Parrot Training Tutorial: Target Training and Spin Trick! | BirdNerdSophie

Hi everyone, thanks for checking out my parrot training tutorial on clicker training, target training and the spin trick! I've tried to keep it simple and quick, but if you have any questions, please leave them below as I'd love to chat to you!
🦜 Need help and advice on your bird's behaviour, care and training? Get in touch with us at Best Behaved Birds for an affordable and bespoke consultation!:
Website: www.bestbehavedbirds.com/
Facebook: / bestbehavedbirds
Instagram: / bestbehavedbirds
🐣 Visit my Amazon Store for all kinds of bird products*: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/birdner...
💙 Consider supporting me on Patreon: / birdnerdsophie
🐦 Check out our Redbubble store - Use code 11FORYOU for 11% off!: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/495...
All profits earned through sales will go directly to the birds for their care.
🐤 Check out the great parrot goodies at Northern Parrots*: scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AF...
🌱 Buy Wholefoods Online*: www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk...
🐾 Get 40% off your first online appointment with a licensed and qualified avian vet*: vetster.com/en-gb/r/sophie-be...
My Instagram: / birdnerdsophie
The Birds’ Instagram: / chip.and.fish
David’s Instagram: / wargamingparrot
David’s Channel: / @theparrotteacher
*Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, meaning at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. The funds will go solely towards food, toys and vet bills for the birds!
#parrots #birds #pets

[@DaliahSara-lv8tl]

Awesome, Sophie! I was able to get Kai, one of my budgies to go into the cage tonight for the first time using the target training, and when I was trying with Izzy for the first time, Kai came over to do it, too, so they were both practicing with me. Thank you so much for your consultation. I will keep you posted as I go through your videos.

[@BirdNerdSophie]

That is awesome! 🥰

[@abemtz5779]

You can also use a pen as a clicker much cheaper 😉

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Absolutely!

[@candicet5973]

Yay! I was able to teach Fluffy to spin today! Sometimes I am able to make him spin 2 times or 3 times before he gets some sesame seeds (his favorite treat that he goes nuts for). Thanks for making this video, it really helped!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Thats awesome 😊

[@H.C.Q.]

That is so great! I am so excited about training my cockatiel. I just bought a clicker and have been clicking it whenever she attempts to whistle songs. I am going to procure a "target stick" next!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Good luck and happy training 😊

[@stevefoxyorktheguidedog4350]

Great video. You are a natural trainer. Cheers!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Hey Steve, thanks for your kind words! I hope you and York are well!

[@ornithologydude8649]

Great video as always Sophie!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Thank you! Hope you’re having a great weekend! 🦅

[@AaronLewisOfficial]

Great video, very informative!!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Thanks Aaron - hope you have a great weekend!

[@kyleeciseau5673]

Great video I do recall training with each of my birds every day and I’ve taught my galah to spin and now we’re working on wave

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Hey Kylee! Thanks for your comment! That's awesome - recall is a great skill to teach your parrot and I also do this with m flock daily. I'd love to see your galah's spin and wave when he knows them - maybe you cold put a video up :)

[@kyleeciseau5673]

BirdNerdSophie yeah I think every pet parrot should know basic recall And that’s a great idea 😊

[@enes6349]

When l will teach my future birds to spin,l dont say spin but turn around

[@BirdNerdSophie]

That’s cool!

[@julieschofield4594]

What is the treat you give the cockatiel?

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Millet and hemp seed 😊

[@aliahossam6632]

I loved this video! Also,can you tell me what's the easiest and the first trick should I teach to my cockatiels?

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Hi Sara and thanks for your comment! The first thing you'll need to train your cockatiel to do is to 'step up' on to your hand - offer your hand flat and sideways to your bird and tempt them to come closer with a treat! Once you have the step up trained, then the one sin this video would be perfect as easy and beginner tricks :)

[@aliahossam6632]

Thank you so much😊

[@BirdNerdSophie]

@@aliahossam6632 You're welcome! :)

[@gamingwithskittles4813]

What do you use for treats on the cocktiel as I got one yesterday and need to tame him

[@BirdNerdSophie]

We use millet - I recommend watching my video on how to tame and bond with your cockatiel! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZ-TqWeddrGgm9k

[@gamingwithskittles4813]

I've already watched that one thanks for the help

[@wakeupfeelinggreateveryday1723]

How can I offer a treat thru the cage without het biting me

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Add an extra bowl that you can drop a treat in as you walk past, or hold the treat far enough through the bars that they can’t physically bite you!

[@aliahossam6632]

Can u pls do a vid on how to choose the best cockatiel? Love your vids!!♥️

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Hi Sara, thanks for your kind comments as always! :) That's a great idea, but I think the best way to pick a cockatiel is through a health check and bonding. It's important that any bird you welcome into your home has a full bill of health, but as well as that, you can also see which bird you have a bond or connection with if you can meet them beforehand! :) Hope you are having a great week!

[@aliahossam6632]

@@BirdNerdSophie Thank you so much😊

[@H.C.Q.]

@@aliahossam6632 That is great advice. Let the bird choose you. Mine was a gift, so I couldn't do that, but that would be awesome.

[@aaliyahkhan9640]

what treat were u feeding them? im trying to find small treats i can use for training

[@BirdNerdSophie]

For the cockatiels we use hemp seeds and millet!

[@stacy_b]

I love learning from you, Sophie! We recently got two (juvenile) hand fed cockatiels and I’m struggling to even find what they like that will function as a treat. They only seem interested in their usual bird food. Any advice?? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

What’s their current diet and what are you trying to use as treats? 😊

[@stacy_b]

@@BirdNerdSophie They came to me on a Zupreem pellet and seed mix and then after watching one of your videos, I got a few of the other varieties of Zupreem and mix them together. I’ve tried a few treats like the Kaytee yogurt bits, pumpkin seeds, and a tropical mix. They love millet but i usually leave that on the stems for them. We’ve also tried some fresh and cooked fruits and veggies.

[@BirdNerdSophie]

@@stacy_b the problem with Zupreem is every type of it is made of filler ingredients and sugar so if they are getting that kind of food for free, they’ll be less likely to want to take treat foods! We use millet and hemp seeds for treats, we pick the buds of the millet as the whole spray can give them the wrong impression of what they are earning, and they only get those for training and foraging!

[@stacy_b]

@@BirdNerdSophie That doesn’t surprise me. 😕 The pet shop owners around where I live said that Zupreem was the “best” brand for bird food and of course without any real knowledge of birds, I listened. Are there any brands I can readily get in the states that you’d recommend? So far the most knowledgeable people I’ve come across is you and WarGamingParrot, and all the brands are UK based. 😫 Any recommendations for an online retailer that is US based? With the way shipping has been since Covid, it’s much more difficult to rely on things arriving here on time and in one piece.

[@BirdNerdSophie]

@@stacy_b haha you are spoilt for choice in the US! The best pellet brand is TOPs, but one of my favourite stores is China Prairie: www.chinaprairie.com/ You can also get lots of cool stuff all in one place from ParrotsRUs: www.parrotsrus.net/

[@meandmyanimalfriends3707]

I am just starting clicker and target training with Molly, but after about 3 times she gets bored and flys away. The only treat she will take is a pine nut, and these take her a while to eat, so I was thinking it could be because of that.

[@BirdNerdSophie]

What time of day are you doing training? Had she already been fed so snacks aren't as appealing? Can you break up the pine nuts into smaller bits? Have you tried a treat hierarchy test to see what her favourite treat actually is?!

[@meandmyanimalfriends3707]

It's pine nuts, the macadamia, then millet. Even millet she will take a while. I like the idea of breaking them up. I train first thing in the morning then try again around 1pm after her afternoon nap. Yesterday I actually took her into the kitchen as she paid a bit more attention because she was away from all distractions.

[@josuerivas6356]

First.. Im watching these Videos. Bc When i get a bird i know what to do.. And i can train it.🦆. And pickles.... Is. T h i c c ))

[@BirdNerdSophie]

Hey Josue! Thanks for watching! :D She is so (( t h i c c )) because she is a good girl and deserves all of the snacks LOL! I'm sure you would make a great bird owner!