bird and encouraging them to stay there:
🧸 Utilise Toys and Favourite Items: Incorporate toys and items they enjoy, such as fresh browse or safe rope. This will make the area more appealing.
🥦 Feed in Designated Areas: Set aside small portions of their daily meal and feed them in these areas. This creates positive associations and encourages them to spend time there.
🔎Include Foraging Activities: Introduce foraging activities to keep them mentally stimulated and engaged.
👩Give Attention: Don’t ignore them while they are in these areas. Reinforce their behaviour with your attention.
🦜If you have a new bird and want to learn how to prevent problem behaviours, join us in our online parrot kinder classes.🦜
🔗Link in comments🔗
💻Online Consultations💻
🦜Jasmine our Melbourne Consultant had the pleasure of working with Nova the cockatiel and her loving human, Storm. Nova was initially quite frightened of humans, often retreating to high places when outside of her cage, making it difficult to get her down and back in. This sometimes led to stressful situations where her humans had to chase and catch her.
During the consultation, Jasmine introduced low-pressure, hands-off foundation training to slowly build Nova's confidence and strengthen her relationship with Storm.👈
🏆Over the past few weeks, Storm has been working diligently with Nova, and his efforts are paying off.
Watch as Nova confidently moves around her cage, perches on her station perch with the door open, seeks head scratches, and even steps up.🥰
👏Well done Storm and Nova👏
👉From Training To Real Life: Generalising Animal Behaviours 👈
🦜Generalising involves taking a behaviour from one setting and applying it to various other settings. This may include different environments or engaging in known behaviours with different people. Generalisation is particularly important for behaviours that may need to be used outside of the usual training environment.
For example, crate training a bird often begins with conditioning the bird to load into a crate from a table inside the home. To generalise this behaviour, practice can occur in different areas of the house before attempting it in new environments away from home.🏕
🩺Another example is cooperative care behaviours, where a bird voluntarily engages in their own care or medical practices with a specific person. To generalise these behaviours, different people can practise with the bird before involving a vet or nurse at a clinic.
Here is Luna engaging in some cooperative care behaviours with Jasmine's husband, who typically does not participate much in training.🙎♂️
👉Parrot Kinder: 3 reason why you should sign up today👈
🦜Join our Parrot Kinder classes, held on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings starting June 20th. Start off on the right wing and sign up today!🦜
🖇Link In Comments 🖇
❓What are your birds actually eating❓
🥦Despite our best intentions in presenting a colourful bowl of mixed healthy vegetables and fruit to our parrots, assuming they are enjoying and consuming a well-balanced diet.
🤚have we paused to consider what they truly consume?🤚
It's crucial to recognise that what we offer may not align with their actual intake. This issue is exacerbated when we provide an excessive amount of these foods, including generous portions of fruit and sugary vegetables.🍇
🤤Consequently, our birds may overindulge in those high-energy sugary foods, neglecting the more nutritious options. This dietary imbalance is a key contributor to the emergence of problematic behaviours.
In this video, Jasmine puts the theory of selective eating to the test with Luna.👇
💡Tips to prevent this issue from occurring💡
1. Avoid offrring overfilled food bowls and ensure you provide your bird with portions that match their actual dietary requirements.
2. Be mindful of the correct proportions when offering pellets/nectar, vegetables and fruit, grains and legumes, and nuts and seeds. This helps prevent overfeeding and ensures our birds maintain a balanced diet without filling up on one type of food.
3.Set aside favoured foods, particularly those higher in fat and sugar, for training purposes, using them to teach and reinforce desired behaviours. Examples of such foods could include corn, fruit, nuts, and seeds.
📣Parrot Kinder starts tomorrow!📣
👉There's still time to join—sign up today and don't miss out!
🖇Link in the comments🖇
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