07 Nov Mastering Impulse Control and Wait Cues
In bird training, mastering impulse control and wait cues is invaluable, as it helps ensure birds can engage with their surroundings safely and with patience. Whether it’s teaching a bird to stay calmly on a station or to wait for a cue before moving, these skills are foundational for handling real-world scenarios.
The goal here is simple: train birds to stay on their stations or hold their position until they’re cued to move. But why teach this? Imagine a bird waiting patiently in its crate instead of bursting out. Or, if something potentially dangerous gets dropped, like medication, the bird can wait instead of lunging for it. These are real, practical applications of training with cues and impulse control.
Training in Action: Setting Up the Wait Cue
Our training in the Chicken Challenge Workshop is all about impulse control. We start by keeping birds on their station, slowly introducing the lure (such as food) and reinforcing those tiny moments when they’re calm and controlled. For the lure, we keep it minimally tempting, maybe holding it higher up or out of immediate reach. Every small success – when the bird doesn’t go after the lure right away – is reinforced. Over time, we layer in the “wait” cue, so they start connecting the cue with the behavior.
We increase the criteria as we go along, making the lure more tempting and gradually releasing them toward the reward. The goal is that the cue works anywhere: on the perch, in the crate, and even in unpredictable environments. I love seeing that “aha” moment in birds, and each chicken in today’s session responded differently, which makes training with them both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
Real-Life Scenarios: Training for Control and Safety
One of my favorite parts of training is seeing how these cues apply in real-life scenarios. Kikopup, the YouTube dog trainer Emily Larlham, shared an example where she trained her dog to wait whenever she accidentally dropped medication. This type of cue can be life-saving, especially for animals in domestic or even controlled environments where you might not always have the perfect setup.
Cue Training for Each Bird’s Personality
For our chickens, this training builds steadily and methodically. Chickens are always hungry, so food itself is super motivating. But every bird is different. Some require fast reinforcement, while others need more encouragement to grasp the cue. For example, with our macaws, we train them to ignore what we refer to ashot items, like sunglasses or other tempting objects, and stay put. With lures, we start with lower-value items, gradually working up to the irresistible.
Why It Matters
Incorporating wait cues into training isn’t just about teaching patience; it’s about building trust and teaching birds how to handle the world around them. This means that we’re setting the foundation for these birds to engage with their surroundings safely and with control. From young trainers to seasoned ones, mastering these mechanics takes time, patience, and, well, a little bit of chicken chaos!
Final Thoughts: Training Progress and Reflection
As we wrap up, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these techniques and any insights you’ve gained. Every step forward in training counts, and watching these methods come to life with each unique bird is always rewarding. I’ll continue sharing our journey, troubleshooting together, and building on these foundational skills.
If you’re excited to dive deeper and put these principles into practice, we’d love for you to join our Chicken Challenge Workshop! This is a hands-on, supportive space where trainers of all levels can sharpen their skills and tackle real-world training challenges. Whether you’re new to training or looking for a refresher, there’s something here for everyone.
It’s not too late to join! All sessions are recorded, so catching up is easy. Sign up here!