PREVENTING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS Early training can make a big impact on preventing
some of the most commonly seen parrot behavior prob- lems. In part because embracing a positive reinforcement approach to training means abandoning methods based on force that often lead to problems such as aggressive behavior, fear responses and loss of trust. However parrot owners can prepare themselves further by getting familiar with some of the undesired behavior a parrot might ex- hibit. The reason it is helpful to identify problems behav- iors in advance is that caregivers can be prepared to respond appropriately the first time an undesired behav- ior is presented. And thus prevent the likelihood it will happen again.
Some of the more commonly seen behavior problems
include aggressive behavior, screaming for attention, bonding to one person and feather destructive behavior. You can learnmore about these problembehaviors by vis- iting the Good Bird Inc Behavior Problem Frequently Asked Questions page.
Having an awareness of the solutions to behavior prob-
lems before they appear can help avoid accidentally re- inforcing or creating problem behavior in the first place.
CONCLUSION While not all ofmy birds had the good fortune of being
raised by a knowledgeable breeder, they are all still ex- tremely easy to live with thanks to positive reinforcement training. A quiet house? Fingers free of band aids? A fun, interactive and engaging pet?Yes, awell behaved parrot is a very realistic goal. And to add his own exclamation point to this article my yellow naped Amazon just sang “What a good biiiiiiiiiird!”What a good bird indeed.
Barbara Heidenreich has been a professional in the
A pleasant life with parrots is a realistic goal. Photo credit: Barbara Heidenreich
For example if a parrot starts to regurgitate for one fam-
ily member it may mean the bird has identified that per- son as a potential preferred mate. This could lead to the presentation of aggressive behavior towards other mem- bers of the household. Rather than permit the regurgitation to continue, the caregiver can redirect the bird towards acceptable behavior or consider stepping away from the bird for a moment until it stops presenting courtship be- havior. The preferred person may choose to interact with the bird less frequently for a short time and allow other members of the household to strengthen their relationship with the bird.This can help prevent the creation of a “one person” bird.
field of animal training since 1990. She is the President of Good Bird Inc (
www.GoodBirdInc.com), a company that provides parrot behavior and training products to the companion parrot community. These products include Good Bird Magazine, books, videos, and parrot training workshops. Barbara Heidenreich has been a featured speaker on animal training on six continents and has been published in nine different languages. Barbara Heidenre- ich is a former president of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (
www.IAATE.org) and served on the Board of Directors since 1997-2009.
Barbara also consults on animal training in zoos and
other animal related facilities. She has been a part of the development and production of more than 15 different free flight education programs and has worked with over 20 different animal facilities. Barbara provides consulting services to zoos, nature centers and other animal facilities through her company Animal Training and Consulting Services. In her career she has trained animals, trained staff, and/or presented shows at facilities around the world.
14 Good Bird Magazine
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