Appreciated your video on not disciplining a bird. I don’t hit him, though I have sent him flying home (under his own power, not throwing him) when he gets particularly obnoxious. When I do something my bird (sun conure) doesn’t like such as scratch his head wrong or touch where he doesn’t want touched at the moment, he squawks. Is there a problem with me using my version of a squawk which might be an ‘ouch’ at him when he does something to me that I don’t appreciate such as picking a spot on my arm or pinching? He doesn’t bite often, but does lick, nibble, and pinch tiny bits of skin sometimes.

I have been following Chet, David, Jamie, and now Pattie for many long years. I do have a question about flying. I am going back through all the videos. Kaylah took her first flight 2 weeks ago… So If I can clue the flight that should be the thing for the certificate… Have a great week… Hugs to your family…. stay safe.

Hi I own a cockatoo. Im going to try the clicker training for his screaming. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the tips.

Wow you guys are awesome!!! I love watching your videos!

Love the videos keep it up! Super excited for next week! Discipline is definitely something I needed to hear about, it’s hard owning a cockatoo as my first bird but with your help we have made it 3 years now and she’s my baby of course so I look forward to many many more!!

Thanks for the great videos. I have been watching all of them. This is the first one that hit my issues. I have 2 Pionus, one (Dexter now 3) that I got as a baby and while being a stinker when he wants to be does pretty good. My other (Cam who is 15) is a rescue. I know in his past he was abused and neglected. He LOVES Dexter, who could care less, and will kiss and snuggle me when he is away from his house. My issues with him is cage aggression, he will step up if you wrap your hand in a towel but usually he bites it pretty good first, and chewing the couch and any other fabric he can get his beak on. Not only would I like to keep the couch in one piece but I also see all these birds getting fibers caught in their throat and having problems. I watched this video and had a couple questions. To “discipline” him when he chews the couch what is the best way to stop that? Is it the same method as for screaming. I did not know if the clicker was to be used for good and bad behavior? I have one and have really not used it because I dont fully understand it. The last thing I want to do is “reward him” accidentally for chewing the couch or biting and make my problems worse. In the same respect this little guy has been through so much in his life and I just want him to feel loved and safe. Thank you for all you do to help us!

Hi, I have two Macaws, One Blue and Gold the other oneis a Green Wing Scarlet, would like to learn how to safely clip their nails and bick. I normally take them to a pet store and have them do it , but I feel they stress them out two much. I would like to learn and do it my self with less stress. Can you help? thanks…Carmen

Loved the video. Awesome job!

Did you make that video sitting on the toilet? Why?

I like the section on the doves and how you are teaching them to fly to you. When I’m in the same room as Koda(grey) and he flies to another room I would like for him to come when I call him. I have no problem if I go to the bathroom he will follow and land on my shoulder. When he goes to another room I have a hard time finding him. He is very good at hiding. Koda is trained in many ways. I have never used any training method. I just talk to him and he understands what I want him to do except for when he wants to hide.

Thank you guys for all that you do to help all of us, you are an adorable couple, love your new munchkin! I noticed right off, you were in a cruise ship bathroom! And I get it! Good job Jamie! I don’t know HOW on EARTH you do it – that is so much to deal with traveling and training, enjoyed your tutorial and my bird spencer is so much better! It is basically, communication-respect that I think bird owners need to know-Made the world of difference in our lives with Spencer so thank you from the bottom of my heart guys! jo

Hi i have a Congo Grey who is the most fear full of everything , Even of her own body, She freaks out when she has a feather falling out, She is afraid of the clicker noise and she wont take treats from us , I had her on Prozak to calm her down and that has not worked, She was from a bird hoarder and was a baby that`s from in bread parents , The vet had said at one time that we should put her down. But we wont , We have 14 large parrots and they are well taken care of and loved, Some of them have come to us from really bad places, But are so happy now , , I wont give up on her so i`m open to what you think we could do to help her get over this fear of everything and to relax?

How often do nails need trimmed n also wings trimmed ?

I’m enjoying your "Birdtricks Tuesdays a lot. I’m currently in 22-year relationship with a Timneh Gray, Nightshade. I really could have used your disciplining advice many years ago, I’ve made every mistake possible except I’ve never struck her. Despite all my errors, Nightshade & I have finally got a good thing going, but since discovering you on You Tube 6 months back I’ve decided to try and take things to a new level. My main goal is to try to undo some of the damage from the past. So I’ve just started to work on clicker training, have several of your videos and have run into a possibly unique problem. Nightshade immediately got the idea about click meaning treat, and has taken it to a new level, she has learned to imitate the clicker exactly, and expects to get a treat for her imitations. When I don’t reward her clicks she gets quite angry, and for an hour or two afterwards she will still be angry enough to try and bite. I’ve not yet found anything that can break her focus on this. Research is continuing, but I’d thought I’d see if you have any ideas. Fortunately she only clicks during the very start of a training session, so it doesn’t mess up the rest of the day, although progress is slowed to a crawl.

Thank you both for providing these interesting and informative videos. The training tips and the explanations of bird psychology are highly valuable and easy to consume. I’m curious if you’ve got a suggestion about cockatoos. I’m leaning towards acquiring a Moluccan but wonder where they fit in the trainability spectrum? Thanks!

Thank you Jamieleigh and Dave. This video is so great and we appreciate that you are sharing your expertise with us. I love that Capri is included and you are so willing to share with your audience. It is also funny and love that you need to film in the cruise ship bathroom!!

Plz, Can you give some tips on keeping a flighted bird intrested in training (My cockatiel wont have any interest in training). Thanks

Great video! What do we do when me and my husband don’t agree on discipline? I want to do what you do, but my husband doesn’t agree so he yells or covers our cockatiels up. We got a rescue cockatiel and know nothing about his history. I got a clicker and was trying to train him. My husband said it was stupid and did his thing. Fast forward to now maybe six months later, and Petey screams ALOT! And screams at our other two cockatiels. I don’t know what to do when my husband doesn’t believe like you and I go as far as training and discipline.

I appreciate your stressing that negative reactions won’t accomplish anything and do not “train” a bird. I have a 2 year old galah (we think he’s a boy) and a 26 year old male Quaker. We make every attempt to keep our interactions positive and don’t respond to the galah’s excited behaviors (even though he’s pretty entertaining). We also know to watch for indications that he’s had enough and needs a distraction that enables him to calm down. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen very often and he seems to be a happy boy. I’m definitely going to check out your info on hormonal issues. We’re not there yet, maturity-wise, but I want to be prepared on what to expect and how to deal with it. Loved hearing about how Bondi remembered the screaming lady and expected a similar response from the next audience!

How old is your oldist parrot and witch one have you owed the longest

I have a flight question! I have a fully feathered 3 year old greenwing who will not fly. I’ve tried moving my hand a little farther and farther away and when it gets to hopping distance he quits. No confidence. Any ideas? Thanks so much!!! -Amy (& Kona)

Really enjoyed video. Picking up good idea’s and it’s a good review. We have gotten all your DVD’s and these tuesday video chats are great for reminding us what we’re suppose to be doing with our birds.

I have two Sun Conures (Sonny & Cricket) and two Cockatiels (Dinky & Gabby). My conures are the love of my life. The male conure (Sonny) talks constantly, the female (Cricket) only mocks the male “sometimes” and talks very little. I love them both more than anyone could ever imagine. The cockatiels are another story. I bought them about a year ago – they had no tail feathers and the remaining feathers all damaged. Even their wing feathers were cut too close. I felt so bad that I bought them and brought them home. Now they have all of their feathers and they fly everywhere. They have always been stand-offish. They come up close to me, but I can never get them to come to my hand or shoulder! Is there anything that you can suggest to make them come to me?

Thanks for all the great tips and advice you guys share, I got a 7yr. old female Military Macaw about a month ago. She got a clean bill of health from the vet, although she was kept in an amazon sized cage with 1/2" diameter PVC pipes for perches. She has balancing problems and falls regularly, since I’ve had her, she will step up on command, gives kisses, and now loves to play with my fingers, but when I try to train her she gets startled by the clicker and Wil fall, when I catch her she freaks cause she hates to have her body touched, so I’m now reduced to holding her on my lap and letting her nibble my fingers and "talk for short periods at a time. Will it matter if she’s on a perch or can I train her on flat surfaces like the floor or since I have dogs, my bed. Thanks for your time, Leslie

I so enjoyed this blog/post?? I lost track of you for awhile and now I’m ecstatic to have found you again. Excellent info, too. I loved hearing/seeing you in the bathtub, and Dave working with the doves with Sydney fixing the hangers in the background. I wish I could have seen more of you cleaning the cages. I always learn new things watching you. I have 6 tiels, 30 canaries, 1 Bourke keet, and 3 gouldians. I love them all and taking care of them is actually the joyful part of my days. Keep up the good work. Kaybird