The Parrot Wizard's Guide

to Well-Behaved Parrots
By Michael Sazhin

Parrot Wizard Inc.

New York

While great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and
presentation of the information in this book, every parrot is different
and it is up to you to make your own handling decisions. As greater
information and experience becomes available, parrot handling
techniques may change. Consequently, neither the publisher nor
writer can take responsibility if information in whole or in part does
not work for your parrot. Please use common sense when applying
enclosed advice.

The Parrot Wizard's Guide to Well-Behaved Parrots

Copyright 2013 by Parrot Wizard Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission
from the author.
With special thanks to Ginger Duplisse, Amy Hopkins, Jeff Rosato,
Daniel Sazhin, and Dr. Todd Driggers for their support and feedback
and an extra special thanks to James Kemp for his academic insight.

For more products, information, and private consultations:

www.ParrotWizard.com

ISBN 978-1-62620-804-9

Printed in the United State of America

Cover design and artwork by Jerry Breen
2

Table of Contents
Foreword (by Ginger Duplisse)................................ 10
Preface .................................................................... 13
Introduction ............................................................. 14
Chapter 1: Getting a Parrot ..................................... 19
Chapter 2: Situating the Parrot ............................... 45
Chapter 3: Early Interactions .................................. 55
Chapter 4: Taming & Training ................................. 68
Chapter 5: Managing Good Behavior ................... 116
Chapter 6: Flight .................................................... 137
Chapter 7: Trick Training ...................................... 157
Chapter 8: Problem Solving .................................. 175
Chapter 9: Socialization ........................................ 206
Chapter 10: Talking ............................................... 230
Conclusion ............................................................ 238
On Becoming the Parrot Wizard ........................... 240
Photos ................................................................... 258
Glossary ................................................................ 272
Appendix A: Further Reading ............................... 279
Appendix B: Useful Products ................................ 284
Index of Photos & Illustrations .............................. 287
Index ..................................................................... 289

Dedicated to the companion parrots of the world

so that with this knowledge owners and parrots
may find a mutually fulfilling relationship.

Detailed Table of Contents

Foreword (by Ginger Duplisse) .............................. 10
Preface ................................................................... 13
Introduction ........................................................... 14
Chapter 1: Getting a Parrot .................................. 19
Reasons to Get a Parrot ............................... 20
Reasons Not to Get a Parrot ......................... 21
Cost of Owning a Parrot ................................ 26
Parrot Species ............................................... 28
Finding Out More About Species .................. 33
Where to Acquire a Parrot ............................ 35
Multiple Parrots ............................................. 42
Health ............................................................ 43
Chapter 2: Situating the Parrot ............................ 45
Cages ............................................................ 47
Things You Need .......................................... 48
Toys & Perches ............................................. 49
Hazards ......................................................... 50
Bringing the Parrot Home ............................. 52

Chapter 3: Early Interactions ............................... 55

Nutrition & Diet .............................................. 59
Treats ............................................................ 61
Sleep ............................................................. 63
Desensitization .............................................. 64
Chapter 4: Taming & Training .............................. 68
Motivation ...................................................... 74
Food Management ........................................ 76
Clicker Conditioning ...................................... 88
Target Training .............................................. 92
Step Up ......................................................... 97
Touch/Grab ................................................. 106
Toweling ...................................................... 112
Turning on Back .......................................... 114
Chapter 5: Managing Good Behavior ............... 116
Step Up to Come Out of Cage .................... 118
Putting Parrot Back in Cage ........................ 119
Weighing ..................................................... 120
Petting ......................................................... 122
Shouldering ................................................. 124
Potty Training .............................................. 127
Carrier ......................................................... 130
Grooming .................................................... 133
Out of Cage Time ........................................ 135
7

Chapter 6: Flight .................................................. 137

Flight Safety ................................................ 139
Teaching a Parrot to Fly .............................. 141
Fun With Flight ............................................ 148
Harness Training ......................................... 152
Chapter 7: Trick Training ................................... 157
Basics of Teaching Tricks ........................... 158
Cues............................................................. 162
Target Based Tricks .................................... 164
Cue Based Tricks ........................................ 168
Retrieve Based Tricks ................................. 169
Maintaining Tricks ....................................... 173
Chapter 8: Problem Solving ............................... 175
Biting ........................................................... 177
Screaming ................................................... 187
Plucking ....................................................... 191
Hormonal Problems .................................... 195
Prevention ................................................... 199
Flighted Problems ....................................... 201
Chapter 9: Socialization ..................................... 206
Introducing Objects ..................................... 208
Introducing People ...................................... 212
Going Outside ............................................. 220
8

Taking Trips ................................................ 226

Boarding ...................................................... 228
Chapter 10: Talking ............................................. 230
Encouraging Parrots to Talk ....................... 232
Setting Up Phrases ..................................... 233
Vocalization Training Devices ..................... 234
Capturing Phrases ...................................... 235
Conclusion .......................................................... 238
On Becoming the Parrot Wizard ....................... 240
Photos .................................................................. 258
Glossary .............................................................. 272
Appendix A: Further Reading ........................... 279
Appendix B: Useful Products ............................ 284
Index of Photos & Illustrations ......................... 287
Index .................................................................... 289

Index of Photos & Illustrations

The Parrot Wizard's Guide, Front Cover
Well-Behaved Parrot, 4
Parrot Wizard's Flowchart to Well-Behaved Parrots, 16/17
Pet Shop Parrots, 19
Escaped Parrot Enjoying the House, 45
Picky Parrot, 55
Parrot, Trick Training, 68
Using a Clicker, 90
Single Handed Targeting, 98
Picking Up Small Parrot, 101
Picking Up Medium Parrot, 102
Picking Up Large Parrot, 103
Approaching Hand for Step-Up, 104
How Not to Hold a Parrot, 111
Turning Parrot on Back, 114
Crate Training, 116
Flight, Humans' Worst Nightmare, 137
Teaching a Parrot to Fly With Training Perches, 142
Flight Recall Technique, 144
Landing on Hand, 145
Parrot Showing Off, 157
Teaching Turn Around, 166
Teaching Go Through Tube, 167
Parrot Fetching, 170
Teaching Fetch, 172
10

Teaching Basketball, 173

Parrot, Problem Solving, 175
Parrot Getting Human Out of the House, 206
Parrot Teaching Human to Talk, 230
Author With His Parrots, 258
Grabbing Parrot Out of Carrier First Time, 259
Cape Parrot Chewing Clothes Pin, 259
Single Handed Target Stick Photo, 260
Target Training Parrot in the Cage, 260
Target Onto Handheld Perch, 261
Target Training on Training Perch, 261
Targeting Parrot Onto Finger, 262
Grabbing Parrot Out of Cage, 262
Towel Training a Parrot, 263
Senegal Parrot Landing, 263
Cape Parrot Flying, 264
Cape Parrot Landing, 264
Cape Parrot Flying in the House, 265
Senegal and Cape Parrot, 265
Flight Training Perch to Perch, 266
Flight Training Big Step, 266
Flight Training Short Flight, 267
Senegal Parrot Waves, 267
Cape Parrot Fetches, 268
Senegal Parrot Fetches, 268
Cape Parrot Shows Wings, 269
Parrots Enjoy Pumpkin Carving on Halloween, 269
Holding Cape Parrot on His Back, 270
Putting Harness on Cape Parrot, 270
Parrots Harnessed and Secured, 271
Devil and Angel Parrots, Back Cover
11

Index
African grey 29-30, 32, 170
Amazon 29, 32, 170
basketball 169, 172-173, 276
behavior 10, 12, 15, 22-23,
26, 28, 32, 35, 39-40,
62-64, 69-97, 107-108,
115-138, 158-162, 166,
169, 174, 176, 179-181,
184-185, 190-191, 193,
195-204, 224, 231, 248,
272-281
biting 177-187, 272
displaced 127, 178-179
excitement 182-183, 273
fear 24, 73, 96-97, 102,
106-113, 133, 177-179,
201-202, 212-213,
215-217, 225
jealous 24, 181-182, 246,
272
learned 14-15, 20, 24-25,
74, 103-105, 117, 119,
123-125, 183, 185-187,
199, 204, 214, 220, 238,
241, 275
possessive 179-181
territorial 32, 180, 197

hormonal 184, 198

boarding 130, 208, 218, 227,
228-229
boomerang 149-150
breeder 34-40, 56, 66, 76,
138, 242, 252
bridge 88-89, 272-273
budgerigar 12, 26-27, 30-31,
61-62, 79-80, 170,
246-247
cage 22, 42, 49, 57-60, 99,
101, 146, 170, 179-180,
195-197, 200, 202, 204,
207, 211, 228-229, 231,
233, 286
selecting 27, 30, 33,
46-49, 50, 52, 243-244,
254
putting parrot into/out of
11, 14, 52-54, 63-67,
73-82, 90-95, 103-107,
110, 118-121, 126,
128-129, 132, 151, 162,
184, 186, 201, 209, 214,
218, 238, 241, 244, 248
time 117, 135-136,
188-189
12

caique 30, 32
capturing 159, 168, 232,
235-237
carrier 26-27, 48, 52-54, 80,
130-132, 134, 140, 155,
184, 221-225, 227-228,
243, 256
claws 133-135, 274
clicker
device 88-94, 99,
104-105, 107, 117, 129,
142, 154, 158, 165, 236,
255, 272
concept 88-96, 99, 146,
150, 154, 159, 164-165,
167-169, 171, 173,
236-237, 272
conditioning 88-92, 273
clipping wings 23, 38-39,
41-42, 50, 77, 129,
135-136, 138-142,
152, 176, 180, 184, 191,
201, 222, 245, 247-248,
250, 252, 273
cockatiel 11, 25, 28-30, 60,
62, 89-90, 112, 136, 136,
170, 240-241, 243-244
cockatoo 29-30, 32, 135
companionship 5, 13-15, 18,
25, 36, 40, 42, 63, 69, 73,
76, 78, 80, 92, 118, 177,
213, 228, 237, 278
cookware 27, 227, 244
conure 29, 31-32, 170,

242-243, 255
cost 22, 26-28, 31, 51
cue 96, 128, 144, 146,
150-151, 158-159,
161-171, 174, 216,
231-233, 236-237
desensitization 59, 64-67, 72,
131, 177, 209, 273
diet 11, 15, 26, 38, 59-61, 82,
184, 191, 194, 207, 229
exercise 11, 18, 58, 69, 77,
88, 91, 95, 102, 108, 115,
131, 136, 144, 146, 148,
176, 182, 188, 191, 251,
273
extinction 74, 97, 183, 273
eye pinning 182, 273
fear 57-58, 64-67, 73, 93, 99,
102, 108, 112, 114, 119,
131-135, 138, 154,
177-179, 186, 201-202,
209, 211, 225, 245,
272-273, 275
fetch 148, 150, 158-159,
169-174, 248, 276
flight 11, 18, 20, 23, 77-78,
82, 104, 136, 137-156,
176-180, 188, 191, 194,
207, 214, 238, 247-248,
251-253, 255, 257, 273
boomerang 149-150
problems 26, 126, 129,
138-139, 201-205
safety 39, 41-42, 50,
13

138-140, 183
training 106, 141-156,
172, 174, 184, 223-227
food 22, 27-28, 38, 48, 52-53,
57, 59-63, 67, 69, 92, 95,
126, 138, 145, 147, 168,
174, 196, 209, 222, 229,
233, 252, 256, 275, 278
management 18, 70-88,
118-122, 129, 134, 188,
190, 194, 198, 203, 207,
229, 257, 274
scheduling 79, 81-84,
117-120, 132, 151, 187,
274
grab 14, 53-54, 66, 96,
106-115, 120-122, 125,
133-135, 138, 160, 183,
217-218, 223, 238, 244,
249, 251
grooming 14, 111, 130,
132-134, 138, 218, 274,
278
harness 26-27, 136, 140, 150,
152-156, 221-226, 245,
250-251, 253, 286
hazard 47, 50-51, 136, 140,
227
health 11-12, 14-15, 18, 25,
28, 43-44, 59, 61-63,
78-79, 82-83, 86-88,
129-130, 191, 195,
206, 221, 229, 254, 274,
278

hoop 148-149
hormonal
behavior 18, 78, 83, 88,
184, 194-198, 274
biting 184, 194-198, 274
lovebird 29, 31, 80
macaw 12, 22, 29, 33, 110,
112, 242-243, 255
motivation 18, 61, 74-76, 82,
86, 88, 120, 131, 149,
151, 155, 160-161, 196,
198, 232, 251, 274-275
negative
punishment 71, 73-75,
275
reinforcement 71, 72, 97,
251, 275
nipping 125, 126, 183,
200-201, 249, 272, 275
nutrition 15, 59-61, 82-83,
135, 196
outside/outdoors 14, 18, 47,
130, 136, 140, 145, 150,
152-156, 203, 207,
219-229, 238, 245,
250-251, 253-254, 277
parakeet 22, 29-30, 62, 80, 99,
255
parrot passim
parrotlet 29, 31, 79-80, 170,
255
pellets 38, 48, 60-61, 75,
82-83, 85-87, 190-191,
229, 274, 286
14

perch 14, 26-27, 48-49, 53,

84, 91, 93, 95, 99-110,
112, 115, 121, 123,
128-129, 132, 142-144,
146-147, 152, 155, 165,
167, 170, 180-181, 204,
209, 215, 217, 224-225,
231, 247-248, 253,
284-285
petting 14, 109, 113, 117,
122-124, 182-183, 197,
217, 275
plucking 22, 29, 32-33, 40,
71, 138, 176-177,
191-194, 200-201, 238,
275
poicephalus 29, 31-32
positive
punishment 71, 73, 275
reinforcement 71, 73-75,
88, 97, 112, 117, 158,
184, 213, 216, 233, 242,
247, 249, 251, 253, 276,
278
potty training 14, 22,
127-130, 204, 276
prevention 182, 185, 191,
199-202, 212, 276
price 22, 26-28, 31, 35, 37,
242
punishment
positive 71, 73, 275
negative 71, 73-75, 275
rehome

reinforcement
negative 71, 72, 97, 251,
275
positive 71, 73-75, 88, 97,
112, 117, 158, 184, 213,
216, 233, 242, 247, 249,
251, 253, 276, 278
rescue 11-12, 24-25, 29,
34-36, 40-42, 46, 56, 185,
242, 254, 256, 276, 283
retrieve 148, 150, 158-159,
169-174, 248, 276
screaming 14, 23, 25, 29, 32,
33, 40, 71-72, 136, 138,
176-177, 187-191,
200-201, 226, 231,
233-234, 237-238, 253,
277
Senegal parrot 11, 29, 31-32,
170, 242-244, 246-247,
283
shouldering 124-126, 140,
150, 155, 178-179,
200-201, 225-226,
249-277
sleep 18, 46, 63-64, 80, 128,
184, 196, 231
socialization 10, 18, 37, 177,
179, 181, 206-229, 238,
254-255, 257, 277
species
African grey 29-30, 32,
170
Amazon 29, 32, 170
15

budgerigar 12, 26-27,

30-31, 61-62, 79-80,
170, 246-247
caique 30, 32
cockatiel 11, 25, 28-30,
60, 62, 89-90, 112, 136,
170, 240-241, 243-244
cockatoo 29-30, 32, 135
conure 29, 31-32, 170,
242-243, 255
lovebird 29, 31, 80
macaw 12, 22, 29, 33,
110, 112, 242-243, 255
parakeet 22, 29-30, 62,
80, 99, 255
parrotlet 29, 31, 79-80,
170, 255
poicephalus 29, 31-32
Senegal parrot 11, 29,
31-32, 170, 242-244,
246-247, 283
step up 15, 52-53, 71-72, 93,
97-106, 110, 118-120,
139, 146-147, 168, 174,
198, 214-217, 223, 238,
241, 244, 257, 277
store 21, 27, 34-38, 40, 47-48,
56, 64, 66, 76-77, 112,
138, 240-244, 247
talking 14, 20, 23, 29-33, 41,
75, 186, 189, 191, 201,
230-238, 242, 245, 278
talon 133 - 135, 274
taming 25, 68-69, 72,

106-108, 112, 114, 160,

178, 198, 199, 236, 238,
245, 257, 274, 277
target
stick 92-106, 126, 131,
143-144, 154-155, 198,
209, 277
training 11, 92-106,
108-109, 118, 126, 137,
134, 142-144, 146, 148,
153, 154-155, 158-160,
168-169, 171, 180-181,
187, 198-199, 209, 211,
215, 225, 241, 247, 251,
277
tricks 158-160, 162,
164-168
touch 67, 69, 106-111, 113,
122, 134, 153, 184, 197,
218, 219, 274
toweling 53, 112-113,
133-135, 162, 278
toy 18, 22, 26-27, 33, 48-50,
58, 75, 96, 107, 117, 119,
132, 179-181, 183,
188-189, 193, 200-201,
203-204, 209, 229, 238,
255
training
flight 106, 141-156, 172,
174, 184, 223-227
tricks 10, 74-75, 82,
96-97, 105-106, 108,
115, 134, 148-151,
16

157-174, 182, 184,

187-188, 191, 193-194,
199-201, 211, 216-217,
225, 231, 241, 244-248,
251, 253, 255, 276-278
treat 48, 61-63, 66-67, 71,
74-75, 79-82, 89-96,
99-101, 115, 117-122,
126, 129, 146-147,
149-150, 154-155,
158-160, 168, 174,
180-181, 187, 200-201,
203, 209, 211-212,
215-218, 222, 225,
232-233, 236-237, 245,
251-253, 272-273,
276-278
tricks 10, 74-75, 82, 96-97,
105-106, 108, 115, 134,
148-151, 157-174, 182,
184, 187-188, 191,
193-194, 199-201, 211,
216-217, 225, 231, 241,
244-248, 251, 253, 255,
276-278
basketball 169, 172-173,
276
boomerang 149-150
go through tube 161, 164,
168
nod 168

shake 168-169, 244

slide 164, 168, 247
turn around 161, 164-167,
190, 244
wave 161, 163, 168, 244
wings 168
trip 226-228, 256
tube 161, 164, 168
turn around 161, 164-167,
190, 244
variable ratio reinforcement
174, 251-252
veterinarian 14-15, 26, 28,
43-44, 48-49, 61, 79, 86,
122, 130, 191, 193-194,
208, 218, 229, 241, 275,
278
vocalization 14, 21, 189-191,
194, 230-237, 278
wave 161, 163, 168, 244
weight 77-79
management 79, 82-88,
184, 190, 278
weighing 84-85, 120-122

well-behaved 13-15, 26, 28,

36, 42, 60-61, 63, 70, 73,
75, 78, 83, 91, 126, 133,
140-141, 174, 187, 193,
195, 198, 207-208,
237-239, 256-257, 278

17