KISS

Make it STUPID SIMPLE

When introducing new toy items, it is useful to start VERY EASY. This is so your bird CANNOT FAIL.

If you start so easy that the success is guaranteed, then your bird is likely to have a positive association with that enrichment and try it again in the future.

Start so easy at first that it's kind of silly. Food in open cups. Then increase the difficulty slowly, making sure success happens quickly and easily at each step.

Never push your bird to the point of frustration. Especially at the beginning, frustration is a de-motivator. Building resiliance is done over time.

Picture: Here you see a Quaker parrot infront of some muffin cups on a skewer. A blueberry can be seen easily acceisble from the bottom most cup.

Picture: dish of crumpled cups. Only once your bird is able to succeed with open cups can you start to crinkle them.

Lesson Summary

When introducing new toys to your bird, it is essential to start with simple and easy tasks to ensure success. By doing this, you create a positive association with the toy and increase the chances of future engagement. Here are some tips for introducing new toys to your bird:

  • Start with very easy tasks that your bird cannot fail at
  • Place food in open cups as a good starting point
  • Gradually increase the difficulty as your bird succeeds at each step
  • Never push your bird to the point of frustration, as this can demotivate them
  • Focus on building resilience over time
  • Only introduce crumpled cups once your bird has mastered open ones

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