Good bird stuck on stepping up!

[izmail1215]

Hello i am new got a 5 month yellow naped amazon he was hand raised till we bought him i hand fed him for 15 days till he started to eat on his own now he is fully avtive and understanding. I bought a stop bitting kit form birdtricks.com so far he is doing good he is target trained with a clicker and will follow trhe stick. I am stuck on him stepping up on to my hand he bites but never had a chance to bite be cause i awalys pull away

How do i let him let me hold him

also he only lets me pet his head not back how can i pet him every where?

I was told he is a male very talking. he eats zupreenim pellets for muidme size parrots he gets sunflowers and penuts as a treat wile stick training.
any help would be great thanks.

 

[sprice37]

Lots of patience and do not pull away when he goes to bite that lets him learn that if he bite he gets what he wants. Also I fully believe peanuts are bad for birds.

 

[greycloud]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your baby!
Don't take offense, but I am no a fan of his DVDs.
It is great that you are clicker training and station training with a stick. He sounds like he is doing well.
It is natural instinct for us to pull away when bit. However it is the wrong thing to do. If he bites you, gently push your hand into him towards his beak. This will cause him to let go.
You need to find a very favorite treat that you will offer only during step up training. Hold it in one hand and place your other hand in between it and the bird. Offer him the treat. If he takes it and ignores your hand to be stepped up on praise him, as he is not biting it. After doing this a few times offer the treat and say step up, while pressing your hand to his body. Keep the yummy treat at his beak to keep it occupied. Never force him to do what he doesn't want to do. Praise him when he behaves well.
Sunflower seeds can be offered when you are training or even better would be pinenuts.
Peanuts in the shell should never be offered as they can carry a mold called aspergullis.

 

[SharonC]

I have had a similiar problem with Freddie in that he bit when stepping up. He still does sometimes, but responds well to a negative word when he does it. I always say Uh Uh...

I wouldn't suggest you pet him everywhere. I just pet my birds on the head area. Petting elsewhere may cause sexual stimulation for the bird....and frustration.

 

[greycloud]

Sharon you are correct about petting. I forgot to address this. Many parrots can be easily stimulated by petting them on their bodies and under their wings. As they get older and hormones kick in, this type of petting can sexually frustrate them and cause aggression and in hens the desire to lay eggs. It is best to just stick to petting the head and neck.

 

[Bobby34231]

I concure with all the advice given by the two smart ladies above

 

[AndrewH]

Absolutely. Plus, a baby like you have isn't going to hurt you...just a little pinch.

 

[SharonC]

I must come here more often....I'm smart? :bunny7:

 

[izmail1215]

I must come here more often....I'm smart? :bunny7:

lol Yes you are helped me a bit

 

[izmail1215]

oh no the bite isnt a simple nip its a attack he will grip and hold on so hard!

 

[Bobby34231]

I must come here more often....I'm smart? :bunny7:

You may not be able to outsmart Freddie most days, but I'd definitely say your smarter than a 5th grader :09:

 

[SharonC]

Izmail....IMO, your Amzon will bite as hard as you allow. He may not know how much pressure to apply, unless you let him know. If it hurts, it's obviously too much pressure. Show him by a negative reaction( saying No bite!, or something similiar) that he's biting too hard. Fred, my YNA, has learned to beak me gently when he wants to, and I allow that. He says NO when he wants to, by nipping gently, and I allow that. He's not allowed to hurt me. If he does bite hard, there are consequences for that. I let him know that I'm displeased with him, by giving him a "dirty look"...and I make sure that he looks away first. Sometimes the "staring contest" may take a couple of minutes. He hates when I'm displeased with him, and will actually look ashamed of himself. They are very smart birds, and will learn what not to do.....Your bird is still a baby...Show him what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

 

[Ecclipse]

So if my lovebird bites me I must not move my hand at all? Im also having the same problem. She will step up on the stick but I cant scratch her head or put my hand out for her to step out. She attacks and puffs up. If I cover my hand she steps up ok but if I uncover it she snaps. I would love to be able to scratch her head and neck and be able to pick her up...what signals must I send out - meaning, what signal am I sending to her if I let her bite my fingers? Must I keep my hand still and then try again to get her to step up or do I push my hand closer while she is biting?