Need Behavior Explained

Whenever I step Freddie up (I use a stick perch), he nips my hand...not hard, so it's not a bite...and he always stops when I tell him to, but I'm wondering why he does it. This AM I stepped him up to come out of his sleep cage, and he was very eager to step up, so it's not because he doesn't want to. He's used to the routine of going to his day cage at this time. He's steady on the perch, as far as I can see, so he's not trying to hold on. It's actually not a holding on beaking. The nip is not a problem as it doesn't hurt, but it makes me a little nervous....

Could it be a greeting? Doesn't sound like he's trying to hurt you.

Eddie does it to me if he is uncomfotable with something I'm doing. I know that if I don't stop he will bite down harder so I give him his space - Its really his way of warning me that he doesn't like something although he doesn't do it that much. Does Freddie like being handled? maybe he is still a little affraid of hands.

SharonC said:

Whenever I step Freddie up (I use a stick perch), he nips my hand...not hard, so it's not a bite...and he always stops when I tell him to, but I'm wondering why he does it.

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It's hard to tell without seeing it, but it could just be a habit he's learned, and not related to anything you're doing or not doing. It's tough when you don't know a detailed history. I've had to guess some things about Boo's history, and some of them make me feel bad. Like when he's noisy and I walk toward his cage, he used to get very defensive and stressed. From that, I guessed - a guess is all it is - that he used to get some kind of physical punishment when he was loud. Over the years he's learned that I'm not going to do anything but talk to him, so he doesn't do that any more.

FWIW, I don't use a stick to lift Boo up, and I always hold one hand down for him to step on and my other hand in front of him, so he can brace his beak on it while he steps onto my hand. Sometimes he uses both, sometimes he doesn't, but it's always offered. He seems to feel more secure that way. He hesitates to step on my hand if both aren't there for him. I also ask him if he wants to come up before I put my hands out. If he does, he puts his head down and flutters his wings - "begging" - if he doesn't want to, he takes a step away from me and I don't even put my hands out.

A learned habit is probably right. He was forced many times to step up, in his other life. I only ask him to step up, when I need to move him, because of this. He's also been yelled at a LOT, judging from how he "tells himself off" accompanied by beak banging. He didn't have a bad life, in regards to attention given him by previous owners, but their style is very different from mine. I'll keep working on the step up. With time, I hope he gets more comfortable...

I suspect that the cause is probably as suggested: a habit or stereotyped behavior. The solution, if you wish it to stop, is to redirect his attention.

Basically re-teach the step up. Use a preferred treat or toy to lure him to step up, then reward him with the treat before he has a chance to go anywhere else with his beak. If his beak does go near your hand don't scold or 'correct', simply withdraw the treat, put him down, and try again.

Great advice from Auggies' Dad! You need to redirect his behavior. Pick a very favorite treat that you will use only for stepping up. As you ask him to step up gently offer the treat. Praise him if he takes the treat and steps up. It might take him a little getting use to. Some people hold a small toy and actually use it as a block so the bird can't bite thier hand. With time he will learn what you are asking of him.

OK...thanks! I did hold a treat when he first came, and it made him worse. I showed him the treat, gave my hand for a step up, intending to reward after the stepup. He seemed angry when he bit at that time. Maybe I didn't offer it to him quickly enough...I'll try again.

Why don't you try just opening his cage and letting him come out on his own and waiting until he is out for a couple of minutes before you ask him to step up? Mine usually ask me (they lift their foot or they tell me).

Be careful how you offer the treat. Perhaps if it is too close, or too high, or too low, etc he can't feel comfortable stepping up will the treat is there.

Try out different ways of luring him with the treat. If it still doesn't work then bin that idea - it would generally be a good tactic, but if it isn't working try something else.

Birdamor said:

Why don't you try just opening his cage and letting him come out on his own and waiting until he is out for a couple of minutes before you ask him to step up? Mine usually ask me (they lift their foot or they tell me).

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When he comes out on his own, he heads straight for the cage top. If I ask him to step up from the cage top, he heads inside the cage...it's "round and round we go" LOL! Hubby stepped him up tonight to take him to the sleep cage, and once on the stick perch, we both talked non stop to him, making a real fuss over what a good boy he was. He was so distracted, he forgot to nip...

SharonC said:

Birdamor said:

Why don't you try just opening his cage and letting him come out on his own and waiting until he is out for a couple of minutes before you ask him to step up? Mine usually ask me (they lift their foot or they tell me).

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When he comes out on his own, he heads straight for the cage top. If I ask him to step up from the cage top, he heads inside the cage...it's "round and round we go" LOL! Hubby stepped him up tonight to take him to the sleep cage, and once on the stick perch, we both talked non stop to him, making a real fuss over what a good boy he was. He was so distracted, he forgot to nip...

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Well, on the one hand, I would tell you 'whatever works' but, on the other, it's not good to get them used to something you are not going to be able to keep up for the next 40 or 50 years and two people making a big fuss over something as routine as stepping up is not what you would call very practical. This is what I would do: open the cage and let him go up to the top (they all do), close the cage door, offer him the stick with one hand while I hold a single sunflower seed in my other hand (I would not put it right in front of his beak but I would put it on the other side of the stick so he would have to step on it to reach it) and give the command. If he doesn't want to step up, I would turn around and do something else for a couple of minutes, then come back and ask him again and keep on doing this until he does. Getting parrots to get used to doing something requires investing A LOT of time at the beginning because you have to let them figure out on their own that doing what you ask is the best course of action. Parrots are the hungriest in the mornings and that's when they should be offered only healthy foods (which means no seeds or pellets -both are high protein, something parrots crave) so a sunflower seed in the am is a big treat and they learn to appreciate it very quickly.

Thanks guys! Will try the suggestions...

SharonC said:

Thanks guys! Will try the suggestions...

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Hey there SharonC, I salute you
Been reading all the above posts, you are fantastic, never giving up and always giving 100%.

You are a great guardian

Thanks...that's nice of you.