How To:  Socialize your Parrot

Tips on early Socialization

Parrots are a complex combination of inherited and learned behaviors.  In the wild, survival skills are taught by their parents.  Domesticated chicks must rely on the breeders, hand-feeders, shop keepers and care givers to learn these skills.  The time between fledging (when a bird starts flying) and weaning is a critical learning period for a baby bird.

Climbing

If you have carpeted stairs put your parrot on the floor at the bottom and sit 3 to 4 steps above him.  Encourage him to climb the stairs to see you by calling his name and saying "Come here".  Always reward him with verbal praise when he climbs a step.  If you don't have carpeted steps encourage him to climb a towel onto your bed or a couch.

Real estate

Take your new parrot around the house setting down in various places talking to him about the rooms and what is in it.  introduce him to possible scary objects by placing him in front of the object instead of placing the object in front of him.

Razor Blade Toenails

Baby parrots have sharp toenails for a reason.  In the wild it would help keep the baby on the tree limb before it had time to develop it's balance skills.  When working on carpet or with a towel, file just the tips so they don't get caught.  Never trim your young birds nail to short.  If you routinely file the sharp tips off of your young bird you will pattern the bird to accept this as grooming.

Hot Potato

Once family and friends have properly learned how to hold the parrot have everyone sit in a circle and gently pass the baby from person to person.  Each person should make a fuss over the parrot before passing him on.

Teaching Exploration

Put your baby Parrot on the floor and sit 4 to 5 feet away.  Call him to "Come Here"  and encourage him.  Each time lengthen the distance the Parrot has to travel to come to you.  Teach him to "Stay" with that command until you call him to "come here". This will teach him to stay in his cage if you want him to and to come to you if he ever gets up in a tree.

Balance Skills

Sit on a bed with your parrot.  Place him in the middle of a ladder with both hands and holding him over the bed gently lever the ladder up and down.  Encourage him to climb to the top and give him lots of praise when he learns to climb.

Bonding with the Flock

Everyone who wants to be a part of the Parrot's life need to spend private time socializing with the bird.  Strangers should be introduce the parrot and taught how to properly handle him.  Encounters with inexperienced people can cause serious social problems for a young bird.