Guest Author - Heather Thomas
Constantly cleaning bird droppings from clothing and furniture is nobodyís idea of a good time and the bigger the bird the worse the time. If youíve ever been pooped on by a large bird, you know what Iím talking about. Potty training, especially for large birds, is part of manners training. Just as you would not allow your bird to remove someoneís glasses, birds can be trained to go to the bathroom in a designated place and with a specific command. Birds of any age can be potty trained, but as with most things itís easier to train a young bird because bad habits have not been established. Training can even begin before a bird is fully weaned but is able to perch.
Observe Your Birdís Schedule
Take a couple of hours and observe your birdís habits and time how long in-between droppings. Record your findings for future use. This will provide your baseline for training. The final objective of this exercise is to determine the average amount of time in-between droppings.
Choose a Command
This may seem like a silly step but it is good to remember whatever phrase you use will be repeated back to you for years to come.
When the time comes to play with or work with your bird each day, start off by taking your bird potty. Say the chosen command over and over until your bird goes to the bathroom. Then tell your feathered friend what a good bird they are. Proceed by playing with your bird while watching the timer (this is where your previous timing comes in). When one minute less than your birds average time arrives, return to the designated spot and repeat the command until your bird goes. Once again, praise it for a job well done. Continue this pattern for the entire time you are interacting with your bird.
Say the command every time. It is important to say the chosen command every time you take your bird to go potty. Eventually, your bird will likely notify you when itís time to ďgoĒ.
Praise for a job well done. Birds want to please those they love and thrive off of your praise. When they go potty where they are supposed to and on command, make a big deal about it and tell them what a good bird they are.