As strange as it may sound to some people, it is possible to potty train your bird, expecially the mid to large sized parrots. Smaller parrots, such a budgies can also be potty trained, but because these birds can poop (for want of a better word) every 10 minutes or so, you have to be constantly ready for the next one to do the training.

The reason to potty train your bird is to keep your clothing clean when the bird is riding on your shoulder.

The best way to start the training process is to watch your bird. Just before he poops, he may wiggle his tail, or spread his wings, or just move over to a spot in his cage that he prefers to use.

Once you have learned to tell when he is going to potty, you simply use whatever word you want to associate with the action. You can say “go poop”, “go potty”, “time to go” - or whatever you want to say, but you must be consistant. Once he goes – and if you've learned his actions correctly, he will go – you give a reward. The reward can be a treat or it can be an excited tone of voice, whatever you and your bird decide, will be fine.

Once your bird understands the command and that he will get a treat when he does what you say, you should be able to safely have him on your shoulder without getting droppings on your clothing. Food treats can become fewer and then stop after awhile or you will end up with a chubby bird.

You will have to regularly put him where you want him to poop and give the command as frequently as he needs to go though, or you will still have to deal with the cleanup. In observing your bird in the beginning, you should know how long between poops and make sure you do not forget to get him to his toilet spot in time.

It is best to have a variety of toilet spots for you bird, so that you can leave the room with him from time to time. You may want to use a wastepaper basket, the toilet, the floor, the grass (if outside), a paper on the floor, his stand, his cage and so on.

If you are away at work and he is in his cage, he will still potty on his own as required, but it is nice to keep your clothing as poop-free as possible when you are home (or out with him).