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How
to
Potty Train Birds
By
Dr.
Greg Burkett
Board
Certified Avian Veterinarian
(Reprinted
by permission from Dr Burkett)
Although
bird poop has no odor, and is relatively harmless, few people are
willing to venture into public with it on their shoulder for friends to
notice and say "Hey, I'll bet you have a pet bird". True bird lovers
understand that occasionally one will be pooped on by their loving pet
and they accept it with grace and dignity. I am one of those people.
Nonetheless, I believe that all pets should be well mannered, and
pooping on people is not good manners. Therefore, I feel that potty
training should be employed for a happier coexistence with your pet
bird.
It
is
true that you can potty train your bird. Don't expect your bird to
return to its cage when it has to eliminate but, it will be able hold
it for reasonable about of time until you can get it to a place that it
is allowed to drop.
The
principle behind this training technique is that your bird needs to
relieve itself every 15 to 20 minutes. The technique is simple. Each
time you take your bird out of its cage, immediately place the bird
onto its playpen. As you are waiting for the bird to drop, repeat a key
word that you will use to trigger the event. I use "Dump". One of our
customers says "Do your Poopie". Missy uses "Go Poo Poo". Any word you
choose will work. The key words are important because they will be a
cue to let your bird know what you expect. If your bird does not go
within 2 to 3 minutes, take the bird off of the playpen for a couple of
minutes. Then place the bird back onto the playpen until it goes.
Repeat the process until the bird poops. Your bird is not allowed off
of the perch for any extended period of time until it has dropped. The
bird's reward is getting off of the perch to be with you. Lots of
verbal and physical praise is important when they go where they are
supposed to go. While the bird is out of its cage, it is important to
return it to the playpen every 15 to 20 minutes, make it stay there,
and repeat the key word until the bird drops. When your bird poops, its
reward is coming off of the playpen to be with you and to receive more
praise and petting. Once your bird begins to recognize the key word,
you can say it before you remove your bird from the cage and he will
learn to poop before he comes out.
Utilizing
this technique, being patient, being persistent, and keeping on
schedule will potty train your bird in 2 to 3 weeks. Potty trained does
not mean that your bird will return to the cage or playpen to poop.
Potty trained means that the bird will hold its poops for a reasonable
period of time (30 to 45 minutes depending on the size of the bird)
until it is put in a proper place to relieve itself (on a playpen or in
its cage). Potty trained also means that your bird should poop on
command by using the key words mentioned earlier. This is very handy
when you take your bird to friends' or families' homes. You should be
able to hold your bird over a sink, trash can, or other appropriate
receptacle and tell the bird to poop, thereby leaving the friends,
family and carpet free of unwanted poop stains. This technique works!
How
to
Potty Train Bird
By
Dr.
Greg Burkett
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