How To Socialize and Train Your Pet Parrotlet

Socializing Your Pet Parrotlet

It takes daily interaction and attention to properly train and socialize your new parrotlet.

Parrots must be well socialized to reach their full pet potential. Here at Parrots, Parrots, Parrots, our parrotlets begin this process at an early age. Many experienced breeders believe that the most effective way to accustom a baby parrot to humans is to hand raise them. This alone will not acclimate the chick to people, rather the feeding must be accompanied by touching, petting, talking to and handling the chick several times each day.

All of our chicks are hand raised from about ten days of age. Additionally, they are raised and weaned with their clutch mates (brothers and sisters) so that they also learn how to "be a bird". These two types of early socialization help our parrotlets become great pets or breeders. Birds that are removed from the company of their kind too early often prove to be poor breeders because they never have the opportunity to observe other birds being birds. Parrotlets that are not properly socialized with people are often less tame and more nervous then hand fed babies.

Time has proven that this caring method of raising parrot chicks will get them off to a great start in life.

Spend Quality Time with Your Parrotlet

Once you take your parrotlet home and he has had some time to settle in, you can continue to socialize and train him. You should plan on spending some time with your parrot everyday. If you have more than one bird, then each should get individual attention. Maybe you can share breakfast and your morning grooming routine with one bird and have dinner with another. Then perhaps all of your birds can spend time on play gyms or baskets while you are on the computer or watching TV.

Because parrots are flock animals, they enjoy being with their flock (you) as often as possible. They will want to be out in the room with you, eating, watching TV, doing chores, surfing the Internet or doing whatever you are doing. If you prefer to have your hands free, then you can train them to stay on a play stand or basket while they are out of their cages. They will truly enjoy the change of environment. We have even seen parrotlets in our birdroom enter empty cages just to play with the toys and explore them.
 
Teaching your Parrotlet Manners

Remember that your bird is essentially a wild animal and what might be perfectly normal and acceptable in the wild may not be desirable to you, so patience and understanding is always necessary. When teaching your parrotlet what is acceptable in your home, the key is to ignore undesirable behavior as often as possible. A shout, yell or laugh from people is just the kind of dramatic behavior your parrot will view as positive reinforcement.

A change of environment or distraction to another activity is also an appropriate response to undesirable behavior that can not be ignored.

Be sure to offer praise or attention when your parrotlet is being good, even in small things like quietly playing with its toys or sitting on its play area.
 
Parrot Communication

Parrots communicate in various ways including chirps, calls, body language and posture and by using their beaks. A pet parrotlet should not bite unless fearful, stressed or defending its territory. However, you will need to teach your bird to be gentle and use its beak appropriately. It is natural for a new parrotlet to nip, pinch or chew on things to test what they are and what reaction this beaking will illicit. It is up to you to provide consistent guidance in this regard.