Won't step up but likes me

Hey guys. So i went to a different breeder (long story), and am buying a golden conure. I only found this breeder a week ago but his babies are ready to go and weaned. The one I really like is awesome, energetic, and vocal.

When I come up to him he runs to the cage door looking for scratches and attention. I then open the door and he stands there and I put my finger out for him to step up and he leans back as if he is slightly afraid or simply doesn't know what to do. Mind you he is still quite young at only 16 weeks. So I cup my hand over him and gently take him out. Then he climbs all over me and is very active and usually goes to my shoulder and out his head down to be pet. He is very sweet.

But I just want to make sure that his little gesture of seeming afraid to stwp up is bad and a sign he is rejecting me to some extent? If so i guess i have some training to do with him. Thanks friends

No I don’t think it’s a bad sign, he’s only very young still after all! Everything else sounds positive. I sometimes find an open palm held at the bird’s foot level works better with a reluctant stepper-upperer.

This is only very early days though and if I understand correctly you haven’t taken him home yet. The new environment will change the dynamic between you as he becomes familiar with his new surroundings. My Quaker baby goes from being a bit standoffish to desperately wanting a big snuggle and back again in the space of a day. Don’t take his behaviour personally, just be consistent with him and keep reading and stay open to advice. Your bird has another big adjustment in his life coming up and so do you

Sounds very sweet.

I admire Golden Conures tremendously. I hope you'll give us photos! They are, in my opinion, the most beautiful parrot.

This sounds normal.

Just be prepared to hold firm in your decision once you do adopt (assuming a healthy bird)--I promise that at some point (if not daily for the first few weeks lol), you will find yourself thinking, what have I gotten myself into, but it will pass (or at least get less scary over time). Birds can be OH SO FICKLE and they are SLOWER than you can ever imagine..SO if your bird turns into a "monster" on day 2-3 after being home, this biting etc WILL go away....and if you move the couch and your bird starts biting you for the few days following, ALL IS NOT LOST lol. Transitions are hard on them but you will want to work on building trust in the new environment and then work on training once that is more solid/as you go (obviously you still don't want to reinforce bad behaviors, even if your bird doesn't trust you yet).
GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED!!