Learn How To Train Your Parrot In 7 Days

If you are a new pet parent and need clarification about how to start training your parrot, I can help you through this article. We all know that parrots are some of the most beautiful and smart bird species on the planet and knowing them completely is something that intrigues bird lovers a lot. They are not only smart but extremely adaptable to the environment.

Parrots make great pets and are considered auspicious to have in many cultures around the world. Due to their beauty, they are some of the widest pet birds in the world. However, training your parrots can be a daunting task if you are not aware of the process involved. 

Tricks And Tips To Train Your Parrot!

Training a pet parrot requires more patience and dedication. Pet parrots can be frightened significantly when they are shifted to new surroundings. you can begin to tame them after providing some time to fix into a new environment. There are numerous ways to tame your pet parrot. But you have to be well known about their behavior and serve according to it.

Are parrots easy to train?

Birds and especially parrots are some of the most individualistic in nature and each one of them is different from the other one. They need special care and demand specific times when they need to be nurtured and advanced in the right direction. With patience and the right technique, parrots are easy to train. 

There are many aspects that you will have to consider while calculating the time required to train the parrot. In this regard, it becomes important to know the age of your parrot as younger parrots are quick to adapt to the training and can take up to 3 to 6 months in the process. However, training an older parrot can take somewhere from 6-12 months. 

It is a highly subjective question as each of the parrots is different from the other one in terms of its learning capacities, past experiences, and basic nature. Talking in general, most parrots are not too hard to train and learn things quicker than any other birds. They are good at the things they do and look beautiful while performing these learned tricks. 

Tricks to teach your parrot

Here are some tricks for beginners to teach your parrots to perform well.

Trick	Description
T-stand	Teach your bird to be comfortable on the T-stand. Provide treats and encouragement.
Wave	Train your bird to wave by making a small wave with your fingers and saying “wave.” Reward with treats.
Shake hands	Train your bird to shake hands by extending your finger and removing it as the bird steps on. Reward with treats.
Potty training	Train your bird to use a designated area for potty. Takes time and patience.
Dancing	Put on music and dance, encouraging your bird to join in by stepping from foot to foot.
Fly laps	Train your bird to fly laps by attracting them with a treat and rewarding them with treats.

🦜Using T-stand

Your bird will feel comfortable while sitting on the T-stand. When they relax on the T-stand provide them treats, such as sunflower seeds, chopped fruits, or snacks. Your bird likes appreciation. When they do any activity or performance, encourage them by saying “good.” You can easily tame them standing on the T-stand and the birds can learn the commands faster than in the cage.

🦜Wave

Waving is the simple first step that you can teach your bird. Let your bird sit on the T-stand. Create a small wave with your fingers and say “wave.” you can make the parrot wave with a gentle motion. Offer your finger or hand when they try to step on you. Whenever they raise their leg, wave your finger in a direction. So, they will feel that obeying you can win rewards. Repeat the process over and over again to guide them while waving.

🦜Shaking hands

Now your bird knows some tricks, train them to shake hands as a next step. When you tend your hand, your bird will think you are asking to wave. Extend your finger to them, but do not let them step on to it.  Remove your hand while they step onto you. So they will understand that your intention is different. Shake your fingers when they place their leg on it.  Repeat the process several times until they are used to it.

🦜Potty training

This trick is very useful when you clean their cage. If you are successful in training them where to potty, they will follow for the rest of their life. You can use the trick to use the bathroom by commanding them to their destination. Be aware that training the parrots is a time-consuming process.

🦜Dancing

Parrots are real entertainers. They love to engage in different activities and imitate their owners. If you want to make your bird dance, put on some dance music and dance yourself. When your parrot watches you dancing, it will join in by stepping from foot to foot.

🦜Fly laps

If your parrot is trained enough, you can teach them how to fly laps- especially if you have a good bond with your parrot. When they start flying around you, attract them with a treat so they will come back to your hands. If your bird is an expert with this trick, you don’t need to clip your bird’s wings.

How to train a parrot to sit on a hand?

Training your pet parrot can be challenging when it is aged. You have to follow training tips when your parrot is young. When you first introduce your hand to a parrot, it will panic. But once they are familiar with the surroundings, you can approach them with more tricks and techniques to teach them several things. The following steps can help you to train your parrot to sit on your hand.

⭐️Insert your hand into the cage several times and wave it slowly in the bird’s direction. Repeat this process until the parrot gets used to it. You can hold a treat in your hand while you put your hand into the parrot cage. If your bird eats from your hands, you are on the way to establishing ‘hand trust.’

⭐️For the next two weeks, insert your hand into the cage several times daily. Hold a perch or stick in your hand so that your bird steps onto the perch or stick.

⭐️When the parrot gets used to the perch, make him step onto it. Hold it at a right angle to the bird’s body and push him gently in the chest. In this way, you can trigger its step-up reflex. In this process, you can use commands such as ‘up,’ ‘step up,’ etc.  

⭐️Repeat the process several times when the parrot seems comfortable, and replace the perch with your hand. Make slow and smooth movements with your fingers until it has no choice but to step onto your sturdy hand. 

⭐️Eventually, your parrots will climb into your fingers and sit on your hands whenever they get out of the cage. They will spend more time on your hands if they trust you completely.

Ophelia’s finally learning how to fly after being clipped before ever getting the chance 😖 pic.twitter.com/4ypmsTRhGo

— ApolloandFrens (@ApolloandFrens) January 6, 2023

How to train a parrot to fly and come back?

Let’s start with how to train a pet parrot. Many behavioral problems arise if we don’t train parrots at a young age. As we all know, flying is an essential factor that can affect the health of a parrot. We cannot take any kind of risk which affects their health. If you do not allow your parrot to fly, it can be a reason for building many defects in them. Wild parrots naturally learn how to fly and come back to their parrots. But in the case of parrots in captivity, the owners should train them accordingly. 

When you train your parrot to fly, you encourage them to do an activity and help to create a healthy bond between you and your parrot. You, as a trainer, need to be aware of everything related to your parrot, and the interaction between you and your parrot matters. If your parrot does not trust you, it will not show any kind of positive reaction. You can make your parrots healthy and happy by letting them fly freely in the sky. But if your bird is not trained correctly, it cannot fly consistently.  

Parrots can lose their ability to fly, especially when they spend one or two years in a cage. such parrots are hard to train. The training process takes a lot of time and patience because pet parrots cannot fly in a single session. They need well-structured training for flying, because a pet bird’s body, structure, and anatomy demand it.

The training steps include:

🔶Start by targeting the parrot from perch to perch. Once the parrot is familiar with the perches, place your pet in T-stands and increase the distance between the two stands to make them work harder at stepping across the gap.

🔶Provide some treats when it reaches the target point. So it will be an encouragement to them to take long steps.

🔶When you place the stands at a long distance, the parrot will try to reach the point by flying. By doing this exercise, they will be more active and the muscles will grow. 

🔶The next step is to make your parrot fly to you. When training this, place one stand on one side and hold your hand steadily on the opposite side of the stand. Slowly, it will fly from the stand to your palm.

🔶Once your parrot is successfully trained to fly to the targeted spots. You can let them free outside. They will take a flight and come back to you within minutes.

Flying requires a lot of energy and muscles. If your parrot is not in good health in the cage, it cannot fly too long. Your bird should develop skills to safely maneuver, fly up, down, turn, and land. These skills have to be practiced by their owners.

In captivity, many parrots’ feathers are clipped by their owners. So they cannot go too long when they are allowed to fly freely. I always recommend keeping its cage outside in a visible place so that your parrot can identify its home and come back.

How can you potty train a parrot?

Parrots dropping is one of the major messes when we take care of them. This can be an issue when your parrot deposits its droppings anywhere and anytime it likes. But, you can avoid such situations by providing them with potty training. Parrots are quick learners and can change their behavior with proper guidance. It can be a long-term benefit if you are successful in training your parrot where to potty. These steps can help you to teach them effectively.

🟢Pick a command

When you train your parrot, commanding them matters. Parrots can quickly pick commands and obey them when compared to other birds. So start your training by setting a command like “go potty,” “go poop,” or “do it.” repeat the phrases several times so that your parrot understands what you want from him.

🟢Know your bird

Parrots behave differently when they poop. So it is important to know your parrot’s pooping behavior. Understand their changes when they urge to poop if you want to potty-train them. The common signs that a parrot shows before pooping includes crouching, moving its tail, stepping backward, fluffing feathers, and different stance. Notice the pattern and time intervals of their pooping so that you can set reminders accordingly.

🟢Find a spot

Once you are aware of your bird’s pooping behavior, set a perfect spot. You can choose places like a bird’s cage, garbage can, newspaper, or pooping station. Whenever you find your bird is ready for pooping, take it to the spot and let it do its business. Repeat the process until they build it as a habit. A command can help your bird to understand what you are requesting to do so it will follow accordingly.  

🟢Appreciate your parrot

When your parrot lands on the suggested spot, praise your bird with sweet words. Do it often so that the bird begins to understand that it is the right spot to poop. Never get angry with them if they do not follow your instructions because it is a time-taking process and should be done with consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement.

How to train a parrot to talk?

Is it difficult to train a parrot to talk? When we think about a pet parrot, the first thing that comes to our mind is its ability to speak. Most parrots try to imitate their owner, but every parrot cannot speak. It wholly depends upon the quality of their species. 

As a parrot owner, the most difficult part is to teach your parrot to talk. It can be a demanding task if you are not an experienced parrot owner. But don’t worry. They will imitate what they hear such as the doorbell. If you wish to make your bird talk, it needs a load of patience and perseverance. 

They are not different from a small child who does not have a vocabulary. To practice certain sounds, you have to repeat words and phrases over and over again. When they hear it continuously, they remember and mimic them eventually. Parrots are excellent observers. Daily chatting is one of the best approaches to tame parrots.

You have to train a parrot to talk by scheduling a talking timetable. This approach is a suitable way to keep them on track. Keep in mind that learning is a time-taking process. Even an intelligent species requires a lot of time, patience, and sensibility.

In short, parrot training tips include:

🔷Start with phrases like hello, goodbye, thank you & other greetings.

🔷Repeat the words whenever you are near the parrots. Because parrots show interest in sounds and observe you as you speak.

 🔷Select simple phrases and repeat them for at least two minutes daily. When the parrot listens to the phrases regularly, it will try to imitate them slowly.

🔷You have to be consistent while training a parrot. 

🔷Expand your phrases with small sentences like ‘I love you,’ ‘I love food,’ and ‘how are you.’

🔷You can add the names of vegetables and fruits.

🔷Encourage your parrot with its favorite treat after repeating what you taught them.

How to train a parrot not to bite?

If your bird bites you often, then understand that it is their natural way of communicating something. As a pet owner, you need to understand why they are doing so and train your parrot not to bite. The response of your pet always depends upon your attitude towards them. If you are not confident while handling them, they can be afraid of you and start to bite you whenever you approach them. 

Parrots can sense human emotions fastly. They will bite you as a defense if you handle them with fear. So, whenever you offer your hand to your pet, you should be confident, approach firmly, and present your hand just below the bird’s belly.  

Here are some steps that will help you how to deal with a biting pet parrot

🔺Confidence is everything

As I mentioned above, parrots are intelligent birds who can quickly sense the emotions of humans. If you are not confident while handling them, parrots feel uncomfortable and will try to defend your actions. You can discourage them from biting by stepping up. Make sure that you are approaching them gently and subtly. When your parrot grabs your finger with their beak to step onto your hand, don’t pull it away or yell at them. You need to be relaxed while handling them.

🔺Don’t handle them when they are angry.

If your birds are not in a good mood, never try to approach them. They won’t bite unless they grow up in fear and live in an aggressive environment. When they start developing unusual behavior as part of their instinct, we cannot control their natural emotional fluctuations. So, provide some time to your bird before taming them. 

🔺Do not use toys as a distraction.

When we use toys and treats as a distraction from biting, they may think that biting the owner will be rewarded with toys and treats. So, they will continue this activity in the future.

🔺Spray water to interrupt the biting behavior.

When your parrots start biting you, give a quick water mist to distract them. 

🔺Trim your parrot’s nails and beak.

If your bird’s beaks and nails are overgrown, they can feel uncomfortable and show their discomfort in the form of biting. You can avoid this situation by trimming your parrot’s beak and nails.

How to train a parrot to be friendly?

We need to make our parrot happy and friendly. Parrots need extra effort to make them friendly and engaging, unlike other pets. They won’t be comfortable when you bring your bird for the first time. They need help to settle in their new surroundings and people. Use these tricks to convince your bird to be a little more friendly and social. You should know these tricks to make your parrot more comfortable.

🔵Speak gently – When you yell at your parrot they see you as their enemy. You should first understand that they will be afraid of their new environment. Speaking loudly can make them more frightened. So, behave gently with your beloved parrot.

🔵Approach from the front –  You are visible to them whenever we approach them from the front. So they trust you. Some birds don’t like it when someone is handling them from the back.

🔵Watch its body language – You should have an idea about its attitude when you observe its body language. If your bird leans towards you, understand that the parrot is interested in accepting gifts and training, if it leans away, it indicates they are not ready to make friends right now.

🔵Offer them treats – Parrots are fond of treats. Especially when it is their favorite food item. Whenever you offer them new food items or toys for the first time, try to give them on your own so that they lean towards you to pick them up with their beaks. They consider you as a friend if you provide them with frequent treats.

🔵Socialize them with strangers – Parrots remember interactions with humans. If you socialize your parrot with strangers, it can mingle with anyone easily. Spend some time sitting by their habitat, playing, talking, and making them comfortable by providing a safe place to settle.

Can a parrot talk without training?

Parrots have their own beautiful voice and they keep singing in them whenever they feel the need to. One of the cool things is that they can imitate their own families without even being professionally trained, however, it is always wise to spend some time with them and take care of them while training them professionally. 

Really young parrots are not supposed to talk and they can only start talking only after a certain period of time which is usually 3 months to one year. If the family is patient and spends a decent amount of time with the parrot then it is highly likely that they will start talking in 6 months approximately. 

Do parrots need to be trained to talk? Yes, parrots do need repetitive training with adequate rewards to ensure that they adapt to things as quickly as possible. Even though parrots pick up speaking habits without any formal training, it might take years to happen without proper training.

Final Thoughts!

Teaching your parrot could seem like a daunting task if you are not aware of the right processes and techniques involved. Parrots are subtle birds and need special care while being taught and trained. Their training has to cover all the important steps to make sure that they are being given the right training. 

Right rewards are something which is as significant as the right training, if your parrot is loving the rewards then it becomes very sure that it is going to adapt to new training quickly. Hence, choosing the right rewards with the right training could sound like a bit of time taking task but we can assure you that this process is worth it.

In this article, we tried out best to sum up all of the steps telling how to train a parrot and we hope that this article will work as a guide for those owners who are searching about how to train a parrot. 

Frequently Asked Questions (By Pet Owners)