How to train your bird to Fly Free?

Josh Cook is an Australian avian behaviourist also known as a bird whisperer. In this video he shows you how to train your bird to fly away and come back.

[@julienprevost5409]

I would still feel a bit shaky seeing my 3 000$ bird fly and hope that he comes back

[@julienprevost5409]

I did not mean it like this, but you must understand my point. I'm not going to "lock my bird in a cage" , but I will def. need some help in the free flight

[@andream.464]

@@yahyakarim6412 The Byrd might not come back if terrorised by something and was not properly trained on how to react to new situations, little by little! The rookie bird often doesn't even know how to come back. Several people were able to teach their bird how to fly just because they were lucky and their birds were particularly keen. Even some dogs don't come back if not properly trained!

[@andream.464]

Well that's why some macaw owners call their bird Hope!;)

[@corrinjessen]

You can always adopt. Its ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a parrot when you can adopt one and save a life.

[@winnerjoseyt5737]

Corrin Jessen where the fuck are you gonna find a macaw like the one in the video in a Shelter

[@conureking7748]

I flight trained my Nanday Conure. It was a difficult process but now we can go for bike rides, walks, etc, no problem.

[@lilsangarden]

Please elaborate on that! I want to travel too with my bird!

[@ParrotVolancy]

Just so everyone knows, baby macaws are some of the easiest birds to train for free flight. Even so, there is a LOT that can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing. I hope everyone takes this as a snapshot of one person's process for training his birds rather than a "how to" guide. Please don't attempt this yourself without an experienced mentor or there is a very good chance you will lose your bird.

[@marianiieves3148]

I couldn't stop laughing when the bird tried to eat his hair

[@maxd2215]

exactly. so hillarious

[@obesemonkey5286]

Bru

[@bigbiemacaw]

Maria Niieves my bird drives my mad when it comes to my hair..I’m ready to shave it for sure...

[@mrmadness2699]

I really hope this guy recorded a lot more and the TV people edited this down ad absurdum. DONT LISTEN TO THIS. you must train them to come back to you dependably, train them to descend which is more difficult than you might think)and train out any bad habits like flying to other people.

[@ginger4423]

My bird never came back

[@xiomyguz89]

I sorry 🥺

[@Mia-is2cp]

😂😂😂😅

[@doyennelj3800]

😐 oh

[@adeljasmin4214]

@@Mia-is2cp that aint funny dude

[@adeljasmin4214]

Its because you let it out to early

[@mysteriousbunn7639]

I have a Indian ringneck and she's free flight trained, it's really fun for both of us

[@shuaib51]

Can u help me giving tips,I want to buy a Macao but scare after growing up it ll fly in outdoor my 2L ll fly indeed 😅, can v find trainers for surviving their flying not for return

[@TheRyano4ever]

I think its also worth noting that its probably worth building up slowly rather than just going straight from aviary to outside, test your bird in a hundred different places getting progressively more open if possible before attempting to do free-flight, and also establish the recall until its perfect in every situation and play around with different distances angles, corners, obstacles, other people and even other animals if its safe, before training with your bird always check its level of motivation to respond to your calls, if the bird is acting disinterested or isn't reacting at all to your calls call it a day and return the bird to its routine and try again when it is more interested or hungry... Its as much about learning to read a birds behaviour as it is about training it to do something, you cannot train a bird that is not motivated

[@rescutekitty5767]

2:17 My dad, 2 seconds after I was born.

[@kayleew5202]

thats just sad my guy

[@nomad_cat1]

I cant stop laughing🤣🤣🤣

[@pangchung1321]

i brought my tame cockatiel...bird ..it never came back...BYE

[@art-n-animals6724]

Im sorry you lost your bird. If you ever try to free fly again, try a leash outside before you fully free fly.

[@pewpew_dedd]

Its not a freeflight trained so it never going tobe a freeflight trained bruh macaw and sunconure are the best freeflight so next time better to listen before you do something

[@scottporter4524]

LOVE your aviary! I will absolutely do this to mine for extra shade (cooler temps) and cover which will help avoid any issues with Red Hawks that I see/hear daily on our ranch.

[@sukumaransummugam1936]

Where is your metal arm bucky? XD

[@Sourpinklemons]

STOP 💀💀😭😭😭

[@shabadagoobalikeameeboomee7358]

STOP 😭😭💀💀💀

[@4valhalla898]

1:40 "give me your hair now dad"

[@MegaAsdlf]

At 0:34 the bird says fuck

[@slsljaknfhsnsjdkshahdh4869]

MegaAsdlf 😂😂😂😂

[@cgg3169]

Ikr!

[@pedroalvarez8270]

MegaAsdlf it doesn't...It sounds like it but it doesn't

[@socket5674]

😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@peapod6747]

What does she mean not all birds should fly free? Is she talking about penguins?

[@lilkittyanime]

poppy pop she means really small birds can be victims to hawks, crows, ravens etc. During free flight. So flying small birds might have high risk of putting them in preditorual danger.

[@jmstudios457]

it's definitely possible, however, its riskier than flying a bigger bird like an amazon or a cockatoo, or better yet a macaw. Try looking into harness training your bird. Since they are smaller, they don't need as much exercise as larger birds(it's science, look it up!). The harness still lets them go outside, fly around a little bit, and explore.

[@coffeewithoutcafeine]

Omg my did I laugh?

[@xiomyguz89]

Penguins can’t fly🙄

[@emmasullivan6334]

xiomyguz89 exactly 😂 that’s the joke 🙄

[@blizaili5399]

Man, would I love to do this and my birds have come back when they accidentally flew off, but I can't. I just imagine a sharp-shinned hawk swooping down and taking a slow moving and unsuspecting meal in front of my face. Or worse, he gets lost and someone finds him and keeps him in a cage for the rest of his life. I can't imagine the torment of never knowing.

[@bluepawn]

Beautiful they look so happy and seeing animals living with humans makes me happy ! Thanks for the great video !

[@droptopmaids8474]

Nope

[@Dingosimon]

So glad Mango flew back ;)

[@aleksandarmirchev5792]

I've been studying parrot training and found a great resource at Parrot ploy plan (google it if you're interested)

[@stratoleft]

Thank you for doing this.

[@DW-vx7uy]

Going to learn whistling now

[@nasero12]

you missed a lot of steps. you make it look like it's just OK fly and that's all... what if it fly's away? you should have mentioned that

[@lilkittyanime]

If you establish a good relationship between you and your bird that should never be the case. If you are THAT worried your bird won't come back then do what most falconers do and put a tracker on your bird. That way if your bird gets distracted or chases something down, you have the track. Enjoy spending thousands but hey atleast you'll find your bird.

[@travelingman9763]

I do a seven step process!

[@andream.464]

@@lilkittyanime Not true: you may establish a great relationship with your bird, but if it gets scared and/or doesn't know how to dive down from a tree to you, or thinks there's something dangerous at ground level, it will never come back! Part of the training must be to get your bird used to all noises, animals, people, vehicles, smells of the flying area.

[@lilkittyanime]

@@andream.464 Well I thought thats a part of developing a good trust bond, showing your bird that you can always be trusted and that you are its safety. Sacking your birds out to noises, people, animals, and especially showing them how to fly down from objects is the best trust exercise. Your absolutely right birds are prey animals and if they get into a scenario they might be too distracted to even listen to you. It happens to the best of people they are still wild animals they don't have what humans and domesticated animals have made over 1000 years and even they sometimes run away. Big birds i recommend a tracker, small birds are too easy pray so just free fly them indoors or aviary , or with a flight harness😊. Thanks for your input I didnt mean to sound rude

[@crescent229]

@@travelingman9763 Can you tell us what the process is please?

[@mistervacation23]

I had one just like this. I found him in my yard wondering around drunk. Apparently he go a hold of some booze somewhere. He was really sick for a few days. I named him Bonaroo. Nursed him back to health. Old Bonaroo was with us for a bout 4 years my little half-wit grandson taught him how to play the piano. In the summer of 2015 he met his match after my wife accidentally shut him up in the car door ! I always told her to make sure he was in the car before you close the door. She don't listen for sh*t. He liked to go for rides in the country.I sure miss old bonaroo.

[@winnerjoseyt5737]

I’m sorry man 🙏🏼

[@bradb.4570]

wtf

[@mistervacation23]

@@bradb.4570 shit happens

[@jenniferbeasley9966]

I had a Jendaya conure for 14 years he died the day I had a major stroke. But anyway loved him to pieces smart as can be he flew freely outside I would but his cage outside he would get up on my finger rand I would say one, two three and he would fly a bit and wouldi say bye,bye Pierre and he would come back. strong bond ❤ loved him so much as I know he did me very affectionate parrot he went everywhere with me with never having his flight feathers trimmed

[@DJZmom326]

what did you use to enclose it? I'm dying for my conures to have one of these

[@logistiekoperator4552]

Good job. It depends on the bird species also indeed. It requires lots of patience and training. Then there are cats and other hunters outside..

[@Red-Tempest]

I haven't property trained my tiel but she never actually flew, just stayed on me I always get nervous when she puts her crest down and starts bobbing her head, the only time she flew was when she missed her landing and freaked out.

[@coffeewithoutcafeine]

I love how one of the bird try’s to put his hair XD

[@Liamd330]

Keeps going for his hair 😂😂😂😂

[@cdenman9655]

My stomach dropped when he threw him

[@dreamheadanimations9338]

1:55 bird : dude are those yellow worms in your head?

[@thethreebirdbuddies1737]

I am about to get a new bird called Monty and Pineapple and they are sort of trained already but we might need to re train it so I’m super nervous 😬 to let him free fly he can already free fly but he can still fly away so we are gonna try and train him

[@DavisMckenlyFJB]

Tip: do this inside

[@parker6955]

Hi how can you train a cockatoo to free fly?

[@mysteryladyprince3758]

Lol the bird was like what type of conditioner do u use

[@ajnazarian8958]

Awesome macaw

[@Pirateofdahcaribbean_83]

How old is that bird. Seems to be a baby since you're hand feeding it but it's pretty big. I have a 3 month old he is now fully feathered but not that big...yet. he seems to free fly fine in the house and respond to my calls but outside not so much...easily distracted

[@malakawad8025]

Where do you get birds

[@eon4071]

But how do u whistle

[@nc8414]

What if u cannot whistle?

[@galaxy_industries4177]

I got one gouldian and a canary

[@halimajavadi916]

What if it never comes back

[@shoaibsyed1246]

Is it possible to teach free flight to a parrot which is 4-5 years old. I have an alexandrian parrot

[@simplesimp9664]

Yes it’s possible however, it’s gonna take much longer, not just because they are so used to not flying outdoors that they will be very uncomfortable with it and scared. They will also need a slower pace so their body can be strong enough. Free flight birds require a lot of strength not to be stolen by the wind and to be able to do more than a few seconds of flight. I’d estimate over a year of training. But that also depends on the bird as it’s own being. Birds can be fast or slow to the idea but it depends more on your birds personality more than the breed sometimes.

[@peterblatte2808]

I just saw something that inspired me to get a bird, this was the first video I found when I entered a search. I’ve always held a distaste for bird owners because a vast majority locked up like a genie in a bottle. I’ve always felt a connection with birds and if I were to be reincarnated as one I would be pretty bummed and confused about living spending my existence locked in a cage unsure why your arms have these pretty feathers on them???

[@chadley25]

One thing to keep in mind is that just because WE call it a "cage" doesn't mean a bird views it or thinks of it that way. To them, it's a home, a sanctuary -- not a prison. My Amazon parrot routinely flies very willingly back to her cage when she's loose in the house (which is often). Just as you're happy to return home after being out "in the wild," a bird feels quite similarly about returning to THEIR home. (Of course, this presumes it's a sufficiently sized cage for the species and that the bird actually is allowed to be outside of the cage regularly!)

[@jelly_beanz4665]

So what if the bird decides they don't want to come back?

[@EmberJewels]

How do you get your bird to trust you?

[@bluecorp8557]

Giving him cash to spend is a start.

[@kevinisthieryt543]

@@bluecorp8557 by buying him shoes and taking him to star bucks

[@simplesimp9664]

Give it attention and love and care for it. Depending the type of parrot it will love you fairly easily.

[@galaxy_industries4177]

I love your vids i just got two new birds

[@THEE.apples]

DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT A PROFESSIONAL TO TEACH YOU!!!!!!!!!

[@Ewochable]

When I was a kid I had a magpie. One day he flew out of an open window. But then he came back in. A year later he ate some stuff he shouldnt have and died.

[@PandaIsBored]

Are those lorikeets I saw wild?

[@BloxWich]

most likely yes, depending on what part of your country you live in you can find birds that look like pet birds flying around, in some cases they could be peoples lost birds which is sad but if there is a lot of them in a group they are wild.

[@raya2548]

Training my sparrow, going well with my own methods because she loves me and constantly wants to be on my finger or shoulder🤣😆

[@art-n-animals6724]

get a harness, trust me. You want to use a harness before full free flight. this guy left alot out.

[@charleshawn]

What if my B&G will not willingly fly?

[@saviour1987]

www.libertywings.com

[@darktsunami8313]

I have everything down except my bird will not take off unless I tell him to fly back to a perch, tips?

[@simplesimp9664]

What do you mean by take off? Like outside free flying or indoor.

[@darktsunami8313]

@@simplesimp9664 it’s all good! I got him to boomerang

[@simplesimp9664]

@@darktsunami8313 good to hear!

[@13music23]

Can train galah and budgie?

[@logantaylor440]

I would advise to free flight the Galah only since he/she is a bigger bird and usually can defend against predator attacks. A budgie needs a flock to escape predators. Best to just put a harness around the bugger, they don't even need that much of exercise.

[@art-n-animals6724]

Yes, but dont follow this vid. Start with a long harness before full free flight.

[@qualityamvs2972]

I can't whistle

[@malachitecookie5101]

Oh so all you have to do is make them think they’re getting food. That’s much easier than I thought

[@simplesimp9664]

Food isn’t the best way because they start to expect treats for everything and start to only listen to treats. It’s best to try without and then get your bird a nice snack or refill their chop bowl and pellet bowl but not the seed bowl. That way they get their nutrients in. It encourages better health and free good behavior.

[@ehsannazari262]

I heard you shouldnt teach them to whistle unless that already know how to say words True?

[@conureking7748]

That’s if you’re trying to teach them to make sounds, or trying to train them to talk. This is a simple, recognizable command. I would recommend a very specific pattern of whistles so they don’t fly off to random whistles.

[@indian81able]

what happens if a hawk or eagle flies by , wouldn't that spook, the bird???

[@simplesimp9664]

For sure

[@doyennelj3800]

I can't whistle so this wouldn't work

[@kurokitsune6173]

Can you teach this to Budgies? Cause I just lost one of my two boys and I don't want my last one to fly away.

[@simplesimp9664]

Free flying budgies is actually discouraged by a lot of parrot trainers I’ve met. They have to be super fit before going out and well trained. You have to have work outs for your budgie to be able to fly without being taken by wind or animals. You can, but it’s gonna take a year or more and will be extremely dangerous because of their size crows and most birds will attack them.

[@cassv5619]

For budgies I'd get a large aviary, free flight inside or harness. They're too small for free flight. Xx

[@backalleysports4799]

Can this work with any bird

[@simplesimp9664]

Hypothetically yes it should, however some may take only a year while others 10.

[@zesty_jack7801]

1. You gotta train the bird 2. Never force your bird to fly like this guy did you can't just throw your bird. "they get to choose if they want to fly or not and thats the beauty of free flight" we all just saw you throw it off the balcony like a baseball

[@art-n-animals6724]

He chucked it like it was a moldy apple he accidentally grabbed.

[@heehee407]

Looks like you've got no knowledge about free flight

[@vuedanto8576]

If your bird does not know how to fly and you chuck them out your balcony, it would be a sad sight.( Just like a balloon filled with red liquid thrown into a jungle )

[@simplesimp9664]

@@heehee407 He’s actually very right? The purpose is so your bird will enjoy it. You can tell the macaw didn’t enjoy the toss and was uncomfortable with it. Even had their mouth open which is a sigh that it was too hot or too difficult for the macaw.

[@talkarg8359]

Damn, I tried but I can't whistle my bird dipped and never came back.

[@winnerjoseyt5737]

Nick just buy a whistle and should have Buy a harness from Amazon

[@biancaferrari5843]

Eu ouvi esse "para" ai kkkkk

[@grandmadonut1269]

Damn i can't even whistle

[@magicnala5538]

Is scary I have macow 4 years beautiful girl I scar to do it

[@annamaiaroli8848]

yes me too! I have a cockatiel and I am so scared to let him free fly!

[@krow9681]

@@annamaiaroli8848 A cockatiel is likely to become prey to a bigger predator bird in the area, also if you tiel spots a predator bird it may shit itself and fly away. A harness is the best way for smaller birds.

[@annamaiaroli8848]

@@krow9681 ok! Thanks! I did buy him a harness and I'm making him get used to it! Thank you very much!

[@krow9681]

@@annamaiaroli8848 No worries, enjoy you birb. ovo

[@art-n-animals6724]

Dont do it according to this video, you might loose your bird. Try with a leash first and maybe see a real trainer.

[@art-n-animals6724]

Use a leash outside first...You missed so many other steps too.

[@dark2885]

Why pigeons come back very easily

[@lilythelop7338]

Mukhtar Alam cause they remember where there home is and who feeds them

[@CarlosJimenez-fj2cd]

I was lucky my bird came back in 2 days

[@ephraimugarte8241]

You look like aj styles

[@solariscq]

Can small birds free fly ?

[@logantaylor440]

They can, but I wouldn't recommend. Smaller, colorful birds = easy target.

[@chirpylps9786]

Yep just be hyper vigilant about predators. I fly an Albino Quaker most days of the week, never had a problem but I end the session as soon as I get any hint of a predator.

[@art-n-animals6724]

Try using a harness, you can pull your bird back or something to make sure no predators get to him/her

[@cassv5619]

Wouldn't recommend. Use a harness or fly inside.

[@erina151]

my mom wont let me have a pet bird case she thinks that they have to fly free so this chould help

[@cassv5619]

Only big birds, not small ones

[@Rose24097]

If my bird flew away it would feel like moneys flying away

[@hennypeck3516]

my cockatiel can fly really well and I think she wants to free fly but I have trust problems HAHA

[@art-n-animals6724]

Get a harness to start, they are pretty cheap and ensure your bird wont fly away!

[@czycutie4103]

My aunts macaw died😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@gulfamfarms1996]

2.18 I’m not coming back ta-ta

[@willowwolfwalker9616]

People who doesn't know how to whistle 👁️👄👁️ oof

[@cassv5619]

You can buy whistles 🥰

[@cassv5619]

To the can't whistle comments..... You can buy one

[@JoseRodriguez-tq4rz]

When I move out to the country I do plan on getting another parrot ana when I do I plan on free flying them. A cage is no place for a bird it’s a waste of life to them IMHO

[@art-n-animals6724]

Watch other vids, get as much info as you can, this guy left a lot out.

[@Berdsniffer]

I would still hate to see my best friend not come back. I mean, I think we're best friends...

[@art-n-animals6724]

Dont use this vid, do more research

[@itseverydaybro497]

at 0:54 the bird bit him

[@andream.464]

No, that's just a friendly warning that in that moment he doesn't want to be pet:)

[@logantaylor440]

So? Birds bite. She's telling him that she wants more food, or isn't in the mood for pets. What you really should be talking about is how he handles the bite. Pushing his hand towards the her beak tells her that 1) he acknowledged the bite 2) that biting harder will get her nowhere It's a great tactic.

[@superinvader102]

it is an expensive bird i dare not let if fly flee unless it has trained by professional

[@poeml5713]

I actually have a Baby bird I don't know what to Feed I'm just feeding it with A Fried rice So I'm feeding it with a Fried rice for my baby bird to Like fried rice so I can Feed my baby Bird fried rice everyday So I won't have a Problem 😉

[@juanitaevelyn5285]

Go to @birdtricks KZbin channel

[@solidstatetactical]

Very misleading. Makes it look much easier than it really is.

[@adambrown1216]

0:30 just trying to talk and it screams shut up at u how rude

[@pangchung1321]

if you not familiar with free fly..better dont try..100% your bird will not come back to u.the bird must be baby bird start from young.it need a lot of time to train

[@WillBlueAnimalTraining]

go ahead take this simple advice and lose your bird, or watch my video and give your bird proper freedom.

[@art-n-animals6724]

Ill check out your vid, thanks. Hopefully, you didn't miss too many details as this idiot did.

[@MissNebulosity]

You really did not go over how you get a bird to fly to you that first time after doing the whistle/food step. Bad tutorial.

[@philmundara7857]

Somehow I got here ... Humm he is definitely not a bird whisperer or a behaviourist. There is thing called thin ice, he is getting away with it through blind luck, not methodology or understanding. It is rather a misuse of trust. Anyway back to my lovelies.

[@MediaAnimalTV]

You know nothing! Josh Cook is the kindest most intuitive bird expert in Australia.He works 24/7 saving native birds .

[@philmundara7857]

@@MediaAnimalTV Starting with I know nothing, really, I would bet my house that I have forgotten more than you could ever come to understand. Did you read what I typed, or just a woke reaction to what is not there, making it a personal right or wrong issue. Simple facts. Read it again and again until you get it. Stay on point, if that is possible. Intuition to educate you, is inner training or lack of, not instincts, to which all real behaviourists have, which in turn leads to understanding and an attunement in the moment, leading to real communication etc ... Clearly your reply is all vanity and you would not understand. Keep working on it though. You just got read.

[@dianadiana9299]

U need your bird on a long bird safe lead & train with that before you even think of letting your bird off like that...or your bird will just fly off & not come back! Very misleading video!

[@3YogurtPimps]

what? a 6,000 dollar bird? no way man! Is this for real?

[@simplesimp9664]

Yes hahaha, some macaws go for over 30k