Parakeets are extremely intelligent animals that enjoy high levels of socialization and play. They are able to play with a variety of toys, and enjoy living in a motivating environment. Being the parakeet trained to perch, whether on a perch or on your toe, you can start playing games and teaching it tricks. Playing is important as it exercises the bird, helping it to remain physically healthy, as well as promoting socialization. To create a fun experience for both of you, you should play with your parakeet regularly, teach it to do tricks, and provide appropriate toys for it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Playing with the Parakeet
Step 1. Disguise the snacks
Since they are food collectors and like to open things with their beaks, parakeets love to open something and find a treat. An easy game to play is to wrap a treat in paper and let the bird unwrap it. You can fold the paper or simply crumple it into a ball, and the bird will love finding the wrapped treat.
Paper games are particularly useful for teaching a new bird to play. Opt for soft wood toys when the bird is older
Step 2. Play catch and throw the ball
Find something small enough to fit in the parakeet's claws and give it to him. If he drops the object on the ground, pick it up and give it to the bird again. The game can be a little repetitive, but the bird will have fun and be better socialized.
- Don't worry if he doesn't want to play catch. Try again another time or play with something else.
- To encourage the bird to keep playing, give it a treat and motivate it with a comment like "good job!" every time he throws the object.
Step 3. Play fetching the ball
Take the parakeet out of the cage and put it on the ground. Throw a small, rolling ball towards him. The bird will be able to follow the ball and try to catch it with its beak. However, he will not return it, and you will need to take it from him.
- Use a small ball, or something with notches large enough for the parakeet to catch with its beak.
- To encourage him to keep playing, give him a treat and make a supportive comment such as “Good job!” every time he catches the ball.
Step 4. Play hide and seek
Place the bird on your bed or on the floor and cover its head with a sheet or towel. Slowly show yourself and say the animal's name. Then cover yourself and repeat his name. The parakeet will now follow your voice, and will be excited every time you reappear.
You can also cover him with the sheet and play hide and seek this way, if he feels comfortable. Just remember not to keep him under the sheet for too long, and make sure there's enough air for him
Step 5. Practice flying
Perch the bird on your finger and hold its feet gently. Lift it above your head carefully. As you lift the bird, it will begin to flap its wings. Let it flap its wings for a few moments and lower it again. Repeat the process for as long as you like or until the bird gets tired.
- Before playing the game, check that there are no fans running and that the space above you is open.
- Parakeets and other members of the parrot family naturally flutter their wings to exercise them when they are perched. The game simulates this exercise.
- If there is enough room and the bird's wings are trimmed, consider releasing its feet and letting it float to the ground. Doors and windows must be closed if you decide to release it.
Method 2 of 3: Teaching the Parakeet Tricks
Step 1. Teach the parakeet to climb a ladder
A simple trick for you to teach the bird is how to climb a ladder. As they are natural climbers, parakeets instinctively want to climb stairs. However, you can associate the activity with a verbal command and a treat, so that the bird will rise when told. Place him at the base of the stairs, give the command and reward him with a treat when he does as he was told.
- Examples of commands are "climb ladder" or "climb ladder".
- You can buy a parakeet ladder at almost every pet store.
Step 2. Teach the bird to go down a slide
Place a slide on the other side of the stairs. In the beginning, give the parakeet a treat and praise it when it reaches the top of the stairs and touches the slide. Also place a snack at the end of the slide. In time, the bird will slip and catch the treat.
- It's easier to break up tricks and teach them in steps. Train the bird to climb the ladder before training it to descend the slide.
- You may need to make your own slide out of PVC tubing, as parakeet slides are not often commercially available.
Step 3. Teach him to go through a hoop
Create a small ring for the parakeet with cardboard or other lightweight material. Guide the bird through the hoop using a treat and assign a command every time it crosses. Over time, you can move to insert longer tubes into the rim.
Paper towel tubes or toilet paper tubes are just the right size for a parakeet
Step 4. Make training sessions short
When starting to teach your parakeet tricks, you should limit the time of training sessions. Forcing it too much can cause the bird to lose interest and even get sick. Stop training if he looks tired or loses interest.
- The time spent training the bird can be anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour.
- Do training sessions a few times a day.
Step 5. Give commands
Parakeets are adept at responding to human verbal commands, but they also know how to recognize physical gestures. When training yours, choose a command and use it always. Consistency and repetition are essential. Once the bird associates the command with the activity, it will respond immediately.
- A physical command could be a snap of a finger or a wave.
- A verbal command can be a short sentence, such as "climb the ladder" or "slide." It can also be a simple word such as "up" or "down".
Step 6. Reward the bird
When the bird does as asked, give it a treat. Positive reinforcement will make him associate the command with the action and the treat. You can also reward him after the workout is over by putting a treat he doesn't usually eat in his bowl.
As a snack, consider husked sunflower seeds or a seed of millet
Step 7. Speak in a positive tone
Parakeets are perceptive birds, and will respond to your behavior. He will stay focused on the task if you stay positive and enthusiastic. However, the bird will be distracted and will lose interest in training if you become frustrated and agitated. To prevent this from happening, be positive and make the activities fun.
Keeping a positive tone is essential for training to be light and fun
Method 3 of 3: Finding the Right Toys
Step 1. Analyze how the bird likes to play
Before buying toys for your parakeet, see what ways it likes to play. Make paper find toys or wave pieces of paper between the cage bars. Give him small household items, like bottle caps and small balls, and see how he reacts. That way you'll know what kinds of toys to invest in.
- You may also find that the bird likes simple toys as much as toys from the pet store.
- Give only safe things for the bird to play with. Avoid things treated with strong chemicals or solvents.
Step 2. Find safe toys
The toys you give the bird should be appropriate for its size. Parakeets can get stuck in toys made for larger birds and die. Also avoid toys with sharp edges that could skewer you or loose strings that could choke you.
Talk to a pet store salesperson or email the retailer if you are in doubt about the safety of a toy
Step 3. Choose brightly colored toys
Parakeets see all colors, and are particularly attracted to colorful objects. When buying toys, you should choose the ones that have the most vibrant color. Bright primary colors like yellow, red and blue are great choices. Of course, you can give the bird more monotonous colored toys, but it may not enjoy playing with them as much.
Choose toys that are colored with non-toxic materials
Step 4. Choose noisy toys
Parakeets are social birds by nature, and they make a lot of noise. Because of this, they also like toys that make noise. Toys with bells are particularly popular among parakeets. You can also hang some bells in the bird's cage.
Avoid buying Christmas bells with openings. The parakeet can end up getting stuck in them. Prefer bells with larger openings at the bottom
Step 5. Buy food foraging toys
Parakeets like toys that simulate the search for food. You should buy these toys in cardboard or soft wood, because of the small beak of the parakeets. Wooden toys are a good choice because they are also safe for the bird to chew.
Avoid buying plastic toys if you can. They usually contain harmful toxins
Step 6. Place a mirror in the cage
If you only have one parakeet, consider putting a mirror in the cage. They are social, and like to have other birds like them around. The parakeet will chirp and interact with the mirror as if it were another parakeet.