Ensuring a healthy bird brain from a young age

[EFGriffith]

Hi everybody! I got my Grey about a week ago and feel like we're properly settled in and are bonding quite nicely (except the constant pooping on me... hmmm...). He's only four months old, so I know he's too young to start talking or doing anything too difficult probably, but I don't want his brain to be stagnant just 'cause he's a youngin'.

 

I'd like to get him off to a great start developmentally! Right now he has a rope ladder, a circular calcium toy, a cuttlebone, and paper toys to shred apart. His cage isn't all too big, but he has more than enough room to easily spread out and flutter his wings, climb his ladder, and hop on and off his wooden perch. He doesn't spend a lot of time in the cage anyway. We feed him a pellet-seed-fruit mix and are going to start incorporating fresh veggies on our next trip to the grocery store.

 

What kinds of games can I play with him to keep him happy and exercise that big ole bird brain of his? I want to make sure he's always encouraged to (and rewarded for) learning. And I want to make sure that he has a healthy diet. What advice do you have for someone on her first rodeo?

[cflanny]

OK I have been looking for a reason to brag My grey is 14 weeks today and we started training already and in 1 week he has learned "turn around" and "the wave" already and does them almost perfect (gonnna take video tomarrow) We just started doing shake and hes started picking up the difference between wave right away > I am so proud I thought hes too young to learn anything and he has proved me wrong !! He is so smart already he even "bombs away" when I ask him too:) Also we have no problems with flight and landing. I have been using puffed corn and rice crispies for snacks.

 

So I say start early it gives you positive interactions with lots of praise and it works !!

 

Good luck with yours, BirdChannel.cokm

has a great free section on trick training and the start with easiest first .