Biting problems in cage and shoulder

[ADEMIKS]

Hello,
My yellow-sided conure is now 12 weeks old.
He seems to have recently developed some bad behaviours.

1) For the first two weeks of the 3 that I had him, he kept finding ways to escape from the cage from underneath the food dish. The opening has now been blocked, however he constantly gets excited and tries pushing and squeezing himself through the cage with great frustration throughout the day (mostly around the food dish) but also anywhere in the cage, without success.

When ever I stick a finger through the cage he will bite it and dig in hard for 5-10 seconds without letting go, making annoying squawking sounds.

2) When I let him out he tries to get onto my shoulder immediately and refuses to sit on my hands or anywhere else. Preventing him from getting there only makes him angry, and once hes on my shoulder he usually tries to bite my fingers when removing him.

Ive taught him to "step-up", which he usually always does without a problem when hes not on my shoulder. It seems as if he only steps up if it leads to him getting on my arm and able to crawl to my shoulder where he can hide against my hair.

How do I get him to be less anxious to get to my shoulders and enjoy more play time elsewhere? I've tried giving him treats when he steps up off my shoulder, but he usually see's the treat coming and it seems like thats the only reason he wants to.

 

[MonicaMc]

1) For the first two weeks of the 3 that I had him, he kept finding ways to escape from the cage from underneath the food dish. The opening has now been blocked, however he constantly gets excited and tries pushing and squeezing himself through the cage with great frustration throughout the day (mostly around the food dish) but also anywhere in the cage, without success.
I would suggest a larger cage with more toys and stimulating things to do, but if he's anything like my conure, who's 18 years old, it wont matter what kind of cage! lol

When ever I stick a finger through the cage he will bite it and dig in hard for 5-10 seconds without letting go, making annoying squawking sounds.
Stop offering your flesh to be bitten?

2) When I let him out he tries to get onto my shoulder immediately and refuses to sit on my hands or anywhere else. Preventing him from getting there only makes him angry, and once hes on my shoulder he usually tries to bite my fingers when removing him.
Have you tried millet, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, dried fruits, pieces of nuts as treats? Maybe you haven't found his favorite? If he's not on a pellet diet, whats the first things he eats out of his dish?

Ive taught him to "step-up", which he usually always does without a problem when hes not on my shoulder. It seems as if he only steps up if it leads to him getting on my arm and able to crawl to my shoulder where he can hide against my hair.
Shoulders are a place of safety, fun and happiness. Until a bird can be taught that other places can be fun and exciting as well (i.e. being independent), it can/will be a struggle to keep him form being on your shoulder all the time.

How do I get him to be less anxious to get to my shoulders and enjoy more play time elsewhere? I've tried giving him treats when he steps up off my shoulder, but he usually see's the treat coming and it seems like thats the only reason he wants to.
What about toys? Foraging? Playgym? Bathing? "Trick training" It can be a fun activity for you both!