Making a parrot stand up straight is an important part of training it to sit nicely on a perch or your hand. Parrots naturally like to lean forward and often have poor posture, so teaching them to sit up tall takes some time and effort. However, with the right techniques and training, you can help your parrot develop better posture and look alert and graceful when sitting on its perch.
Why Should You Make Your Parrot Stand Up Straight?
There are several good reasons to train your parrot to stand up straight on its perch or your hand:
- It improves the parrot’s balance and strength – Standing upright works the core muscles and develops better coordination.
- It prevents muscle and joint problems – Slouching can strain the neck, back, and legs over time, leading to issues like arthritis.
- It looks more attractive – A parrot standing tall with its head held high has a proud, beautiful stance.
- It’s better for interacting – A parrot leaning forward is more likely to lunge or nip, whereas a balanced bird will focus on you.
- It keeps the feathers cleaner – When a parrot leans forward, its tail feathers drag and can catch dirt and debris.
So good posture is about health and behavior as much as appearance. Putting in the effort to train your parrot to stand properly will pay off through having a stronger, better behaved companion.
How to Encourage Your Parrot to Stand Up Straight
Use a Horizontal Perch
The first step to better posture is using a wide, horizontal perch instead of a vertically oriented one. Birds naturally grip vertically oriented perches with their feet close together high up on the perch. This makes them hunch over. A wide, horizontal perch allows them to spread their feet apart and stand more upright.
Natural wood branches or dowels work well for this. Make sure the perch is suited to the size of your parrot’s feet. It should be wide enough for the bird’s toes to curve comfortably around each side. Place it high enough in the cage that the parrot’s tail feathers don’t touch the bottom.
Position the Perch Thoughtfully
Where you place the perch in the cage can also encourage good posture. Parrots will often want to position themselves highest up with a good view of the room. You can use this to get them to stand straight by putting the perch in a spot where leaning forward would block their line of sight.
Avoid positioning perches directly over food and water dishes, as the bird may slouch over to reach them. And be sure the perch doesn’t crowd the bird against the cage ceiling so it can’t stand up fully. Allow at least several inches of clearance.
Use Target Training
Target training involves teaching your parrot to touch its beak to a stick or other target object on cue. You can then position the target to get the parrot to shift its posture how you want. Hold the target upright in front of the bird’s chest to get it to stand tall and straighten its neck. Say your cue like “touch” as it makes contact.
Over many short training sessions, pair the target with the verbal cue to stand up straight. Eventually your parrot will learn to improve its posture just by hearing the cue even without the target. Target training builds communication and trust too.
Positive Reinforcement
Any time your parrot demonstrates good posture on its own, be sure to reinforce the behavior with praise and treats. Say “good stand!” or click your tongue, then offer a small bit of millet spray or other favored food. This positive reinforcement helps the bird associate proper standing with rewards.
Don’t push the parrot too far or punish slouching, as this can cause frustration. Just patiently reward every approximation of better posture. Over time, the bird will regularly offer the behavior you want to earn the treats.
Lead by Example
Parrots are excellent mimics, so demonstrate good posture when interacting with your bird. Stand and sit up straight, pull your shoulders back, and hold your head high. Your parrot is likely to instinctively copy your carriage and may carry it over to when it’s on its perch too.
Avoid leaning over the parrot or otherwise demonstrating poor posture, as you don’t want the bird copying that. Let your strong posture be a model for your parrot to imitate.
Training Challenges
There are a few common challenges owners run into when working on posture training:
The Bird Won’t Stand Upright on Your Hand or Shoulder
It can take time for a parrot to feel comfortable enough on you to stand tall. Have patience and keep sessions short and positive. Offer treats for any approximation of good posture to reinforce the behavior. A nervous or insecure bird may need more time to gain confidence.
The Parrot Reverts to Slouching
It’s natural for posture training to go through ups and downs. If your parrot regresses, don’t react negatively. Just go back to basics with the target and reward good stands again. Frequent short training sessions will help the lesson stick. Make sure to reinforce correct posture every time you see it.
The Bird is Aggressive When Made to Stand Up
If your parrot bites or lunges when you try to get it to stand straight, you likely need to rebuild trust through positive reinforcement training. Back off and give the bird space. Offer treats and praise for any step in the right direction until your parrot is more comfortable being handled.
Conclusion
Training a parrot to stand upright on cue takes regular practice and positive reinforcement, but it’s an important element of good behavior and health. Use perch placement, target training, and rewards for approximations to teach your bird better posture. Be patient and persistent, using gentle guidance not punishment or force. With time, you can have a strong, balanced parrot proudly standing tall on its perch or your hand.