Conure putting a foot on my finger and biting

[TepuiGreenCheekConure]

I got a baby green cheek conure about 2 months ago, but he still hasn’t stepped up. He lets me scratch his head, give him food and everything, but just doesn’t step up. Normally, when I try to make him step up, he puts one foot on my finger, waits one second, then bites. Does anyone know why? Thanks!

 

[Laurasea]

Hi,
Its so hard to type advice on this, it be do much easier offering advice in person. Many people have this struggle abd i know its so frustrating..

Parrots will test tge safe sturdiness of tge habd by resting besk or hold on before they step to it. If there has been fear or withdrawal of hand then the burd become less trusting or start biting the hand.

Do you work with tge burd outside if the cage? Sometimes thst helps a lot.

Feed lots if treats by hand. If yiu can take tge burd to a well lit ( have light on ) bedroom, close tge door. Have treats abd snacks abd toys, put the burd on the bed, and yiu too. Let them explore and relax. And hopefully start climbing on you. As ttey are lower on tge bed thdy will want to get on an offered habd to perch higher. Abd hopefully yiu can move hand towards tgeur belly in a smooth motion abd tgeg will hop up yiu csn prause abd returns to bed. And repeat off sbd on while yiu chill together. Thats one way that might work...
If yiur burd gets scared at furst snd Flys around. Just hold still, wait till lands, then calm walk over talk abd iffer habd to step uo abd put bsck on bed. Yiu might have to repeat, remsibe calm , it ok, tgey tire out quickly abd want to be rescued. Sweet talk , bsby talk, remain calm and happy, tgey are reading you, abd follow yiur lead. Thrn relax with tgrm till tgdy aee hapoy and calm and exploring. End on a good note

 

[JerryNewt]

I got a baby green cheek conure about 2 months ago, but he still hasn’t stepped up. He lets me scratch his head, give him food and everything, but just doesn’t step up. Normally, when I try to make him step up, he puts one foot on my finger, waits one second, then bites. Does anyone know why? Thanks!

Try target training, should work wonders in your case. Use a clicker to reinforce good behavior. This can either be a real clicker or an app for clicker sounds. Also find your birds favorite treat for this.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqtptXFyb2c"]How to Target Train Your Parrot | Parrot Training - YouTube[/ame]

After your bird is used to target training, simply use it to make them step up. They will follow the point of your stick and if the distance is great enough, your finger suddenly becomes a handy "perch".

Do this multiple times a day, for however long needed and then let him/her step up directly with commands. After you can train for on command "come" so they just fly to your finger when called upon.

Don't forget the clicker.

Good luck!