30 yr old DYH recently adopted needs step up training help!

[lbranin]

We recently adopted Sundance a sweet but scared 30 yr old DYH Amazon. We started with touch training. He gets that to a point, he will move around some then goes back to his perch in the cage! We also are doing step up onto a stick (he is afraid of hands) we were getting him to do that in his cage, then started moving the stick to put him down on a different perch, then took bim out of cage onto playstand and right back in cage, then moved playstand away form cage.....now won't step up at all, did we go to fast? We did this process over about 2 weeks. How do I get him to step up at all again? I will start over with not moving the stick when he steps on it, but yesterday and today he won't step up at all. Hemust have not been handled for 30 yrs poor guy is nervous but not mean or anything like that. If we push him out of his comfort zone he might beak at us we try not to push him that far. Help!

 

[henpecked]

Sounds like your moving too fast,he's not a dog, pleasing you and being your friend are not his biggest concerns.Being safe and secure is what is important to him. Gain his trust , You had him stepping up but you took him away from his safe spot,he doesn't trust you. That's why he won't step up anymore.Every time he stepped up you took him to somewhere you wanted him to go,he was happy in the cage.Keep doing the target/touch training put keep it to his cage.Let him out and on his cage and practice stepping back and forth. Give him a playstand/gym close enough to his cage that he can reach it,when he enjoys being there, be the bridge to move back and forth. Try and see the world though his eyes, he's in a new place where he's unsure ,he's cage is his safe spot. Baby steps ,give him a chance to decide to be with you. Make things fun and reward him with praise and treats , keep your training sessions short (10 minutes). He sounds like a fearful bird which take some time and understanding to over come. PS there's plenty of good threads about this type of thing in this section and also the community section under social groups (Bonding with amazons). Keep reading and feel free to ask questions. Welcome to the forum, hope you stay and learn about your new friend. BTW i'm just down the street from you in Palmetto. Your welcome to come and visit my many zons and perhaps i could meet yours and give you better insight. Good Luck, capt and Jake

 

[oled]

As henpecked is saying, just take it slow forward and dont take him away from his safe zone before he trust you. In time you will be able to read your perrot. When Ville is a fraid and sitting on my arm he move 1 foot to my stomach and hold one to my sweater, thats the type of signals you must learn to read. Good luck

 

[lbranin]

Yes I guess I knew I had moved to fast with him. He is a very sweet but timid bird. What had me in a panic was he wouldn't step up on the stick at all for me the last two days! Well we had Panera Bread for dinner tonight and he couldn't help himself but step up fpr some of Panera's bread! Good bird he is back on track, I just won't move him to far from the cage and th playstand that sits right next to it. I just want him to become a member of the family. Everyone has said it will take a year. Thanks

 

[henpecked]

I bet it won't take you a year.