Stepping up

I asked a similar question in one of my previous threads but I get the impression that it wasn't seen by many people so I've create this thread.
I've started putting my hand inside the cage to feed my IRN and offering the back of my other hand for him to step up on however I have read that parrots are very top heavy
and have a much easier time stepping up than they do stepping down, hence the phrase "step up".

Due to the cages design I am struggling with this, there are two entrances on the cage not counting the bits that open for food and water but one is far below any of his perches
and the other is at the very top of the cage and leaves a massive gap for him to fly through.
I am anxious about opening up the top of the cage to practice his step up commands incase he gets out and I have no good way to return him if he starts being a danger to himself.
Can I get some advice, I really feel like I've hit a deadend in his training because of this.

I probably have the same cage or similar. Normally I just reach in and up to the perch and he "hops" on rather than stepping up. And yes your right up is easier for them.

Don't open the top double door thing unless you brace it, sudden movement, or weight change can knock it back down flat even if it seems to stand up on it's own.

Not sure if I read the other thread but if he's ok with you entering the cage do what I said above, if not, wait for him to climb out then have him step up.

clark_conure said:

I probably have the same cage or similar. Normally I just reach in and up to the perch and he "hops" on rather than stepping up. And yes your right up is easier for them.

Don't open the top double door thing unless you brace it, sudden movement, or weight change can knock it back down flat even if it seems to stand up on it's own.

Not sure if I read the other thread but if he's ok with you entering the cage do what I said above, if not, wait for him to climb out then have him step up.

Click to expand...

I really want to avoid him getting out of the cage for now, last time he was let out it was chaotic,

It's a struggle to keep my hand near his perch when I use the lower entrance and I think if he did step up while I was doing this I wouldn't have much stability to support him.

In the meantime I read your other post.

I see the bird is flighted and crashes into things, ok I get it now.

For now put your hand inside the cage where it is comfortable for you, maybe put some millet in your palm or on the back of your hand.

Let the bird come to you and step on you on his own, keep the door mostly shut. The whole point of training is to get the bird to do "be good" and "do what you both want" if he comes to your hand on his own you both win. No point in step up training.

yes exactly as Clark said. I found it a lot easier to get them used to the idea of going on your hand before actively training. Pouring treat food in your hand and just waiting is the trick. It took me over an hour before mine got on my hand so you're gonna have to be prepared for that. After that I went to stick training. IMO it's easier to stick train then go to hand training than to dive in to hand training, also means other people can handle them easier which I find vital.

The thing I will say is the first couple times he comes out will be chaotic and even if used to your hands may decide he doesn't want to step up, he's entering an entire new world and will be battered by an influx of information so it's important to keep as calm as possible, he'll pick up on your tension and it'll upset him

I finally built up the courage to not move my hand away when he looked like he was trying to bite me when I wanted him to step up, while I offered a treat in my other hand.

He started chewing on my knuckle for some reason, it didn't really hurt but I'm guessing this is because it's mostly bone.

Anyway I pulled away after a few seconds when it became obvious that he was trying to chew on me and not step up.

Any idea how to advance from here?

He doesn't seem aggressive when he tries to bite me like this like he does when I stick my fingers through the bars of his cage (without food).

I realize he's probably going to bite me eventually but this kind of seems like I'm offering him my hand on a silver platter lol.

How do I encourage him to stop chewing on me and climb up instead?

Crayfish066 said:

I finally built up the courage to not move my hand away when he looked like he was trying to bite me when I wanted him to step up, while I offered a treat in my other hand.

He started chewing on my knuckle for some reason, it didn't really hurt but I'm guessing this is because it's mostly bone.

Anyway I pulled away after a few seconds when it became obvious that he was trying to chew on me and not step up.

Any idea how to advance from here?

He doesn't seem aggressive when he tries to bite me like this like he does when I stick my fingers through the bars of his cage (without food).

I realize he's probably going to bite me eventually but this kind of seems like I'm offering him my hand on a silver platter lol.

How do I encourage him to stop chewing on me and climb up instead?

Click to expand...

That is an extended bit of beaking. Think of how a human baby is for the first couple years. Every single thing they touch will go in their mouth, it's how they figure things out. The same is true for a parrot, all he's doing is figuring you out, deciphering just exactly what is in front of his face. Remember that very little of what a parrot does with their beak is biting, you'll know when he bites you that I can assure you. Don't be afraid of the beak it can do very little damage and to be honest they don't hurt nearly as bad as you think. I've been bitten quite viciously by a ringneck and I can safely say I've had more painful paper-cuts. Try reading birdman's post on big beak fear in the macaw sub-forum, it applies to all beaks really. Just be patient with him and be prepared to take a couple punches for him, he clearly wants to be your friend but currently has to break through several billion years worth of genetic imprinting

LordTriggs said:

Crayfish066 said:

I finally built up the courage to not move my hand away when he looked like he was trying to bite me when I wanted him to step up, while I offered a treat in my other hand.

He started chewing on my knuckle for some reason, it didn't really hurt but I'm guessing this is because it's mostly bone.

Anyway I pulled away after a few seconds when it became obvious that he was trying to chew on me and not step up.

Any idea how to advance from here?

He doesn't seem aggressive when he tries to bite me like this like he does when I stick my fingers through the bars of his cage (without food).

I realize he's probably going to bite me eventually but this kind of seems like I'm offering him my hand on a silver platter lol.

How do I encourage him to stop chewing on me and climb up instead?

Click to expand...

That is an extended bit of beaking. Think of how a human baby is for the first couple years. Every single thing they touch will go in their mouth, it's how they figure things out. The same is true for a parrot, all he's doing is figuring you out, deciphering just exactly what is in front of his face. Remember that very little of what a parrot does with their beak is biting, you'll know when he bites you that I can assure you. Don't be afraid of the beak it can do very little damage and to be honest they don't hurt nearly as bad as you think. I've been bitten quite viciously by a ringneck and I can safely say I've had more painful paper-cuts. Try reading birdman's post on big beak fear in the macaw sub-forum, it applies to all beaks really. Just be patient with him and be prepared to take a couple punches for him, he clearly wants to be your friend but currently has to break through several billion years worth of genetic imprinting

Click to expand...

Just offered him a hand to step up on after reading your advice, he didn't step up but he kept putting his beak around various bits of my hand very lightly so it's becoming pretty aparant he doesn't want to hurt me unless he feels threatened (I always let him come to me).

I find it funny that he initially seems more interested in putting my hand in his mouth than the nut though.

Thanks for the advice it was really helpful in helping me get over my fears and making some progress.

Hi If you are really scared use a piece of perch for the step up until you both trust one another. Use your hands just to give him treats.

There will be some element of him exploring and learning. Hands are a new thing to birds and probably this process will not last long if there are no frights associated.

You may find he is doing the same with another body part in a short while. The beak is used to test everything.

Lol he bit me this time, well I say bite he basically just slowly increase the pressure of his grip on my knuckle until it started to hurt a bit.

Nothing major and no blood but I pulled away and he kind of went crazy lol.

It looked like he was trying to step up at one point but he quickly change his mind lol.

Most of my fear is gone to be honest and having him chew on a hand I've basically offered him definitely makes me less fearful of him biting me when he's out of the cage and probably trying to distance himself from me to some extent.

After the bite I took his treat away because I dont want to enforce this behaviour.

I always use the same phrase with Plum and that is 'enough' said in a different more stern tone to normal. He usually eases off the pressure then.

They are intelligent little devils so use that to your advantage. Always praise after though, plenty of good boy.

plumsmum2005 said:

I always use the same phrase with Plum and that is 'enough' said in a different more stern tone to normal. He usually eases off the pressure then.

They are intelligent little devils so use that to your advantage. Always praise after though, plenty of good boy.

Click to expand...

Good to see I'm not the only chew toy lol

Me too! I often wonder if in fact Syd is a carnivore in a parrot coat! He responds now to 'NO' as if I am talking to a toddler about to touch the oven, or even 'OW' said as if I am in real danger of dying!

He has cottoned on to both versions - fortunately, and after our 3 month relationship we don't seem to need either very often.

haha well remember they do eat small insects in the wild!

viewing them as human children really does help understand them. It makes us look crazy but it allows us to see past their animal behaviors and see their brains and personality at work