Back Training

[MLaCross]

I would like to train my sun conure to lay on his back in my hands. He does NOT like this! He bites (not too hard, but enough to tell me he is not happy) and squirms. I don't want to stress him out, is there a way to teach him this?

[RubyMuse]

Yes, I taught a bird to do what we called a layback behavior. I started with her on my hand, and reinforced her for letting me place my other hand on her back. The steps were slow but eventually I could with both hands - one holding her - one on her back take very, very, very small steps into leaning her back. I used a bridge (a whistle) since I needed both hands and she knew what that was. I always did one or two repetitions but never more and ended by jackpotting her (giving her a huge reward).

I will tell you that this is more of an advanced behavior. It can be done - I don't know how much you have trained your bird but I would start with a bunch of easy fun behaviors that gets the bird to buy into the idea that training is fun. This is really necessary before doing an advanced husbandry behavior.

If you hit a point where the bird bites and squirms you have gone too far and the bird is trying to escpape. Only go the point where the bird 100% accepts what you are doing.

Have you taught this bird other things?

[MLaCross]

I just got him this week, so we have only been working on step up, which he seems to have learned. What are other things I could teach him? (his wings are clipped)