Pink Cockatoo Coming Out & Training

This Major Mitchell's Cockatoo is learning to come out of the cage and continue our training outside the cage. He is a pretty nervous bird so we've had to take things slower. The parrot feels safe in the cage and is reluctant to come out. So, I've been very gradually building trust and showing him that coming out is safe and nice.

I start by targeting down from the dome of the cage. I am not going to reach my hands up into a hard to reach place like that and risk scaring him or getting bit. Instead, I use my target stick to direct the Pink Cockatoo to climb down to the coming-out-perch nearest the door. We practice some targeting around the cage before going further.

I use a Clicker and Target Stick to train him where to go:
https://ParrotWizard.com/Clicker_Target

I target the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo to step onto a handheld perch that I am holding by himself. Similar to prior exercises, I gently lift the perch out from the cage with him on it. However, I slowly continue moving the perch to set him near the Training Perch. I target him from the handheld perch onto the prepared Training Perch.

https://ParrotWizard.com/Training_Perch

Once on the Training Perch, training really takes off. Without the confines or distraction of the cage, it is much easier for the parrot to focus directly on training. The Parrot Wizard Training Perch makes training easy and convenient. Birds find the perch comfortable and familiar. The Training Perch helps get the bird into the mood for training and encourages paying attention.

I continue practicing some targeting on the Training Perch. The Pink Cockatoo is nervous at first and slow to respond. But, with practice you can see him improve. We practice some more, but keep the training sessions short. I want to lock in the success we had before something can go wrong and the Cockatoo can regret coming out of the cage.

Once again, I direct the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo to target and walk onto the perch I am holding. I carefully carry him back over to the cage. I don't want him to fall off, fly off, or get scared as I carry him back. I have him step back into the cage to wrap up a successful training session.

Learn my complete approach to parrot training:
https://ParrotWizard.com/Book
https://ParrotAcademy.com

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