Refusing to step up when outside

[Pkam]

Hi guys. My grey always willingly and happily steps up when getting him out of his cage but refuses to step up when he's outside his cage. Sometimes he's attempting to destroy furniture and I really don't like forcibly having to pick him up! What should I do?

 

[noodles123]

You could try target or stick training. Stick training is basically where you train them to walk towards a point (wherever you are pointing the stick).
Do you have a play perch/tree nearby with acceptable chew stuff on it- maybe instead of putting him in his cage, you could put him on his play gym?

 

[Pkam]

You could try target or stick training. Stick training is basically where you train them to walk towards a point (wherever you are pointing the stick).
Do you have a play perch/tree nearby with acceptable chew stuff on it- maybe instead of putting him in his cage, you could put him on his play gym?

Yes we do have a nice outside perch for him! I'll try the stick training -- thank you

 

[noodles123]

When you say you have to forcibly put him up, do you mean toweling him, getting bitten, chasing him or all of the above?
I ask because if he is biting so that you can't put him back (as in, biting with the intention of getting you to leave him alone outside of the cage), then that will change the way that you should respond to this type of behavior. I know that isn't what you asked, but I am curious.

 

[bill_e]

I was too lazy for training so on those infrequent occasions where Nike doesn't want to step up I just say. "want a nut?" and offer her a treat. she steps up every time.

 

[Pkam]

When you say you have to forcibly put him up, do you mean toweling him, getting bitten, chasing him or all of the above?
I ask because if he is biting so that you can't put him back (as in, biting with the intention of getting you to leave him alone outside of the cage), then that will change the way that you should respond to this type of behavior. I know that isn't what you asked, but I am curious.

Fortunately, none of those. I've seen a lot of videos on training with positivity. I'd rather be telling him where to go than where not to go. But with him, sometimes I have to pick him up when he's chewing furniture. He doesn't bite or anything but makes sad noises lol

I looked into stick training too and it might prove problematic since he rarely ever accepts treats and gets rather scared when I bring my hands too close to him. He seems moody in that way as other times he's all too happy to receive scratches.

I just wanna correct this behavior and set things on the proper trajectory. He's 14 years old if that matters..

 

[noodles123]

When you say you have to forcibly put him up, do you mean toweling him, getting bitten, chasing him or all of the above?
I ask because if he is biting so that you can't put him back (as in, biting with the intention of getting you to leave him alone outside of the cage), then that will change the way that you should respond to this type of behavior. I know that isn't what you asked, but I am curious.

Fortunately, none of those. I've seen a lot of videos on training with positivity. I'd rather be telling him where to go than where not to go. But with him, sometimes I have to pick him up when he's chewing furniture. He doesn't bite or anything but makes sad noises lol

I looked into stick training too and it might prove problematic since he rarely ever accepts treats and gets rather scared when I bring my hands too close to him. He seems moody in that way as other times he's all too happy to receive scratches.

I just wanna correct this behavior and set things on the proper trajectory. He's 14 years old if that matters..

That's really good actually--

In that case, when he chews on stuff, I would calmly say "no, yuck" or something like that and then move him to a place where he can chew without attending to him too much during the process. It doesn't seem like he is doing it for attention, but if he were, this would be a poor choice for dealing with the situation, as your picking him up and talking to him could cause him to do it more (for attention). That having been said, it doesn't sound like he is doing it for attention at this point, so it might be worth a shot. If he wants to stay in that location, he may figure out that chewing=being moved away. Just a thought...that is in addition to target training.

 

[Pkam]

That's really good actually--

In that case, when he chews on stuff, I would calmly say "no, yuck" or something like that and then move him to a place where he can chew without attending to him too much during the process. It doesn't seem like he is doing it for attention, but if he were, this would be a poor choice for dealing with the situation, as your picking him up and talking to him could cause him to do it more (for attention). That having been said, it doesn't sound like he is doing it for attention at this point, so it might be worth a shot. If he wants to stay in that location, he may figure out that chewing=being moved away. Just a thought...that is in addition to target training.

Thank you! I'll attempt target training after not having provided him food for 2-3 hours. It seems he's always full so he never accepts treats..

I was too lazy for training so on those infrequent occasions where Nike doesn't want to step up I just say. "want a nut?" and offer her a treat. she steps up every time.

haha I'd be very lucky if that worked!

 

[LeaKP]

These greys are so funny. My grey Kevin will put his beak up at anything he doesn’t like to the point of starvation!!! He’s soooooo picky.


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[OutlawedSpirit]

These greys are so funny. My grey Kevin will put his beak up at anything he doesn’t like to the point of starvation!!! He’s soooooo picky.


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I agree that grey's can be just weird. My grey, Gus, won't accept a treat from your hand. Ever. If it's sitting in a table and he has ti sneak off your arm to go "steal" it, he'll eat it just fine, or if it's in a dish in his cage or on his play stand. Otherwise, if you try to hand him a treat, no matter what it is, he'll put his head down and ask you to scritch his head with it.

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[bigfellasdad]

Enzo wont step up immediately some times, even when i ask nicely! Ive found Enzo will chew furniture, doors etc when im not interacting with her when SHE wants to interact. If she really doesnt want to stop doing what she is currently doing but i need her to move, go in her cage etc, I will first give her enough options to come herself, if she doesnt I too gently pick her up. She doesnt mind im sure, but sometimes you just need to go to work etc.


And you are right, NEVER towel a bird unless you want to lose all trust!