Month: February 2011

Harness training

Harness training is a rewarding exercise. It brings new freedom to your relationship and allows your Eckie to travel with you on many adventures outside the home.

Many of our Parrot Haven Eckies are harnessed trained. Our clients love to share stories of their latest outings. For example, Shell takes her boy, Wally, everywhere. Wally is terribly spoilt. He goes camping most weekends, is a regular at farming expos and adores four-wheel driving. He recently went caving for the first time. Shell said he was enthralled by the stalactites and loved it when they turned the lights out. Their fellow cavers were delighted when Wally wolf-whistled in the dark. His next adventure takes him on the high seas, as Wally has been invited on board a friend’s yacht. I’m sure he will enjoy himself thoroughly.

The benefits of harness training

Harnessing your Eckie enables you to leave them fully flighted. This means that you don’t have to clip their wings. They are able to maintain a good flying regime, thereby staying fit and healthy.

If your Eckie takes flight while harnessed, you have the security of knowing they are safely tethered. If another animal surprises your Eckie, you can maintain a gentle firmness on the tether. If they fly off in surprise, they are at no risk of injury because the tether will gently reign them in.

Harnessing your Eckie means you don’t have to worry about a large gust of wind accidentally catching your Eckies wings and giving them lift. A clipped parrot can fly a remarkable distance in a strong wind.

Slow and steady

Harness training takes time patience so don’t rush your Eckie. Never attempt to put the harness on, hoping they will get used to it. This will only terrify them, create mistrust and fear of the harness and potentially leave you bloody and bruised.

This is a small excerpt from our book: The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots. This chapter provides step by step instructions on how to safely and gently harness train your Eclectus. Our technique has been used by many Eclectus owners and it works!

 

Available now

View on the iBookstore

 

Recall training

Recall training is one of the most important techniques to master. It allows you peace of mind in knowing that if your parrot escapes, you can recall them safely, with as little stress as possible.

Never be complacent

I have spoken with many owners over the years that believed their parrot would return to them due to the bond they share. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Eckies are at their most confident in their home environment. This is their safe haven. Your Eckie may fly to you by choice in the home, but they are doing so in a stress free and familiar environment. Regardless of how strong your bond is, or how much your Eckie trusts you, you need to recall train. Eckies are essentially wild animals. Their instincts are heavily ingrained and if they find themselves in a crisis situation, instinct will take over. Terror and stress will lead some to fly as fast and far as possible, while others will perch in the tallest tree they can find.

A brief overview of recall training

1. Place your Eckie on their training stand.
2. Use your “step up” cue to ask your Eckie to step onto your arm to take the treat. Reward immediately both verbally and with the treat. If your Eckie is hesitant to step up, then this may take some time. Be patient. They will soon learn that stepping up earns them a tasty treat.
3. Remember to reward even the smallest step or movement forward.
4. Once your Eckie is stepping up confidently, move back very slightly and have them walk to your arm. Use the recall cue you have chosen, for example “fly to me.”  As soon as they are on your arm, praise and reward. Move back so there is distance between you and the stand and repeat the cue. Increase the distance gradually when you feel they are ready to progress.
5. Repeat the above process until your Eckie has to fly to you. Increase the distance they must fly gradually. Place your Eckie in high and low positions so they become accustomed to flying both up and down to you.

This is a small excerpt from our book: The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots. This chapter provides step by step instructions on how to recall train your Eclectus. Our technique has been used by many Eclectus owners and it works!

Information included in this chapter:

• How to recall train using steps by step instructions
• Recall on cue
• Teach your Eckie to search for you
• Flying up into the tree is the easy part
• Recall training a clipped Eclectus
• Peace of mind

 Available now

View on the iBookstore