These points are great, and that point about having the treat back and up from your hand that their stepping up on can really save you from a bite in my small amount of experience
My bird had hand fear. Stepping up was the first trick. He still doesn't like to step up too much but I found out the funniest thing. Since I taught him the "hello" trick, instead of asking him to step up, I say "hello" to him many times and reward him, after that he wants to step up! I guess he just doesn't like me being rude and not greeting him before asking him to do something haha
It's interesting how that worked for him! sometimes taking unconventional approaches or looking at the problem from a different angle can create great solutions lol
Thank you, first off, for all of your incredible videos! I've been devouring both your and Sophie's videos lately (a new GCC adopted us a few months ago!) and am a very appreciative first-timer commenter. We've been working on retraining our GCC to step up--she's six and previously knew the command, but after our honeymoon phase she stopped willingly stepping up and only does so when she expresses interest in coming over. Two issues: any tips for encouraging a bird who has a prior habit of stepping up beak first to step up with her foot instead? (The only way I can get her to do it is if her mouth is too full to use her beak, and then I reward like crazy when she sticks out her foot! But she seems to forget quickly after each training session and reverts to using her beak, even though I keep my hand position consistent and stable.) And any tips for getting a bird who steps up reliably only for treats weaned off them, when verbal praise or our attention doesn't seem sufficient? Thank you SO much for all you do! Will be supporting you via your Amazon store and elsewhere!
Hey Alethia, Thank you for the kind comment and offer of support! Patreon isn't a bad place for that if you fancy extra content in return for the support you give! The 2nd part is easier to cover. Even when she's regularly stepping up it'll be important to reinforce her once in a while and ensure she's still getting treats for it. Stepping up is still a trick and can get sloppy if not reinforced from time to time. For example our boys step up perfectly, but we still give them a treat every once in a while to keep it consistent. It could depend on how you're offering the treat. Holding it behind and above usually helps with this as their beak and attention should be aimed upwards. Also ensuring that their treat motivation is as high as possible! Target training can also help here!
@@TheParrotTeacher what a lovely and thoughtful response--thank you for the reminder that I can share a token of appreciation through Patreon! I'll do exactly that. Meanwhile, these tips are so helpful and we'll try to be patient while consistently reinforcing wherever possible. Many thanks again for the great work you do for all the birbs and fid parents out there!
Hi I let mango And Casper out today I’ve had them a week, they happily go on my hand if I hold millet, I let them out, all safe but they bopped the ceiling and walls a couple of times, is it a case of getting used to surrounding, ?
Hey Suzy, It does happen. It's partially as you say getting used to surroundings, but also partially being unused or rusty with flying! It'd be good to keep a close eye during the first few outings in case they spook/panic as that's where they are most likely to crash.
@@TheParrotTeacher ok thank you, ate chop for the first time yesterday, watched most of your and finances vides Thank you really helpful first time cockatiel owner, One (Casper) is pure white can you tell the sex ? I think mango (pied) is female
I've had my 2 rescue cockatiels for 6 weeks - my younger female will only step up onto my hand from the floor, from any other surface she becomes quite aggressive. She is very treat motivated when in her cage, and lovvves scritches through the bars as well, but wants nothing to do with me or treats when she's outside the cage. It feels like each session out of cage sets back our growing trust and bond. Could target training help? More continued passive bonding?
Hey Rachel, target training and passive bonding work are always highly useful and recommended anyway so both wouldn’t hurt! It could be quite a few things. It could be the cage is her safe space so she’s happier interacting through and in there. Or it could be something else in the environment outside or simply just being unsure what youre asking of her. It’s early days yet so I’d keep trying. It could be worth trying to do training on and around the cage and potentially sleeving hands or using a perch to see if that helps!
Hi, my bird isn’t territorial or scared of my hands but whenever I put a perch or my hand for him he starts licking my finger or the perch then starts to bite it, what do I do
Hey Birdie, I remember your last comment. You need to identify the reasons why he gets angry when stepping up and work through the problem. If a parrot is treat motivated and not afraid of hands then 99% of the time it's something we are doing that's wrong!
@@TheParrotTeacher Ok! Thank you so much! I was thinking about that maybe her wings were badly clipped before we got her as all of her flight and tail feathers has this weird sticky tape like thing on them and they were uneven! Even now nearly a year later her feathers don’t really grow right and even randomly fall out. I think that if this happened she would be so off balanced that she got hurt stepping up and is now scared of doing it because otherwise, she loves me! That also might be the reason she was surrendered! I have an action plan now! Thank you soooo much! I love it when people reply to comments! Willow (cockatiel) will thank you too 😊
The sleeved hand and branch thing was genius! I will try that!
We had to use it with baby Olive as she was so hesitant of hands initially!
These points are great, and that point about having the treat back and up from your hand that their stepping up on can really save you from a bite in my small amount of experience
Definitely! It's such a simple thing but can really help out. It's definitely saved us a few times!
My bird had hand fear. Stepping up was the first trick. He still doesn't like to step up too much but I found out the funniest thing. Since I taught him the "hello" trick, instead of asking him to step up, I say "hello" to him many times and reward him, after that he wants to step up! I guess he just doesn't like me being rude and not greeting him before asking him to do something haha
It's interesting how that worked for him! sometimes taking unconventional approaches or looking at the problem from a different angle can create great solutions lol
Great video!! Anyone who's struggling to get their bird to step up would find great info in this vid!!
Thank you!
thank you for the posting 🙂
My pleasure!
@@TheParrotTeacher you are welcome🙂
Great video.
Thanks!
Thank you, first off, for all of your incredible videos! I've been devouring both your and Sophie's videos lately (a new GCC adopted us a few months ago!) and am a very appreciative first-timer commenter.
We've been working on retraining our GCC to step up--she's six and previously knew the command, but after our honeymoon phase she stopped willingly stepping up and only does so when she expresses interest in coming over.
Two issues: any tips for encouraging a bird who has a prior habit of stepping up beak first to step up with her foot instead? (The only way I can get her to do it is if her mouth is too full to use her beak, and then I reward like crazy when she sticks out her foot! But she seems to forget quickly after each training session and reverts to using her beak, even though I keep my hand position consistent and stable.) And any tips for getting a bird who steps up reliably only for treats weaned off them, when verbal praise or our attention doesn't seem sufficient?
Thank you SO much for all you do! Will be supporting you via your Amazon store and elsewhere!
Hey Alethia,
Thank you for the kind comment and offer of support! Patreon isn't a bad place for that if you fancy extra content in return for the support you give!
The 2nd part is easier to cover. Even when she's regularly stepping up it'll be important to reinforce her once in a while and ensure she's still getting treats for it. Stepping up is still a trick and can get sloppy if not reinforced from time to time. For example our boys step up perfectly, but we still give them a treat every once in a while to keep it consistent.
It could depend on how you're offering the treat. Holding it behind and above usually helps with this as their beak and attention should be aimed upwards. Also ensuring that their treat motivation is as high as possible!
Target training can also help here!
@@TheParrotTeacher what a lovely and thoughtful response--thank you for the reminder that I can share a token of appreciation through Patreon! I'll do exactly that. Meanwhile, these tips are so helpful and we'll try to be patient while consistently reinforcing wherever possible. Many thanks again for the great work you do for all the birbs and fid parents out there!
@@alethia340
Thank you too for the kind comment :D
A fundamental skill for all parrots!
Definitely!
Jejeje muy astuto
Thank you!
Hi
I let mango And Casper out today I’ve had them a week, they happily go on my hand if I hold millet, I let them out, all safe but they bopped the ceiling and walls a couple of times, is it a case of getting used to surrounding, ?
Hey Suzy,
It does happen. It's partially as you say getting used to surroundings, but also partially being unused or rusty with flying!
It'd be good to keep a close eye during the first few outings in case they spook/panic as that's where they are most likely to crash.
@@TheParrotTeacher ok thank you, ate chop for the first time yesterday, watched most of your and finances vides
Thank you really helpful first time cockatiel owner,
One (Casper) is pure white can you tell the sex ? I think mango (pied) is female
I've had my 2 rescue cockatiels for 6 weeks - my younger female will only step up onto my hand from the floor, from any other surface she becomes quite aggressive. She is very treat motivated when in her cage, and lovvves scritches through the bars as well, but wants nothing to do with me or treats when she's outside the cage. It feels like each session out of cage sets back our growing trust and bond. Could target training help? More continued passive bonding?
Hey Rachel, target training and passive bonding work are always highly useful and recommended anyway so both wouldn’t hurt!
It could be quite a few things. It could be the cage is her safe space so she’s happier interacting through and in there. Or it could be something else in the environment outside or simply just being unsure what youre asking of her.
It’s early days yet so I’d keep trying. It could be worth trying to do training on and around the cage and potentially sleeving hands or using a perch to see if that helps!
How did the training go? How’s your rescue?
Hi, my parrot doesn't want to get out from its cage even when I opened the cage door. Any advice?
Firstly working out why? Is it new to your house, are you offering it choice and reinforcement for doing so?
Hi, my bird isn’t territorial or scared of my hands but whenever I put a perch or my hand for him he starts licking my finger or the perch then starts to bite it, what do I do
Formal training and discouraging him from licking your hand! You want his attention up and on a high value treat not down on your hands!
@@TheParrotTeacher thx
I have a cockatiel who (I have tried these tricks with) loves scritches but as soon as I ask for step up I have an angry bird! Please help me!
Hey Birdie,
I remember your last comment. You need to identify the reasons why he gets angry when stepping up and work through the problem. If a parrot is treat motivated and not afraid of hands then 99% of the time it's something we are doing that's wrong!
@@TheParrotTeacher Ok! Thank you so much! I was thinking about that maybe her wings were badly clipped before we got her as all of her flight and tail feathers has this weird sticky tape like thing on them and they were uneven! Even now nearly a year later her feathers don’t really grow right and even randomly fall out. I think that if this happened she would be so off balanced that she got hurt stepping up and is now scared of doing it because otherwise, she loves me! That also might be the reason she was surrendered! I have an action plan now! Thank you soooo much! I love it when people reply to comments! Willow (cockatiel) will thank you too 😊
@@birdiiii Her past could definitely be playing into it!
@@TheParrotTeacher I think so too! I’m going to slowly work through this with her!
L 👍 👍 👍
😁