Training a Pet Bird: 9 Necessary Supplies

To train a bid, it is important to equip yourself with a good range of pet bird supplies. You will also need patience and skill. Birds, like human beings, have their own unique personalities, and with that comes their own personality quirks. These quirks make the bird trainable, providing the you are tolerant of the bird's initial behavior. To assist in training the bird, there are a number of necessary supplies needed.

1 - Clicker

The clicker works by sound association. By using the clicker each time you want the bird to perform a desired action, such as return to your hand, the bird will eventually associate that action with the clicker. Once they do, the bird will perform the action associated with the clicking sound, every time the clicker is used. This is an essential training aid, and once established will make controlling the bird that much easier.

2 - Food

Food is used as a reward, and should be given to the bird every time it does something you like, or if you prefer it to exhibit a desired good behavior. This reinforces training, and provides the bird with an incentive to behave in the desired way.

3 - Training Stand (perch)

This simple, yet effective piece of kit, is simply a perch with feeding bowels at each end. The idea is that with a little patience, you can train a bird to walk from one side of the perch to the other, and to step into your hand, and from your hand by issuing a command. The feeding bowels, assist in issuing a reward.

4 - Flight Suits/Bird Diapers

These are not so much a training aid as the bird does not actually learn anything. They do however, prevent bird droppings landing all over the house. There is some debate concerning cruelty, though many manufacturers state that they are designed to allow free movement and puts the animal in no pain.

5 - Harness and Leash

Harnesses and leashes are used in a similar way to a dog leash and collar. The harness is slipped over the bird, and the leash is fastened to it. Variable lengths of leash are available, and some are long enough to allow flying.

6 - Bird Carrier Cages

Bird carrier cages will at some point be needed, whether it be for a long trip or a short one to the vet. There are different designs and styles available, depending on your type of bird.

7 - Mirrors, Beads and Other Toys

Toys are essential for any bird, as they provide stimuli while in the cage. The better stimulated a bird is the better it will respond to training, and the sooner it will do as you want it to. Mirrors, and play beads are very popular, as are different kinds of perches and rings. There can never be enough stimuli in the cage.

8 - Speech Training CD

Speech training CDs are especially designed to train birds that have the potential to speak. The CD contains recorded bird sounds and speech, which are said to greatly speed up your bird's capacity for speech.

9 - Bird Cage

The rule with a cage is bigger is better. This not only gives the bird more space to fly around, but it also means you can provide more stimuli for your pet.