Step-up tips?

Yuutachi · Aug 31, 2013

Hello! I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for Cockatoo (Ducorps) training? I was told by a specialist that I should just bring my hand underneath him so he has to step up, and if I get I get bit, but I was wondering if anyone knows of another good way of training? He's okay with climbing up on your arm IF your wearing a sweater, but if he ever decides to bite, or get aggressive while he is on my shoulder I'd like to be able to get him, I've tried perch-training and he just attacks the stick, He's really not aggressive; Loves to be pet, and played with, but he was cage bound for almost a year and isn't very hand-trained, or trusting of hands in general.

MonicaMc · Aug 31, 2013

Uh... .ya.... positive reinforcement training, often under the guise of clicker training! It's about teaching parrots what you want them to do without forcing them to do it. (i.e. step up - don't push against their stomach, don't lift up their feet, etc)

Barbara Heidenreich has a great blog about it!
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Help! My Parrot Wont Step Up!

(Lara Joseph also have some great blogs!!!)

riaria · Aug 31, 2013

Our Ducorps wasn't handled much previously and still doesn't like to step up (he'll sit on my hand or arm if its in my lap or on a table, now, and he'll often agree to step up on it for a treat, but he is very very uncomfortable with sitting on something that moves (whether it's my hand, arm, a pillow, a perch).

What we've done is let him fly where we want him to be. In the beginning, we'd give him a treat for flying to where we wanted him (and used a target stick), but now he very happily flies between rooms when asked (or when he just wants back to his cage, lol). It's an easy way to move him without making him do something he doesn't want to do, and it also has the benefit of virtually no risk of biting.

riaria · Aug 31, 2013

I'd not let Io on my shoulder - it's not worth the risk, even though he's not shown aggression. So the easiest solution would be for you to not let yours on your shoulder, either

If he were to get upset while on there, I think it's unlikely that you'd be able to get him to step up without him biting your hand/face anyway, regardless of if he does it normally... But it all depends on how willing you are to risk serious damage to your face, and if you think you'd be able to handle it after it had happened. Everyone thinks and feels differently about this.

SoCalWendy · Aug 31, 2013

You take a risk any time you allow ANY bird on your shoulder. Recently my husband was bit in the face by our parrotlet, Kiwi. She drew blood, and he was not happy about it. But it's the risk he took by allowing Kiwi on his shoulder.

I don't allow either bird on my shoulder. I'd rather hold then. Rio is great, even if on the shoulder, but because birds are unpredictable, she definately could do damage. I don't mind her on the back of my chair and she likes to preen my hair, but shoulders and top of my head are off base.

Julianna · Aug 31, 2013

Barbara Heidenreich has some great training tips! I've used her methods and they've worked really well for me. I really don't recommend just "taking the bite," because with a large bird like a ducorp's that could turn out pretty badly. Also, if you force a bird to do something you're lessening trust with that bird. Positive reinforcement works much better and helps to build trust rather than destroy it. I recommend clicker training, and target training can be very useful for teaching step up and other tricks, too.

Yuutachi · Aug 31, 2013

Yeahh. The last thing I want to do is have him lose trust in me, we have come a long way, but when I take him out if he doesn't want to stay on my arm and tries to go up onto my shoulder I try to get him almost into a hug, which he really doesn't mind, but I've always heard you shouldnt cuddle them too much xD; Also I can only get him to step up if I am wearing a sweater and without one when he REALLY wants out of the cage.

Julianna · Aug 31, 2013

Is there a food he particularly likes? Until he's well trained you could try to just keep that on hand and use it to coax him into stepping up when you need him to. He might just find it difficult to get a grip on your arm/hand without the sweater. Pippi LOVES it when I wear fuzzy clothes because she can sink her nails into it and play with the fuzz.

You could maybe try to make some sort of slip-on sleeve to just wrap around your fore-arm and maybe then he could stand on it better. Just an idea...

Yuutachi · Aug 31, 2013

Julianna said:
Is there a food he particularly likes? Until he's well trained you could try to just keep that on hand and use it to coax him into stepping up when you need him to. He might just find it difficult to get a grip on your arm/hand without the sweater. Pippi LOVES it when I wear fuzzy clothes because she can sink her nails into it and play with the fuzz. You could maybe try to make some sort of slip-on sleeve to just wrap around your fore-arm and maybe then he could stand on it better. Just an idea...

Thats what I do, I always wear a fluffy sweater when I take him out, and even the pet store told me that he has never liked treats, whenever I try he throws them at me haha

Julianna · Aug 31, 2013

haha

He doesn't like anything? What have you tried? Have you tried fresh food or just the commercial treats? Pippi especially likes the sugary fruits-apples, mangos, etc. Also, I wouldn't give up just because you tried once and he didn't like the treats. Birds can change what they like or dislike within about 30 seconds. I've had Pippi fling foods away in disdain one day and the next devour them as soon as they're in the cage.

Yuutachi · Aug 31, 2013

Julianna said:
haha He doesn't like anything? What have you tried? Have you tried fresh food or just the commercial treats? Pippi especially likes the sugary fruits-apples, mangos, etc. Also, I wouldn't give up just because you tried once and he didn't like the treats. Birds can change what they like or dislike within about 30 seconds. I've had Pippi fling foods away in disdain one day and the next devour them as soon as they're in the cage.

Im trying to leave fresh fruit and veggies in his cage to see if he'll eat them, but I've tried fresh fruits as well as commercial treats, my green cheek loves them! but Coco has a bit of and attitude and if he doesnt want something he lets me know!

riaria · Aug 31, 2013

If you put a soft blanket in your lap, maybe he'll want to stay on it? Io loves everything soft, he loves to just cuddle down on a blanket in my lap (not as in physically cuddling with me, but like a dog or a cat, just really content to lie on it). I once put three pillows on top of each other on a chair, and Io flew onto the top one, circled on it a few times (just like a dog before it lies down), and then laid down on it and looked ridiculously happy. I've never met a bird so similar to a cat... He even likes to chase toys if you tie them to a string. Not sure if its a Ducorp's thing, a cockatoo thing, or just an Io thing.

Also, might be worth keeping a toy or two within easy reach and try to distract him with it if he tries to climb up your arm?

Io is very partial to nuts in shell (especially almonds and walnuts), have you tried that? It's obviously quite a large treat, but once he gets the hang of it, maybe smaller nut pieces will work just as well?

MonicaMc · Aug 31, 2013

What does Coco eat?

Also, any photos of Rosy????

Yuutachi · Sep 1, 2013

MonicaMc said:
What does Coco eat?

Also, any photos of Rosy????

He eats a cockatoo based blend I get from my pet store o: Also we just got her about a week ago actually she is my boyfriends;

She was still being handfed up until we brought her home, but she's quite the sweetheart!

MonicaMc · Sep 1, 2013

She's a gorgeous hybrid!!!

What's in the cockatoo blend?

Yuutachi · Sep 1, 2013

MonicaMc said:
She's a gorgeous hybrid!!!

What's in the cockatoo blend?

Its a mix of seeds, pellets, nuts, and dried fruit as well as I have been introducing fresh fruits and veggies!

Yuutachi · Sep 1, 2013

Also he keeps licking the top of his beak, and whenever you come up to him he licks your fingers, I've read that its normal, right? xD

MonicaMc · Sep 1, 2013

Ok then, see what the first 3 items Coco eats out of his mix and remove those things from his mix. Then use those items as training treats!

Step-up tips?

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