I’ve yet to post new video clips on Youtube. Several viewers from Youtube have messaged me complimenting about Kiki’s achievements and they have yearned to see Kiki performing new tricks. Thank you for your love and support for Kiki. She’s doing well now. She still preparing and training for new tricks. She still needs more time before she can submit her first progress report on the new tricks she learned.
This time round, I’m slowly guiding Kiki in learning some complex tricks, which requires some basic tricks that she learned and then chaining these behaviour as one performance. It’s definitely going to take long as compared to previous tricks she learned. She’s progressing pretty well, but for sure definitely there’s glitches and mistakes. With the continuous training and hard work from her, she’s able to meet that goal soon.
Here’s some summary on what she’s learning:
1. The Shell Game Trick
I’ve introduced to her since last Sunday. It’s a trick where Kiki has to open the right pink shell to locate the red lego that I placed in. That’s definitely a tricky one that she learned. She’s able to open the shell and retrieve item within the shells. But the probabilities of opening the right pink shell that contain the red lego still remains low. Really hope Kiki will master this fun trick based on an old game that’s commonly found at funfair & carnivals.
2. Through the Hoop (A component for an Advanced Trick)
It’s quite funny that I’ve never teach this basic trick to Kiki when she first started training. It’s a fairly simple trick, which Kiki understands immediately in a 5mins training session. The objective is whenever I cued “Hoop”, Kiki will have to go through the hoop and exit from the other end. It’s one basic trick that I do recommend teaching your companion parrots. Fairly simple and fun. Kiki does enjoy this simple “game”. The hoop trick that Kiki learned is a component of an advanced trick that I intended to teach Kiki in future. But one step at a time. A simple trick learned now, will benefit for her in future.
I will be uploading the candy shots during the training session to Youtube soon, only when my brother a.k.a cameraman able to capture the moments this weekend. So do stay tune!
Lots of love from Kiki and me!
Posted in Kiki's Daily | Comments Off on New Training Coming On
I’m not out on the street meeting client again today. Sounds like good news for Kiki, a full day attention from me. Lots of fun again and lots of trainings too. This late afternoon, I offered the special treats that I offer usually during weekends. What so special about the treats? It’s definitely not the usual seed mixes but a customized seed mixes with extra dried raisins. I think it isn’t that bad offering raisins since its a source of potassium, thiamin, niacin and phosphorous. These are great vitamins to ensure Kiki remains healthy and strong.
Kiki does has her unique taste from other birds. She never really enjoyed Sunflower nor Safflower seeds. In her thoughts, these seed are just toys for her to unhulled and left there untouched and eaten. Ever since my first introduction of some dried raisin to her usual “tea-breaks” during the weekends, she always yearning for more. She can simply ignore most of the seed & millets in her food dish and concentrate her enjoyment on these raisins. She sure need some exotic sensations to her taste buds.
Based on studies shows parrots have poor sense of taste of around 300-400 as compared to humans’ sense of taste of around 9000. But studies also shown that even though parrots have poor sense of taste, flavors of food does affect their choice and quantity consumed. That’s very amazing isn’t it! So why ill treating our lovely companions with only one kind of food in their daily diet? Just imagine you yourself eating only cereals everyday, aren’t you be bored? In fact, I’m still continue to expose Kiki to different kind of food. As long they are not toxic or unhealthy, I’m willing to give Kiki a try.
Posted in Kiki's Daily | Comments Off on Kiki’s Raisins Craze
For the past Trick Trainings that Kiki learned, I used to believe in the usual method of the PRT (Positive Reinforcement Training), by holding the treats to lure them to do certain behaviour, to be the most effective way to train them. But soon, I noticed I have to correct this statement. Especially when training them in performing Advanced Trick which involve several steps chaining together. Holding treats as cue to lure them to do certain actions can be a big mistake.
I notice whenever I do my fingers (where index fingers and thumb together) in the manner where I’m holding a treat, Kiki will be lured over to both my fingers. Many might ask what’s wrong about luring her to the fingers? They don’t see any big issue to that. But I foresee many possible problems ahead…
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Tags: Target Training
Posted in Knowledge Sharing | Comments Off on Introducing Target Training
Mum’s back home early today, and spent most of her time lying on the couch watching TV. As expected, Kiki definitely climb up the couch and look for Mum. Apparently she appears to seek Mum to play with her. But NO, Kiki’s doing it again. Yeah, she’s caught napping in Mum’s side pocket again. She climbed all the way up to the couch and tucked into one of Mum’s pocket. Oh gosh! She’s really adorable cuddling in there. I think she does have a tired morning when she went through a new trick training session with me.
Too bad all of my shorts that I wear at home are so call “pocketless”, I wonder how it feels like Kiki cuddling inside one of my pocket. I guess it’s time for me to go down store to buy a few shorts for myself. Definitely with pockets this time round!
Related Posting:
Caught Napping in Pocket
Posted in Kiki's Daily | Comments Off on Pocket Love
This few days, the weather definitely have been very wet and cold too. Very nice comfy weather to hibernate ourselves in our bed. Even Kiki loves doing it that too. She will make her way and0 cuddle herself in Mum’s pocket and takes a short nap in there. That’s a favourite spot, nice and warm, a get away from windy breezes from the windows. Lately I’ve observed that she has been sneezing quite often. Luckily there isn’t any nasal discharge from her sinus. Hope she doesn’t fall ill during this rainy season.
Posted in Kiki's Daily | Comments Off on Caught Napping in Pocket
A Hamster or a Parrot burrowing underneath?
Kiki is back with her silly acts again. When me and mum was watching TV on the couch, we soon noticed that Kiki was missing. She was suppose on the armrest of the couch, but without a single sound she just vanished like a ninja. Soon mum noticed some movements underneath the couch cover at the other armchair. It’s totally amazing that Kiki burrowed underneath the cover simply like any pet rodents. Silly Kiki! *Haha*
Isn’t that fascinating? Although it’s really silly, but she amused everyone in the family. She never fails to make people laugh! Earlier on Mum worried that she won’t be able to come out by her own and stucked underneath the cover.
Too much of the worries. Kiki’s really smart that she’s able to find her own escape route out of the couch cover. Finally back outside with some cool fresh air!
Posted in Kiki's Daily, Youtube | Comments Off on A Hamster or a Parrot burrowing underneath?
First Progress Report on Kiki’s Basketball Training
Kiki’s back in action again. This time she recently picked up a new sport that I introduced to her, Basketball. She’s definitely doing well and understand the basic game rule and objective – which is to place ball through the ring. Till now she tend to miss a few shots, but I’m already impress with her performance. She still has lots of training to undergo to perfect her skills. With her talent and intelligence, I’m sure she’s able to make it to the PBA tournament (PBA aka Parrots Basketball Association). *Haha* Just Kidding.
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Tags: Agapornis, Bird, Bird Training, Bird Tricks, Bird Video, Companion Parrot, Kiki, Lovebirds, Parrot, Parrot Training, Parrot Tricks, Pet Bird
Posted in Kiki's Tricks, Youtube | Comments Off on First Progress Report on Kiki’s Basketball Training
I’m scheduling Kiki to learn how to play basketball. Before getting her to expose to game, I need a decent props. I had been shopping around to different pets stores and even toys retail outlets to find a suitable basketball stand and ball for Kiki, but to my disappointment I couldn’t find one suitable for Kiki’s size. Either it’s too tall or too big. This motivated me start some DIY work. Yesterday, I went to a nearby hardware store to buy the necessary materials for my DIY project.
My Shopping List:
1. Acrylic Plate
2. Wooden Stick (with diameter of around 2cm)
3. Cable Tie
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Tags: Bird Toys, Parrot Toys
Posted in DIY Projects | Comments Off on Making of BasketBall Prop