Birdcare

 

 

Parrot Potty Training

Happy parrots enjoy training every day. Parrot potty training is one of the easiest things that the owners can make their bird learn.

 

Parrots in the wild develop a habit of defecating in certain areas and under certain conditions as a matter of survival. We know most breeding hens will sit on eggs all night long without leaving the nest and defecating. We know parrots that are territorial during their breeding cycle, tend to defecate at the perimeter of their territory, and know that most pet parrots do not defecate at night. This is why we usually see a great big poop in the morning. We can assume, from this information, that birds have a conscious and subconscious awareness of where they defecate. By observing the innate behaviours exhibited by parrots in the wild, we can understand their needs and modify their behaviour to allow them to fit into their domestic home.

 

If you want a happy bird you have to spend time with your pet parrot and be patient in training the parrot. Let’s face it parrots don’t like to be stuck in a cage or on their stands all day screaming their heads off. Parrots are going to live a long time so they might as well be happy. Read on to learn how to potty train a parrot.

 

You need to spend more and more time with your pet parrot. One of the favourite pastimes of the pet parrots are singing along with its owners. It is rather the parrot is talented and you, as a owner might not be so talented in singing. Hence, think of the same as the parrot is training you and not the other way around.

 

You want your parrots to come out of their cage once in a while and play outside. But when your pet parrot actually comes out of its cage, you are constrained to put it back into its cage because of the fear that the parrot might poop on the floor or on the furniture. This is the reason why parrot potty training is required. It’s very easy to do.

 

To do this, you have to observe the bowel movements of your parrot. The age and feeding habits of your pet will determine when it will need to have a bowel movement. Babies consuming formula will defecate as often as every 20 minutes around the clock. Older birds will vary from 30 minutes, to as long as eight or more hours. Watch your pet for a while and determine the frequency of bowel movements. Take into account the time of day and if your bird has eaten recently.

 

Here is how the parrot potty training can be achieved. If you want your parrot to poop in its cage, you wait for the parrot to poop while saying “sit” because “sit” sounds nicer than “poop”. Once the parrot does its business, you take the parrot out and play with it and cuddle with it for a short time.

 

Since you now have an idea of how long it will be before the next bowel movement, you can prevent an accident by putting the bird back into the cage or on the perch when one half of the expected time has passed. Then, wait for some more time and tell the parrot softly to “sit again” and when the parrot does its business again (if it is so) then take the parrot out again and play and cuddle with it. After some time, the bird will get used to poop (“sit” for the bird) in its own cage and nowhere else. It also associates that once it goes poop, it will be taken out of its cage to play and cuddle with its owner. Parrot potty training is much easier than potty training dogs, cats or even children.

 

If you follow this method on a consistent basis, within 72 hours some birds will be trying to go potty every time he sees you enter the room. (Because he wants to get out of the cage.) Soon he may be trying to go again even if he has nothing to pass. Once the bird has a grasp on the concept, you may start using this command to encourage your pet to defecate on command under most any circumstance.

 

But this will not teach your parrot to control bowel movements. It will take longer to teach. When you notice your bird squatting and lifting his tail to defecate, say "No", and if possible, try to hold his tail down to stop the process. Now move him to an appropriate location and give the potty command. Stay with him until he goes, then praise and reward him when he finally does. If he has already defecated, do nothing. Just clean it up and plan to be ready the next time.