HeatherG
Well-known member
- Apr 25, 2020
- 3,893
- 6,966
Iāve been having some success with Willow (in the last few days) being willing to step up onto a stick that I sawed to about 9ā to be a comfortable step up stick. But this afternoon (Monday ) he would not step up at all. I even offered treats once one foot got on the perch but he wouldnāt be distracted from his one footed grip on his cage or seagrass mat, to step up with the other foot.
Actually Willow did come out early in the morning, stepped up with one foot so I told him what a good boy!! He was and he stepped onto the stick with the other foot. I thought everything was fixed. We had some time out and I put him back as I had a meeting and things to do. Then, this afternoon and evening, he ack acked and scolded because he was bored in his cage but would not step up when I came to get him. In fact he bit the stick even though I just held it still, and shoved it away with his beak. I tried a few times and it seemed like he just got madder.
So all day I have been feeding Willow treatsāheās ok with me giving treats inside his cageābut not stepping up. I think I just upset him by trying to step him up on the stick. Iām afraid Iāve ruined our relationship.
I thought things were getting easier but it seems like they are not. Willow just gets so wound up when Iām close to his cage and hunkers down on the top perch. If he will come to the middle perch he will usually step up but not today. Sigh.
I am hoping things are better on Tuesday but I donāt know. Iām afraid heās so mad at me he wonāt come out at all. Iām not sure what to try next. Iām going to pick the sunflower seeds out of some fresh birdseed and see if that will suffice for a bribe as heās not wild about anything else Iām giving him now. ā¹ļø
Actually Willow did come out early in the morning, stepped up with one foot so I told him what a good boy!! He was and he stepped onto the stick with the other foot. I thought everything was fixed. We had some time out and I put him back as I had a meeting and things to do. Then, this afternoon and evening, he ack acked and scolded because he was bored in his cage but would not step up when I came to get him. In fact he bit the stick even though I just held it still, and shoved it away with his beak. I tried a few times and it seemed like he just got madder.
So all day I have been feeding Willow treatsāheās ok with me giving treats inside his cageābut not stepping up. I think I just upset him by trying to step him up on the stick. Iām afraid Iāve ruined our relationship.
I thought things were getting easier but it seems like they are not. Willow just gets so wound up when Iām close to his cage and hunkers down on the top perch. If he will come to the middle perch he will usually step up but not today. Sigh.
I am hoping things are better on Tuesday but I donāt know. Iām afraid heās so mad at me he wonāt come out at all. Iām not sure what to try next. Iām going to pick the sunflower seeds out of some fresh birdseed and see if that will suffice for a bribe as heās not wild about anything else Iām giving him now. ā¹ļø
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