I've missed trick training...

so I've decided its time for rainbow to learn some new tricks! just haven't gotten around to it lately, we stopped just short of using props (I tried teaching her to drop an object into a container but Rainbow didn't quite get the concept and I got sidetracked so it's been on hold). Anybody know some cool tricks I can teach rainbow? I need some inspiration . So far she knows wave, high five (or shake hands), turn around, "wings", shake her head, climb in circles around my finger, come here, and to bob up and down. Some were natural behaviours that I captured and others took more work. I just like that feeling of getting that final trick and I think it gives us another way to communicate with eachother. Watching her thinking process is fascinating and she gets so excited when she finally figures out what I want!

Play Dead - Have her perch on your finger, and get her to where when you say "Bang!" she flips to hang upside-down.

Roll Over - Not necessarily all the way over, but even just onto her back.

Speak - Pick some vocalization that you like and/or that your dad doesn't dislike, and teach her to start chattering on cue.

I have no experience trick training, so I have no clue how you would go about teaching her these. Sorry. Maybe when someone else chimes in he or she could help with that part...

To be honest, I completely forgot to trick-training Chico and thanks for reminder!
I have to start with: batman, high-four etc.
I did train her at the beginning, but later I simply forgot or give up. Shame on me! I don't want her to be circus-type parrot, but couple of tricks will be good to teach her.

I'll see where we can get with play dead and speak (which sounds insanely usefull, actually...). Roll over as well, but for a conure rainbow is pretty uncomfortable with being on her back unless she's got something to hold onto with her feet (like my fingers) so that'll take more work I think.I keep meaning to get a clicker but I never do..

I never ended up trick training my cockatiel, she wasn't motivated like rainbow is. I think it's nice for a bird to know a couple tricks though, it's a good way for them to interact with guests who aren't comfortable handling a parrot. My little cousins loved it when rainbow did her tricks for them. And plus who doesn't like to show off how smart their birds are?

moa wrote:

rainbow is pretty uncomfortable with being on her back unless she's got something to hold onto with her feet (like my fingers) so that'll take more work I think.I keep meaning to get a clicker but I never do..

Maybe find little dumbbells and she can "do weights" on her back?
Clicky pens work if you don't have a clicker. I find pens easier to use with my little hobbit hands than clickers.

JJ got started being more comfortable on her back in the mornings when we were laying in bed playing. I don't know if it's because we were on the same level or it was a soft mattress or what, but that's where she first started "rolling over" for me. Right now, I'm trying to capture the behavior, but it's hard because she doesn't respond to the clicker like Bucky does, and I don't have goodies everywhere to treat when she does it. She HAPPY enough when I give verbal praise, but it doesn't seem to elicit a repeat of the behavior. So who knows? She just may be my happy-go-lucky conure who just loves me. Darn!