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Opinions on BirdTricks?

Leih

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I'm so mad I got sucked in. :mad:
 

M&M Ninja

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I've been wondering the same thing so I'm glad it was asked. My thoughts -

It must have been 5 or 6 years ago that I found their website. Everything seemed very "Buy this and you'll learn 5 positive things to do with your parrot". Similar to the front of Cosmo magazine. It felt very commercial and turned me off.

More recently, however, I found their Youtube channel. It has a mixed format - blog style freeform talking, videos with clients, parrots flying, etc. I've really enjoyed the ones I've watched so far. There are few species-specific videos that were helpful. The free flying video with a bunch of macaws and cockatoos was fantastic. The best part of that one - the birds were having so much fun! And they all just looooooved their people. After each flight, they'd get a snack, kisses, hugs, etc. There were several examples of good teams in that one, not just the two BT folks.

So I think it's a mixed bag. Everybody has to earn a living. I'm sure they offer information that - for some people - is new and very helpful. And there are probably consultations that have helped bird-people relationships. For those of us here who have a lot of real world parrot experience, they might not feel like a good match.

How much time do they actually get to spend just being companions with their people?
I wondered this myself. One video does show them out at her parents' house. Everybody seems to love the birds and they're out of the cages a lot. It's definitely a feel good video and shows how happy many of the birds are. It's called something like 'Our morning routine' or 'Our daily routine'.

Parrot Wizard - I really want to like him. But his tone (in his writing) often bothers me for some reason - maybe it seems a little aggressive? His birds seem happy and he does have some great info. I loved the bird hearing article. If you haven't read it, go read the whole thing.

Edited: for clarity
 
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Leih

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Parrot Wizard - I really want to like him. But his tone often bothers me for some reason. His birds seem relatively happy, but just....something....strikes me as off. He does have some good info. I loved the bird hearing article. If you haven't read it, go read the whole thing.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, he seems pretty awkward to me, but I sympathize because I am too. I can't imagine having large parrots in NYC.

They recently went to Moscow, which I've always wanted to see also, but kind of a weird choice right now.
 

M&M Ninja

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Yeah, he seems pretty awkward to me, but I sympathize because I am too.
I should have been clearer when I said what I said. I haven't watched any of his videos, so I'm not talking about mannerisms. It's his tone in his writing, perhaps mostly his comments. It is at times a little aggressive. Perhaps he sees his birds as more of 'work birds' and that comes across in his methods. It is difficult to articulate. I'll try to make my prior comment clearer.
 

JLcribber

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They're just marketers plagerizing everything already out there.
 

javi

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So I bought the original set of training dvds and cds and all when they first came out 15ish years ago. I never did the with holding of food but used a lot of the training methods with success. I had an aggressive conure that learned so many cues. So while they may have not originated all of their methods (which they admit is a mixture of what they learned from others) they can work. I do agree they are out for money which is a turn off so I buy off ebay used cheaper. I am not a super fan but I do watch them. I get she is kind of harsh but for me that works because I don't like to sugar coat.
 

Shezbug

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I think it’s a confidence thing with her. I have actually spoken to her (and him) via Skype and she is really lovely, kind and gentle but a little (very) awkward too. She seems more comfortable around animals than people and she also seems to struggle with explaining herself if you don’t understand what she means straight away.
I don’t agree with the way they conduct themselves and how they decided to set themselves up nor how they are only really in it for the money but then again everyone has to make a living somehow. The strict weight management is something I really don’t like at all.
They put the content across in a manner that makes it easier for a lot of people to understand the concept of training. They seem to make it more simple, interesting and fun by short cutting a lot of the (very important) information that most people don’t want to know. Most people want results and are not willing to invest a lot of time sadly.....this is where BT seems to make a killing, off people who just want to know how to get the bird to do XYZ without understanding what it is that motivates or matters to the bird and without having to make the big time and effort sacrifices.
They are also one of the easiest to find online associated with bird training for people not knowing what they should be looking for in regards to bird training and care so they get ahead because of this too.....I’m also pretty sure that if actual qualified behaviourists/trainers were to spend as much time and effort as the Womachs did getting their name to pop up everywhere that BT’s name pops up that no one would be following their advice as they’d easily pick up on how much better the advice from qualified people is........BT’s is really good at making sure their name is out there every where!
 

Marvel_ous

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Just going to edge in here with a small question of my own, what are your opinions on WingsnPaws? It's a channel I just recently discovered, and I'd like to know what y'all think of it. Smokey sure is cute, and seems to be well cared for and loved, but I haven't seen enough of WnP's videos to really form a conclusive opinion yet.

This has been a great thread so far! Interesting to read the discussion and everyone's thoughts, and a lot of the information is very useful.
 

CrazyBirdChick

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I don't really have an opinion on BirdTricks but I do watch their videos from time to time just because their birds are so cute. Hate to have to share sad news but their cockatoo Bandit just passed away :(
 

Monica

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Just going to edge in here with a small question of my own, what are your opinions on WingsnPaws? It's a channel I just recently discovered, and I'd like to know what y'all think of it. Smokey sure is cute, and seems to be well cared for and loved, but I haven't seen enough of WnP's videos to really form a conclusive opinion yet.

This has been a great thread so far! Interesting to read the discussion and everyone's thoughts, and a lot of the information is very useful.
For the most part, I would say that WnP is a great channel! There may be one or two things I don't agree with, but overall, good info! :)
 

Yoshi&Raphi

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I don't really have an opinion on BirdTricks but I do watch their videos from time to time just because their birds are so cute. Hate to have to share sad news but their cockatoo Bandit just passed away :(
That video popped up in my recommended to and I watched it, I cried with them! The whole family looked so distraught and all those happy carefree clips with Bandit. It was heartbreaking!
 

CrazyBirdChick

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That video popped up in my recommended to and I watched it, I cried with them! The whole family looked so distraught and all those happy carefree clips with Bandit. It was heartbreaking!
Me too! I was putting on my makeup for the day this morning when I watched it and couldn't stop crying. Went to work with panda eyes
 

Shezbug

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Me too! I was putting on my makeup for the day this morning when I watched it and couldn't stop crying. Went to work with panda eyes
Omg really? What happened to Bandit?
 

CrazyBirdChick

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Omg really? What happened to Bandit?
They're not sure. They've spent over $3000 worth of testing to try the find the cause but still have no definite answer. They changed their aviaries because they were afraid maybe the sand built up a heavy metal toxicity over the years. But the sand had very very very minimally amounts of iron so that's not even a 100% possibility. They said his organs were fine so there's no telling, unfortunately. They did have to visit a new AV at an ER because they were out of state so maybe the vet messed up? I don't know. It's so heartbreaking
 

MauiWendy

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Birdtricks: Personally, I really like them. They are informative. You just have to get past the commercialism part. They are running a business, nothing wrong with that. Birds are their lives and they found a way to make money sharing what they know. They may not be for everyone, but they do adore their flock. I respect them, they free flight all their birds, and really seem to care about their health and well-being. I used to be a dog trainer, not everyone liked my techniques. And I certainly have my opinions about some of the training methods I have seen other dog trainer use. I have bought their pellets. lbs for lbs compared to tops they are a larger pellet and less expensive then tops. I will continue to watch their videos, and apply what I learn. That's my 2 cents. ;)
 
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SummerBerry

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I just watched the video it was so sad:sad11: bandit was so adorable. I don't know that I would have been able to make a video like that and relive it so soon like they did.
 

Yoshi&Raphi

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Birdtricks: Personally, I really like them. They are informative. You just have to get past the commercialism part. They are running a business, nothing wrong with that. Birds are their lives and they found a way to make money sharing what they know. They may not be for everyone, but they do adore their flock. I respect them, they free flight all their birds, and really seem to care about their health and well-being. I used to be a dog trainer, not everyone liked my techniques. And I certainly have my opinions about some of the training methods I have seen other dog trainer use. I have bought their pellets. lbs for lbs compared to tops they are a larger pellet and less expensive then tops. I will continue to watch their videos, and apply what I learn. That's my 2 cents. ;)
I have been watching most of their videos recently and I have started to like them. Yes they have made mistakes before but how many of us have made a mistake with our bird in the past? I can guarantee everyone has made a mistake in the past bird related or not.

They have very happy and healthy birds and have saved many parrots in the past (project birds and helping people fix behaviour problems) They have found a way to make money out of something they love and even if they over do it a bit your not forced to buy their products.
 
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