How can i train my parrot from NOT taking a dump on my shoulder all the time.?

Question

i have a lovebird, but i have to wash my clothes all the time cause bird **** gets on it way to much.

Answer 1

You sure can potty train a bird. It's not even hard. It's absolutely not true that they can't hold it. They can and they do all the time.

If he has an accident on your shoulder, lightly tap him on the beak and say "no". Then go put him in his cage. He's gonna learn faster than you think. It's really no problem to teach them.

Answer 2

First off, NEVER ever flick your bird's beak like Confused... suggested. That's one of the dumbest things I've heard of second to using a spray bottle as punishment. Flicking a birds beak, if it lives through this repeated abuse, is a total trust breaker.

Ok... Secondly, you need to spend some time observing your bird when it's not on your shoulder to get a rough guess as to how often it "goes". Then, after your bird goes again, let it up on your shoulder, but make sure you take it off and put it on a perch before the "poop to poop" time elapses. Don't put it on your shoulder again untill you see it go.

You have to teach your bird a word - "Poop!" "Bombs away!" or whatever you like. Everytime you see it go, say the word. When you take it off your shoulder and put it on a perch to go, say the word and let it right back up on your shoulder.

My bird is potty trained, it was really easy. Now when I have my bird on me, once in a while I just have to put my hand to his chest and ask him if he has to go. If he does, he will step right up so I can set him in an appropriate "drop zone".

Be consistant and don't leave your bird on your shoulder too long. Your bird will start to get the hint that you are not a birdie potty. When he does get with the program, you will notice he will get fidgety when he has to go, and you need to take him off your shoulder right away.

Some birds will keep holding it if they're trained to go on command. Birds have died because they got so they would only go when told to... seriously. You don't not want your bird to get to this point. If you see the slightest sign of the potty training going down this road, you must stop or you will end up with a very sick or dead bird.

Lastly, I don't have any experience with lovebirds, so if they can be trained like this, I don't know. Another poster with lovebird experience may be able to tell you that.

Answer 3

I've heard of birds being trained not to, but never actually seen it.
You can drape a piece of cloth over your shoulder to catch the poop. To be more stylish, get an adult-style bib and arrange it with the bib part to be where the bird poops, usually behind the shoulder in my experience. Some places make cute ones. I've even seen parrot bibs in a bird store, to protect your clothes.

Answer 4

First of all, it kills me that someone suggested that you FLICK your bird's beak... This will deff. stop it from pooping on you, but unfortunately, it may be doing so because you will have KILLED your bird.. Their neck bones & muscles are SOO fragile, and too many people think that flicking the beak is a good punishment- hell no!! Not only does that destroy trust, but it's a great way to KILL them.

Anyways, figure out how often your bird poops, and know what they look like right before they're going to do so- the squatting motion- and then set them down on a poop safe area (Play Gym, Cage, etc.) And never try & 'potty train' your bird, like telling him to poop on command- This is also deadly as birds have been known to hold it in until their owner has given them the command, thus also killing the bird, if you leave for the day or something.

So only get to know how often your bird poops, and get the bird to a designated pooping area BEFORE **** happens. Haha

Answer 5

My birds live in an aviary but I spend loads of time with them down in the cage. I had this exact same problem; the birds would always poo on my shirt and my mum was being driven mad because I kept having all of this washing. I don't know whether it was them or me but they haven't pooed on my for about a year now. Not once. I am not sure whether it is luck on my part but if I happen to put them down on the perch, they will poo almost straight away. It seems weird and I don't know whether this will be any help but maybe just wait it out and if your bird poos on you put him down and maybe he will make the connection that if he poos on you he will be put down. Good luck!

Answer 6

Each time, say no, flick it lightly on the beak. But, after every 20 minutes or so, whatever the average time it craps, take it to the garbage or something and say "Poo-poo (whatever your bird's name here)."

Eventually (maybe), your bird will get the message through it's hard head and will hopefully fly
to wherever you taught it to crap. I don't know if this will work or not.
Just to let you know-- I DO NOT own a bird. But I had experience with them due to a friend I have. This might not work with you because my friend's lovebird is super smart.

But anyway, hopefully this will work!

Answer 7

Well I'm upset at anyone who suggested to flick your bird on his beak,let's create mistrust because THAT will solve your problem.(can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?)Shame on all of you!This training I'm about to suggest will take two to four weeks,but depends on the Birdie.In the morning take your Birdie out before he wakes on his own,and get a piece of paper.Figure out a 'code word 'for your command to go potty,it should be a word he won't hear normally,because you are going to condition him to go with this word.Hold him on your finger over the paper.While you are waiting for up to a few minutes,say your word,and when he goes,praise him like crazy,and offer his absolute favorite treat..In about 30-45 minutes repeat,and keep going the same way all day to start,obviously you will need to plan for this.Keep at it,and once he is going when you say his special word on a regular basis,you can begin to phase out the treats by giving every other time,then every third time ,until the treats are'nt the motivation anymore,your praising him is.You can offer the treats once in a while to keep his interest,and he should be well on it's way.

Answer 8

It's not possible because birds are unable to control their bladder and simply can't hold their excrement They just poop whenever it happens. I have worked in a bird shop and have been playing with them for years. However, there is a solution to this problem. Put a towel on your shoulder before the bird perches on it. It's an inexpensive solution that will proctect your clothes from poop.

Answer 9

Don't put him on your shoulder if its that bad.

Answer 10

I don't think that is possible. Maybe wait until he goes, then play with him. haha