Re: [Freeflight] Intro, and qeustion.

["Bart Van Hoyweghen" <Bart.Van.Hoyweghen@v...>]

It can take months before his condition gets better. You will need to
push him, but at the same time be careful not to loose his trust in you.
If in doubt stay on the safe side, stop with pushing him to fly fo a
while.

For recall training he does not need to be flying, start with a walking
recall. 
Start with target training, use a straw, let him touch this with his
beak and click/reward. If your bird understands the basics of clicker
training, let him follow the straw while you move it. (small steps, so
reward in the begin small movements).

Next step is that you guide him to you or away from you, and a proper
cue (a word, something else).

Once he masters this, put him on a perch, or the edge of a table, use
the straw and the recall cue and let him jump over to you, and back to
the perch. Start with a distance of only a couple of centimeters,
click/reward, and increase gradually the distance. This will also
improve his landing skills.

Take everything slowly, go back one or two steps if the bird does not
follow (this is very important)

I tought Luna reliable recall in two to three weeks, but he was around
12 weeks, eager to learn, hand-fed by me so eager to be with me. It was
also my second bird I did train. What I am trying to say is take it
slow. I guess figuring out basic clicker training (I asume you know the
basics) can take one to two weeks before your bird understands and your
timing is OK. Add a couple of weeks for running around with the straw,
again some weeks for getting the walking recall and cue. Going too fast
is the major error with an older bird. Take it slow

Bart

>>> brietta_aithne@y... 17/02/2004 20:26:34 >>>
Hi all. I'm pretty sure I posted once or twice awhile back, but that 
could've been on another list. For awhile i'd considered training my 
umbrella for free flight and recall, but it never really stuck. 
Recently he's grown in all his feathers, and i've done some very short

flights (10 or so feet) with him, and he lands on a bed. His landings 
are rusty, but i'm sure they'll get better in time. Afterall, if this 
isn't his first time flying EVER, it's his first time in 8 or so 
years. He still doesn't seem too thrilled with it. He's a bit of a 
perch potato. I have to give him a good 'bounce' before he takes off. 
Now, the question. How do you train your birds for recall? Do you have

a certain word, gesture, etc that you always use? How long before your

birds recalls were consistent? Obviously i'm not going to plunk my 
bird outside and expect him to fly away and come back, and i'll wait 
as long as it takes untill i'm 100% sure he'll return. His 'up ups' 
are good, but if I back away a few feet and ask him to step up, he'll 
only come over to me and step up 'if he feels like it'. Usualy I just 
get a "Yeah right, Ma" look from him. Any imput would be appreciated 
:o)

Katy