Your body is blocking the cage door, this might make him feel trapped, panicked or cornered. He can't see the treat. The bowl is large and scary - he doesn't understand why it's there or what you are doing. It's not where it normally is.
Here is what I would do...
Firstly find out what his fave treat is. If you feed him a mixture of chopped food or seeds - when you feed him - look at what he eats first or picks out first. If you can see what it is, use THAT as his treat to begin with. So remove that particular thing from future meals and ONLY use it as a treat. (You can always convert his treat to something else later on)
STEP 1
If he won't take treats from your fingers at all in any situation, you would firstly need to get him taking treats from a spoon to create distance between your fingers and him. Do this with him fully caged and with the door shut.
You will need to make sure the spoon is tilted slightly so he can see whats on offer. You must hold the spoon steady for a long time until he feels comfortable approaching the spoon. BE PATIENT and consistent.
Once he has taken food from the spoon - say 'good boy'. Once he does this a few times and understands 'spoon = food'... (or if you use your fingers - 'fingers = food')
STEP 2
Do target training whereby you teach a 'come here' request by tapping a perch from the outside of the cage and verbally saying "come here" (with him fully caged) with the treat on the spoon (or between your fingers) in position throughout.
He must be able to see what is on the spoon (or between your fingers). Don't tap continuously or he may be scared, just tap enough to get his attention to the area of the perch, the moment he looks away - tap again saying 'come here' and ensure the treat is visible.
BE PATIENT and consistent. Even if your arm is hurting from holding a steady position for a prolonged period.
When he eventually goes to the perch reward with a 'good boy' and a treat via the already established method (fingers or spoon). He may take seconds, or minutes to pluck up the courage to go to where you have indicated...
STEP 3
Repeat process at a very nearby perch, make it easy for him. Go between the two different (but close together perches). Once he does this easily and consistently...
STEP 4
Begin to encourage to different locations with the 'come here' and tap, gradually increasing the distance you are asking him to go to get the treat. Always have a perch affixed to the inside of the cage door - slightly lower than your 'arm perch' height. Keep doing the 'come here' and rewards around perches in the cage including the door perch...
STEP 5
Once this is normal, do the same routine with the door open so he has to climb to the door perch.
STEP 6
Once this is normal you are ready to start requesting a 'step up' from the door perch to your arm. Make sure the door is open wide so he doesn't feel trapped. Stand as far to the right as possible so there is lots of space at the door opening. Stand sideways and use your left arm as the perching arm and your right as the treat giving hand.
Have your arm ever so slightly higher than the perch and hold the treat on the other side of your arm so he has to step up onto your arm to get to it. If you are able to tap your arm with a finger and hold the treat at the same time - do it. Again BE PATIENT. You need to prove you are a steady and safe perch. Say 'step up' and do the established tap. Once he steps up say 'good boy' and let him get his treat. Try to move your arm very steadily behind the door perch he just stepped off of so that the door perch is now higher than your arm, offer a treat infront if him so he has to climb back onto the door perch. He may prefer a 'clothed arm' or a 'naked arm', if clothed, make sure the fabric is fairly tight to your arm so that it won't spin or move when he perches on it.
STEP 7
Keep practicing the 'come here' request in different cage locations, include the door perch, and do some 'step up' requests from the door perch.
This whole process could take days or weeks. Make sure you do it every day so he understands what is happening and what will happen.
I hope this helps you. If not, someone else may have a different method which may help you. But so far this has worked for me and my ekkies.
I would recommend pinching the treat between your thumb and forefinger with the treat pointing upwards (back of your hand facing the floor and the rest of your fingers in a fist). This makes the treat the prominent aspect and easily visible and obtainable without obstruction.
Good luck!
