Dave007 Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Taking Responsibility for the Flighted Parrot Without question, the owner of the flighted parrot must "step up to the plate" and learn certain training skills that will serve to keep the parrot safe. There is the chance that one day the flighted parrot will go through the doorway after the owner and become lost. Whether or not retrieval is successful may well depend upon whether the parrot has been taught the recall, has become conditioned to respond to a contact call, and knows how to fly downward. Clicker training is a good place to start with a parrot who is, or may become, flighted. Websites that provide information on how to train parrots using the clicker training method are www.clickingwithbirds.com and www.thepiratesparrrot.com. Numerous books are also in print on this subject. Some object to clicker training but if so, other methods can be looked into. I only mention one suggestion here. When keeping a flighted parrot, it is necessary for the owner to live differently, to train himself to remain aware of any possible dangers to the flighted bird. This may involve foregoing use of a ceiling fan, installing double doorways to prevent loss, taking shorter vacations, and training oneself to remain mindful of the parrot's whereabouts when out of the cage. Finally, handling issues must be given closer attention when the parrot is flighted. Either the parrot must be transported in a carrier, or trained to allow the owner to keep a thumb firmly pressed down on the bird's foot and a hand on the bird's back whenusing carriers. Many birds just don't go in on their own and that's understandable. The owner of the flighted parrot will find that this is just one of many "training issues" that will warrant attention. While this training will undoubtedly improve the parrot/human relationship, it still demands time and attention and lots of patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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