Can you potty train a pet bird? It's just one of those inescapable drawbacks of owning birds that you have to get used to. The good thing is that you can teach your pet how to relieve itself, even if many people say you can't "housebreak" and "potty train" a bird. Sun conures are a great example of this. Although it may take more time and effort than training a dog or cat, many owners think that the advantages of this type of training outweigh the drawbacks.
Improve Yourself
Improve Yourself
Training oneself is the first stage in potty training a pet bird. If you spend time with your companion every day, be mindful of whatever "signals" the bird might give you prior to letting him relieve himself. These could be as minor as a shift in the bird's posture, a particular "look" in its eyes, or the ruffling of its tail feathers. When a bird sits silently in one place for an extended period of time, it may get restless and suggest that it needs to use the toilet. Although each bird is unique and will communicate through body language in different ways, you may quickly learn to "read" your bird if you get to know it.
Be Aware
The regularity with which your bird leaves droppings is something else to consider. Many birds go to the lavatory as frequently as once every five to ten minutes; however, this varies greatly amongst birds. You can better determine when the bird is prepared for a toilet break if you observe it and notice any patterns in its behavior. You can also determine how long it takes your bird to defecate.
Locate Destinations
You can start working with your bird to teach it where to go potty once you have a clear understanding of its normal toilet pattern. Choosing a location for potty training a pet bird is the first step. This may be in any number of locations, including a bird's cage, a trash can, a scrap of paper, or a cage liner. It's critical to maintain your decision-making process as much as possible. Since toilet paper is the most convenient and can be disposed of simply, many bird owners teach their birds to relieve themselves on it.
It sounds easy enough, doesn't it, to just carry your bird to the designated spot whenever it's time to relieve itself or, if that's a piece of paper, to hold it beneath the bird? The secret is to foresee when your bird will need to relieve itself, which is where understanding your bird's toilet habits comes in handy. You should set your bird over its allotted poop location every seven minutes, for instance, if you've discovered that it discharges itself roughly every seven minutes. It's natural for a bird to not need to poop as frequently as it usually does. If you find that after holding your bird over the potty area for a minute or two, it hasn't pooped, then let it play once more and try again in another one to three minutes.
Give Appreciation
Reward your bird with good words and delicious food when it relieves itself in the proper spot. It will eventually come to light that defecating in the proper location pays off handsomely. But as this can take several months of training, don't be alarmed if the bird has a few mishaps, and don't become upset with it when it "misses the mark." It is your responsibility to keep an eye on your bird's behavior and routine, and to take it outside for periodic poop breaks.
Many birds find potty training to be relatively easy, and they rapidly pick up the lesson that it is not acceptable to urinate on people or furniture when given enough encouragement and perseverance. While preventing mishaps does involve work on the part of the owner, most say it's far simpler than cleaning up the mess and clothes that untrained birds generate. Enjoy your time with your bird, and turn toilet training into a learning experience just for the two of you! You won't have to worry about your favorite shirt getting destroyed by a "bird bomb" again!
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