So it is important to start the training simply with your hand. Do not be in a hurry when changing food and water everyday; do it very slowly, even as you continue to talk calmly and softly to your parakeet. Your aim should be to let the parakeet think that the hand Win the trust of your bird Do not scare your parakeet Training And Taming that comes into the cage is only to bring food and water, and there is nothing to be scared about it. Don't expect a friendly parakeet on day one, but keep at your efforts and you're sure to be rewarded eventually. The trick is to continue with gentle words and quiet movements. Then the bird will begin to perch in a corner, and watch the hand. That is the first step to success. The next step is to train the parakeet to step onto a perch, on command. This can begin only when the bird has grown calm, and does not get frightened, when your hand is inserted in the cage. After changing the food and water in the normal course, gently pull at a short perch from the opposite site of the cage. It needs to be small so that it can be moved without hitting anything in the cage. After calmly holding the perch (the bird knows it is for sitting on), gradually move it towards the place where your parakeet is perched, Speak soothingly, hold the perch Training And Taming You should continue to talk calmly and softly to your parakeet. even as you speak soothingly. If the bird takes the move as nonthreatening, it will eventually understand what you want, and jump on to the perch you hold. Once you are confident that your parakeet has no problem sitting on the perch you hold, repeat the procedure followed earlier, but in such a way, that your finger rests on top of the perch. Move this finger slowly towards the parakeet, who is already used to the earlier exercise. What is needed, at this stage, is to teach the bird to step on step on to the perch when you say “UP”. The next step is to teach the bird that your finger is a safe perch to sit on. After seeing to it that the room is quiet, and there is soft music in the background, change the food and water. This time, you will slowly move your hand, touch the perch, stick your finger on it and then move only the hand towards the bird, without the perch. Since it is already used to the finger sticking out like a perch, the bird won't get panicky. Press its leg or chest softly with your finger, saying "UP", quietly, but firmly. Your parakeet should step up, onto your finger. Once used, parakeets are known to like the finger perch, better than a wooden perch, because of its softness. Training And Taming Once the practice session is over, move the finger slowly to another perch, and let her hop off. The next step is to let the parakeet learn that her trusted finger is safe to sit on, even if it's outside the cage. Full hand training must precede bringing her out of the cage. Bringing out the bird is essential, as an emergency like a fire may force you to do it. After following the earlier procedure, and when it is perched on your finger, slowly bring it to the cage door (but not out), even as you hold some millets, in the other hand. After feeding on it take the bird, back inside, to the old perch. The next day, repeat the exercise, and take her out, a little further. It is advisable to have a drawbridgestyle entrance, where the bird can sit, and survey the surroundings. |