| Parrots are animals. And animals are supposed to be | | | | calm and not provoke the bird. Trust and rapport |
| in the wild. Because of these, parrots develop | | | | between the human being and the parrot can be |
| instinctive habits like biting people when provoked. | | | | developed. |
| This is just their form of defense. They may have | | | | Parrots can get aggressive and once they start |
| defense actions under their wings, but biting is the | | | | biting, it is hard to correct this bad and damaging |
| most basic of them all. | | | | behavior. |
| But since pet parrots are already domesticated, | | | | Some techniques for it to learn cooperative behavior |
| defense actions like biting should not be tolerated. | | | | are as follows: |
| This behavior may be ok for fellow birds. But since | | | | 1. Step up and step down the parrot in different |
| the parrot has earned the title of a family pet [it is | | | | territories using the hand. In this way, the parrot will |
| surrounded by children and elderly people], biting must | | | | learn to trust its handler. Trust is very important in |
| be corrected. It is not ok anymore! | | | | making the parrot follow its handler. |
| Poor behavior should not be faced with punishment. | | | | 2. Also try giving treats and food using the hand. |
| The same with small children, parrots may learn to | | | | Once the parrot realizes that the hand can do no |
| fight back or react negatively. A rebellious parrot will | | | | danger, it can also correct its instinctive behavior of |
| be harder to teach let alone correct any of its bad | | | | biting. |
| behavior. | | | | 3. Play the towel game. Use the towel to carry the |
| Probably the best way to teach your parrot to stop | | | | parrot around so as for it to lose its fear of unknown |
| biting is to work with the parrot early on and making | | | | objects. Other objects may be used too. But limit |
| sure this bad behavior does not start in the first | | | | them to soft ones so as not to hurt the bird. |
| place.. | | | | 4. Let the parrot come out of its home on its own. |
| It is hard to control mature parrots. A saying goes, | | | | Never provoke the parrot by taking its things as |
| "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks." This is not | | | | parrots have territorial behaviors and may act |
| entirely factual, but much of the saying holds true. | | | | aggressively later on (which we are trying to prevent |
| The parrot must learn to cooperate with human | | | | in the first place!) |
| beings at an early age. That way they are easily | | | | With these techniques in mind, your parrot will learn |
| trainable. Before anything else, the trainer must be | | | | cooperative behavior and hopefully will grow up to be |
| patient to work with the parrot. He or she must be | | | | a hassle-less pet. |