So, your new gym arrives. First, you know your bird. If he is the nervous type, Greys, Cockatoos, take it slow. Try this. Unpack the gym where your bird can't see it. Carry just the top of the gym in the room where your bird is, and set it on the floor. Slowly introduce your bird to the top of the gym, the branches and top tray. My gyms are much less threatening when they are on the floor, rather then assembled. Once your bird is climbing on the branches, then you can assemble the rest of the gym. If your bird is the type who needs to look at things for days or weeks. assemble the gym, and let him look at it. Slowly, introduce your bird to the gym. Be patient if your bird is the nervous type.

Once your bird accepts the gym, the fun starts. Initially, he will want to be up high, on the top branch of the gym, or on the Play Gym toy. This is normal. He is telling you by his body language that he would rather be somewhere else. This usually lasts for a couple of days. However, he will begin to decide he wants to explore. Try placing some treats in the tray. Of course he wants them, and will figure out how to get it. Pretty soon, he will be running up and down the stairs, chewing on the Bottlebrush, napping, and getting comfortable. Each day, he will get more and more comfortable, and begin to like his TREE. 

Normally, when you get home from work, you feel guilty if you can't immediately take him out of his cage and give him some attention. After all, he's been waiting for you all day, and as far as he's concerned, now it's HIS TIME. However, you just got home, and YOU have lots to do. Make dinner, read your mail, check e-mail, put in some laundry, etc etc etc. Your bird doesn't understand this, or care. He's been waiting for you all day...

With one of my Play Gyms, you walk in, greet him, bring him over to his gym, and presto, his day has changed. He has a great place he likes, and can enjoy, and you don't need to feel guilty doing what you need to do. While your making dinner, he's having his own fun, and is now getting HIS OWN LIFE, so you can get yours back. That's the idea of a Play Gym, isn't it!

As time goes by, your bird will get more and more comfortable on his gym. He's figured out how to climb all over his gym, and discovered the joys of chewing Bottlebrush. Look for what I call COMFORT BEHAVIOR. Hanging out on lower branches, napping, eating, playing by himself, etc. He is beginning to love his gym, in fact, he wants to stay there, and many prefer to sleep there. 

You realize your bird loves his gym. You've never seen him so happy. He can't wait to get there, and doesn't want to leave. The reason is simple, it's NATURAL for your bird to live in a tree, that's what birds are supposed to do. So, at some point, you might want to take it to the next step, and Play Gym train your bird. Before we go any further, please understand, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS, EVER. I've had people NOT buy my gyms because they couldn't imagine a Play Gym trained bird. Even though my birds are 100% Play Gym Trained, and thousands of my client birds are Play Gym trained, YOU don't have to do it, ever. (You bird will WANT to do it though). If you don't want to play gym train, STOP HERE. 

Play Gym training. Here's the basic concept. IF your bird loves his gym, and feels safe and secure there, and it's his favorite place to be, and it doesn't hurt his feet, staying there is completely natural, where he wants to be. After all, living in a tree is what birds do. So, suppose you could take it a step further, and allow your bird to spends lots of time on his Play Gym.

Let me be clear here, you can buy one of my gyms because it will last, and your bird will love it, and it will pay for itself in no time, because you won't need to buy any more chew toys. However, my gyms we're designed to allow your bird to be cage free during the day, whether your home or not. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. However, here's how it works. 

When you put him on his Bottlebrush gym, tell him to STAY THERE or STAY. Leave him for 5 or 10 minutes, then return, walk directly over to him, and shower him with attention and affection. Give him treats, etc. When your done playing with him, return him to his gym, and again tell him to stay there. 

If he jumps down, (Remember, he can't climb down, that's why the tray is in the middle), pick him up, give him NO attention at all. Just return him to his gym, tell him to stay there, and return after 5-10 minutes. 

Parrot learn and repeat what works. For example, if your cooking dinner, and your parrot screams for food, and you bring him some, you've taught him to scream for food. If when your cooking, you teach him how to ask for food, that the way to ask for food is to repeat IS THAT GOOD, or WHERE'S MINE, or CAN I HAVE SOME, or whatever works for you, he will quickly stop screaming for food, after all, he gets none when he screams, but does get some when he asks for it. 

If your bird jumps off his gym and you just put him right back, as a parrot, he will quickly realize Jumping Down doesn't work. He will also quickly realize that if he STAYS THERE, he will get everything he wants, because you always come back, and reward him for staying there. 

So, here's the secret. You've taught him that jumping down doesn't work, and also taught him that you will return. Initially, you return in 5-10 minutes to condition him to expect your return. A week into the training process, you return in 30 minutes to an hour. While he is waiting for your return, he begins to explore his gym, eats the treat you gave him, maybe takes a nap, etc. Over time, he is on his gym more and more during the time your home. On the weekend, he is on his gym most of the day. Perhaps you run to the supermarket, and upon return he is still there, again, because he wants to be there, and likes it on his Bottlebrush Play Gym.

At some point, depending on the bird, YOU will realize he hasn't jumped down in weeks. YOU will become more and more confident leaving him on his Play Gym, and YOU will decide he will stay there. Think about what is natural for your bird, staying locked up in a cage, or hanging out in a tree?

Most birds take to Play Gym training pretty quickly. Cockatoos are the most difficult. Again, they stay there because they like it.

So why does this work? One reason, Bottlebrush. If I took the exact same trays, and configured the branch assembly the exact same way, except used Manzanita, Grape vine or some other type of parrot perch material, your bird wouldn't stay there more then a short time. Bottlebrush is the secret. 

With one of my gyms, you will see your bird in his natural state. He is no longer jailed all day, waiting for you to get home. He can play, hang up side down, show off and do all the things you WANTED a bird to do. And, once your bird has a life, you can get yours back. Works for everyone. 

Since 1992, I have built and sold over 9200 Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms. They're the best I can build, and both you and your parrot will love my stuff. To see what my clients and their birds think about my stuff, and Bottlebrush, visit Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gym Happy Letters. I must be doing something right. Remember, if your parrot isn't happy, you won't be either. 

To order one of my Play Gyms, visit Order Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms here. 

Good luck

Wayne