In need of just few tips

[Alex99]

Hello again guys, It's the end of the 3rd week i have Koki with me, and today i managed to feed him sunflower seeds from my hand and from now on when he sees my fingers approaching he is moving toward it thinking that i have the seeds, it's really a good progress i'd say. Now i've left one seed on the swing which he doesn't go near and he is biting the swing from sides probably hoping that the seed will fall off, i hope he'll understand that he can actually go on it and take it but i doubt since he's looking at me and chatting, thinking he want me to give him from there. I've tried to like put the seed far away and place my other hand as a perch but he just bites me and if i keep that other hand too long he just goes like biting and biting and the end move back till i get it out. My question is like could anyone now gimme the tips how could i use those sunflower seeds to teach him to step up? And what it means when he's bouncing hand up and down like crazy?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi have a look at this http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html - hope it helps.

Even if you dont want to do this it can help with getting you into the right mindset and understanding your bird a bit better.

 

[Alex99]

Just gotta learn how to use the seeds in order to get him to step up gotta do some research

 

[Loko]

Some birds are easier to train to step up than others. Some need barely any training and do it readily, but in your case I would start with teaching him to step up on a perch. Get a small wooden perch and once he will step up onto that and gets what step up means, then try the hand or finger.

 

[Alex99]

Ye, thought of that aswell, gotta get some wooden perch. I've found out that his weird behavior was because of that swing he was scared of, I've removed it from the cage and since he doesn't really care about it i will disassemble the pieces and make something else

 

[Scott]

Don't remember if this has been posted, all about trust!

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[Alex99]

He isn't running away from me when i'm near the cage or when i place my hand in it, when ever he sees my finger nearby he is coming to eat thinking i have some treats. Tried getting him to step up but he just stared at finger for some time then bit me haha

 

[jdlehman76]

If your bird doesn't know a "step up" command, I highly recommend teaching with a perch/wooden rod. At some point any bird will nip/bite while learning this. (Some sooner, more frequently, and harder then others.) Reactions by the poor soul being bitten can be entertaining from the bird's point of view which can lead to future biting. The wooden dowel never reacts so the bird doesn't have an incentive to continue biting unless they are afraid of the perch. Also, for myself, I think trust between a parrot and a person is harder to achieve when biting is involved (regardless of who is biting who).

 

[Notdumasilook]

Generally to get a bird to "step up" on command during training I would use my whole hand and push it gently up against there body just above the legs and say "up".. usually they will step up.. Now if he resents this u can use a T perch instead til he gets the idea. They usually get the idea pretty quick. Don't forget the verbal praise/head scratch/and or treat/reward when he does what you ask.

 

[Alex99]

Sorry for not answering, can't be active these days, i study a lot. Well today we've come to a point where i could push my finger up his body like how it's supposed in order to get him to step on it. Just ye as i expected he has no clue what's he supposed to do there so we gotta practice that.

 

[Alex99]

I've tried getting him to step up on a wooden perch, it didn't work, probably because its like 6.30pm now so i have to start in a morning, but for the first time i was able to pet him without he freaking away DDDD

 

[Flboy]

If your bird doesn't know a "step up" command, I highly recommend teaching with a perch/wooden rod. At some point any bird will nip/bite while learning this. (Some sooner, more frequently, and harder then others.) Reactions by the poor soul being bitten can be entertaining from the bird's point of view which can lead to future biting. The wooden dowel never reacts so the bird doesn't have an incentive to continue biting unless they are afraid of the perch. Also, for myself, I think trust between a parrot and a person is harder to achieve when biting is involved (regardless of who is biting who).

Wow, I missed this first time around, great wisdom!

"The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs!"
(MonicaMC)