If you’re tired of constantly cleaning up after your pet, potty training bird might be the solution you’ve been looking for. While it might seem impossible, training your bird to use a designated bathroom area with patience and consistency is possible. Even though training a bird takes longer and may be more complicated than training a cat or dog, many owners find that the benefits of such training are well worth the effort. In this article, Canvas Personalized Blog‘ll walk you through the steps to successfully potty train your feathered friend.
Benefits Of Potty Training Bird
Bird owners may wonder, “Why potty train birds as soon as possible?”. The most obvious advantage of toilet training your bird is the time and effort saved. Proper toilet training of your bird will reduce the frequency you must clean up after it. This can be a significant relief, especially if you live with other people who don’t like birds as much as you do, like family members or roommates.
Another good thing about potty training your bird is that it can help you bond. Training a bird to go to the bathroom in the right spot takes time and patience. You will learn much about your bird’s habits and cues during this time. This shared experience can help you and your feathered friend become closer.
You may save money on bird food and trash by toilet training your bird. While this isn’t always the case, certain species of pet birds benefit from having more food alternatives after being toilet trained. After your bird is educated, it will only need to eat pellets, fruits, and vegetables, which are considerably more cost-effective than seed mixtures.
Some people think it’s silly to educate your bird (especially a parrot) to use the restroom on command. The bird may “hold it” till he dies as a result. There is no credible scientific evidence to support such a claim. Indeed, there are no dangers involved in toilet training your pet bird; the only drawback is that it may take more time than you anticipate.
Can Birds Be Potty Trained? Is It Possible?
Training a bird to use the toilet is unlike training a mammal. Knowing how birds defecate is essential for successful toilet training.
Birds have the unique ability to urinate and defecate at the same time. Urine is a liquid, while feces typically resemble soft pellets. Knowing and familiarity with a bird’s daily routine can help you prepare for training.
Even though birds aren’t always hard to train, learning about the process is essential before you start with your family. You can train your bird potty if you’re consistent and patient. Let’s take a look the process in further detail.
>>>Read through 20 Signs Your Bird Trusts You to build trust with your bird before you start training it
Easiest Bird To Potty Train Techniques
Step 1: Understand Your Bird’s Body Language
First, you need to learn how to read your bird’s signs. Each bird is different, but when they need to go, they all make some kind of signals. Observe your pet carefully and search for trends in its actions.
There are a few signs that your bird needs to use the bathroom.
One is standing on one leg. This is usually accompanied by fidgeting or preening, because your bird is trying to keep its balance. Increased vocalization is another indicator. This is because birds typically make noises when they need to go to the bathroom.
Lastly, your bird may start eating more. This is because when birds eat, they stimulate their digestive system, which can also make them need to go to the bathroom.
If you know the signs to watch for, taking them outdoors or to their potty place on time will be a breeze.
Step 2: Find a Suitable Place
Have a designated potty area. There should be a designated spot in the house for your bird to use the restroom, a corner of the room or a little table.
Make sure this area is easy for your bird to access and that it is always clean. Put some paper or other absorbent material in the bottom of the designated area to make cleanup easier.
Step 3: Set up a command
Establishing a command that cues your bird to go to the restroom is an important first step in potty training. Just say “potty,” “go potty,” or something similar. After you’ve decided on a command, use it each time you take your bird to the potty. If you give your bird enough time, it will learn that when you say “potty,” it’s time to use the restroom.
Step 4: When your bird needs to go, move it to the spot
When your bird needs to go to the bathroom, take him there. There should be a defined spot for your bird, whether a perch in the corner of the cage or a room in your house. Your bird will learn to go to this area independently after establishing a connection between it and urinating or defecating.
Step 5: Connect action and command
It is important to remember to use the desired command (such as “potty” or “go potty”) when the bird uses the restroom. This will aid him in associating the order with the intended action. Repeat this instruction every time your bird has to use the restroom, and he will soon associate the action with hearing the command.
Step 6: Praise and reward good behavior
Give your bird lots of positive reinforcement and gives he treats whenever it uses the bathroom in the correct location. Everything that makes your bird happy, such as treats or scratching its head. Giving them a treat for using the bathroom in the right spot is a great way to encourage them to repeat the habit in the future.
Tips For Success When Potty Training Your Bird
Start training your bird right away, but don’t start too soon
Not starting early enough is a typical error when toilet training a bird. Teaching a baby bird is considerably simpler than training an adult bird. Therefore, you should get started as soon as possible. However, you shouldn’t start potty training a very young bird. They won’t have the skills they need to do it, which may stress them out more than they need to.
Don’t scold or hit your bird
When potty training their birds, people often make the mistake of yelling at or hitting their birds. Birds are very clever and can quickly learn new skills with the proper training. Yet reprimands or physical force are ineffective with them. Scolding your bird will make it afraid of you and less inclined to listen to you. Similarly, hitting them won’t help.
You need patience and good reward, not punishment, to train your bird successfully. Give your bird praise when it does something right, and increase it as it improves. You can effectively teach your bird without physical punishment with time and patience.
Consult A Specialist
Get advice from experts if you feel you need it. If you’re having trouble toilet training your bird, seeing a professional trainer or behaviorist specializing in birds is a good idea. Also, they can offer advice and suggestions tailored to your unique circumstance.
Stop Having Impossibly High Expectations
Training your bird to use the toilet is a difficult but worthwhile endeavor. But it’s important to set reasonable goals for the process. It’s a common misunderstanding that potty training a bird only takes a few weeks. Nonetheless, it may take a bird several months, or even years, to master good bathroom behavior.
As you start potty training bird, remember that it will take time and consistency to succeed. These tips and patience with your feathered friend can help them learn to use a designated potty spot and avoid making messes around your house. Canvas Personalized Blog hopes that with a bit of work and lots of love, you and your bird can live a happy and healthy life together.