After weeks of training with the help of the clicker, I’m able to get Kermit to perform several different kind of basic tricks. It’s a great improvement and I’m totally delighted!

Well, I didn’t expect Kermit to be like Kiki to be an ultimate performer in the future. I just hope with the introduction of trick training will help solving some of the behavior issues that start to surface as Kermit matures through his developmental stage.

The following command and tricks that Kermit performed in the video are:

1. Touch the Stick (Target Training) - Warming Up Session
2. Turn-Around Trick
3. Hand-Shaking Trick
4. Waving Hello Trick

In Kermit’s Tricks Collection, you noticed that I’ve included the touch the stick command (Target Training) as the warming up exercise for Kermit. It’s the usual habit that I exercised as a trainer. Even Kiki is not spared for the warming up exercises. Before getting her to perform any tricks or learning any new tricks, I will get her to perform some warming up exercise like touching the target stick or performing other basic commands like Step-Up or Step-down.

The purpose of the getting them to perform some this simple warming-up stints, will ensure that my angels (Kermit and Kiki) build up the training confident and the attention given to me. Usually after the a few exercises, Kermit and Kiki will be more attentive and sensitive to the cues. Try it and you understand the differences that I trying to elaborate.

The tricks that I taught Kermit were of the similar steps that was implemented on Kiki. The only difference is the additional presence of the clicker to help highlight the right behavior that Kermit does.

Anyone interested in teaching your companion parrots these basic tricks can refer back to my previous posts on Kiki’s trick performances. These posts highlighted some tips and simple steps in training the respective tricks. Good Luck! Like i usual like to say Patience is the key to success!

Related Posts:
Kermit’s Turn-A-Round Trick
Introducing Clicker Training
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Introducing Target Training
Kiki’s Basic T-Stand Tricks Collection
Hellooooo! Kiki’s Waving Hello Trick
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick

On my earlier post, I shared about Kermit undergoing a series of Clicker and Target Training with positive reinforcement. It was a huge improvement and it started to unleash Kermit’s learning capabilities. With the help of the clicker, it seems to make Kermit understand better what I want during the training. Furthermore, I find the sound of the clicker (partly because the clicking sound is always very distinct and consistent) as an effective stimulus bridge to the rewards - treats.

I taught Kermit the most basic trick, the Turn-A-Round Trick. It’s also the first basic trick that I taught Kiki. I’m sure Kermit should be able to master the trick like Kiki without much difficulty, but it’s just matter of time. Below is a short video of Kermit during a training session, performing the Turn-A-Round Trick. Apologized for the poor quality of the video due to poor lightings.

I used the similar simple steps that was used on Kiki, on Kermit, but with the additional help of the clicker. With a consistent training schedule of 2-3 sessions per day and 10-15mins each session.

After 3 days, Kermit is able to perform the Turn-A-Round trick upon my hand and vocal cue. I’m totally impressed with Kermit’s performance. I really hope with the introduction of trick training will help to improve and eliminate Kermit’s “one person bird” and screaming behavior. Wish me good luck!

Related Posts:
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick

Howdy, Everyone! I’m back again bringing more updates again about my angels. Lately, I haven’t got the chance to come online to share Kiki’s progress of the new trick. Thank you everyone for your support and concern for Kiki. She’s doing perfectly well, but rather nippy this days! Last Christmas, I brought home a new little guy, Kermit, a Senegal Parrot. He’s the primary reason for my inactivity on the weblog for these couple of weeks (or to be exact that’s almost a month ago! Oh gosh that’s long!).

Kermit then was only 7-8 weeks old when I got him home and he is yet to be full weaned. He barely has any feathers on his body accept for some grey furs and blood feathers on his wings. Honestly, I’m never keen nor supportive about bringing home an unweaned baby because of the possible risk and can be time consuming too. Any mistake and mishandling can cost this little feathered friend to lose his life.

Due to certain constrains, the local pet store was unable to wean Kermit for me (seriously that really upset me alittle about store selling unwean babies, do they ever thought of the consequences like selling to an unexperienced or new parrot owner who possibly may end the fragile lives of these babies with their inexperiences and even carelessness?), I’m really hesitating to bring home Kermit when I heard I had to wean him myself. After identifying the obstacles ahead and considering the possible adjustments I can make to my work and lifestyle, I decided to bring home Kermit right away.

I’ve placed him in a brooder since Day 1 to ensure that he has ample warmth, before shifting him to a weaning cage when he has reasonable amount of feathers to maintain and regular his body temperature. During the initial stage, handfeeding procedure for Kermit was really taxing. As I had to stick to 4 feedings daily, ensuring he has enough nutrients for growth and ensure he progressively reaching his peak weight. I had to plan the handfeeding schedules and work schedules to ensure that both doesn’t clash. I had to wake up early morning for a feeding at 6.30am, rushing back home during lunch to feed another time at 12pm, and feedings during the evening and night respectively. It’s definitely lots of time and efforts. But i’m really glad to see Kermit growing well and gain and maintaining a reasonably amount of weight.

Now Kermit has finally turned 12 weeks old and his daily feedings have now cut down to 2, one in the morning and the other during the night before going to bed. I can clearly identify that he’s struggling to be fully weaned. Kermit is starting to refuse the yummy formula most of time, preferring to consume the adult food himself. He’s already eating adult food like millets, seeds like sunflower and safflower, peanuts, veggies like corns, cabbage, carrot and brocolli, almonds, hazelnuts, fruits like apple and grapes and even dried red hot peppers. He sure does like to go for some hot spicy thrills in his daily meals!

He’s almost fully feathered now. He started his maiden flight 2 weeks ago on the 16th January 2008. That’s the day I never forget when he started to flap his wings and fly over to me for his dinner. I’m really happy that he’s growing up and getting stronger day after day.

Hope that one day, Kermit will be performing his very own stunts and trick on YouTube! Wish me and Kermit best of luck!