Teaching a bird to jump on your finger takes patience and time. During the process, you will build a relationship of trust and bond with your feathered friend.
This technique should be tried once your friend gets used to the environment. If he stays in the corner of his cage, you may need to socialize with your bird a little longer before his training.
Steps
Step 1. Slowly put your hand in the cage
It shouldn't be terrible if you keep it clean and feed it daily.
Step 2. Insert your hand for at least 30 seconds then remove it
Continue each day until your little bird calms down and stays where it is. (This step is to establish in him the confidence that you will not harm him). You might even think about offering him something when you put your hand in the cage.
Step 3. Slowly press your index finger against the bottom of the bird's chest, just above its paws
It probably won't go up the first time. If this has never happened before, he will be nervous and try to back away. Wait five minutes and try again.
Step 4. Rub his chest lightly as you invite him by saying "Jump" or just "Up"
Remember that too many words are useless.
Step 5. If the bird still doesn't jump, slightly increase the pressure on its chest
Eventually it will get out of balance and naturally jump on your finger. If he tries to do this for three minutes and still refuses, try tomorrow.
Step 6. Repeat the exercise with the other hand until your bird latches on
Step 7. If you practice enough, once you put your finger and say "Up" the bird will jump right away
Step 8. The first time this happens, don't move
Eventually you can move but try not to make sudden movements, as if the bird was not there or it could lose its balance and fall, breaking a leg or neck.
Advice
- Don't confuse peck with balance! It is a common mistake. The bird will always test the surface with its beak before climbing on it. If it does, don't panic - it's normal.
- Stay in the room with the bird even if it's not out of the cage so it gets used to your presence.
- Socialize with your little bird before teaching him the trick.
- Keep the cage in a busy room - birds are social animals who want to get involved
- You don't have to use perches to teach this command. A perch may scare the bird more than necessary.
Warnings
- Wild fledglings should not be taken from their natural habitat to be trained, nor to be accustomed to humans.
- Remember to be careful with your little bird!
- Cover mirrors and glass because the bird could fly into it in case of panic and injure itself.
- Some birds such as Quaker parrots are territorial and require a lot more training than other birds. Get a guide on how to teach parrots and how to minimize and manage their behavior.
