Running Outof Options! Please help!

[bronterose_xo]

I have a pineapple GCC called Phoenix, who I have had since January 26. She is as i believe now 12-13 months old. We get along quite well except for all the screaming she makes and chewing on my window handle. But my biggest problem is being unable to have her step up. She is still quite scared of hands but will not hesitate to take any treats from my hands. I know she is still quite young but I don't want her to get used to the fact she doesn't need to step up. I have tried everything, from feeding her by hand 4-5 times a day to target training. Absolutely nothing seems to work. She gets 10 hours of sleep a day and spends around 4-5 hours a day out of her cage. Please, any advice is helpful

Bronte and Phoenix

 

[RomanParrots]

well for starters, its breeding season and hormones are just out of wack right now. the best thing to do is to spend more time with her one on one, and to reduce daylight hours.

try putting her cage next to somewhere where you usually hang out. and every now and then, grab her favorite treat on one hand and with the other make a perch for her. you have to make it so that she can only eat the treat when at least one foot is on your hand. it may be frustrating at first, and it WILL take weeks to master, but it WILL eventually happen. try to do so with her favorite treat at least once a day. and then only allow UNDER 10 hours of daylight to reduce screaming and other hormonal behavior. after her daylight hours are done, try to put her in a quiet place so that she may rest. also attempt to put shredding toys in her cage, if she likes to shred the edges of the windows, she will eventually do the same to the parrot toys.

i hope this helps! <3

 

[Laurasea]

It took a couple of months fir my newest yo get over fear of hands. I didn't do training. I had him climb all over me and let stepping on hand evolve " naturally "

 

[wrench13]

"and then only allow UNDER 10 hours of daylight to reduce screaming"

Surely that is a typo, as 12 hrs of uninterrupted sleep is what the vast majority of experienced parrot owners on here recommend and use. And that's to reduce but not eliminate the symptoms of puberty ( which is what the OPs GCC is experiencing) and later on mating season, which yes, is a killer this year for some reason

 

[SilverSage]

Also, have you tried offering the back of your hand, your wrist, forearm, or a perch to step onto instead of your finger? She may have been mistreated somehow to cause the issue and it could be as simple as that. My Alex Moki won’t step onto a hand, only an arm, shoulder, or perch and he wasn’t even mistreated.


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[noodles123]

You are being super impatient. Slow down...Then again, if this is upsetting to you, re-homing may be better for the bird in the long-run, because adults are trickier and if you are "running out of options" then I am concerned that you may have entered into this without proper knowledge.

 

[bronterose_xo]

It took a couple of months fir my newest yo get over fear of hands. I didn't do training. I had him climb all over me and let stepping on hand evolve " naturally "

I dont even think she would be willing to try that as she is scared of any movement, i can go close to her and feed her treats but that is about it

 

[bronterose_xo]

You are being super impatient. Slow down...Then again, if this is upsetting to you, re-homing may be better for the bird in the long-run, because adults are trickier and if you are "running out of options" then I am concerned that you may have entered into this without proper knowledge.

I only said I am running out of options as I am not sure what else to try. I keep thinking she will come around like all my other rescued birds have, but for some reason this time I am a little frightened she won't

 

[bronterose_xo]

Also, have you tried offering the back of your hand, your wrist, forearm, or a perch to step onto instead of your finger? She may have been mistreated somehow to cause the issue and it could be as simple as that. My Alex Moki won’t step onto a hand, only an arm, shoulder, or perch and he wasn’t even mistreated.


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In fact no I haven't thought of that surprisingly, as my other bird who died of old age quite recently only stepped up on shoulders to begin with. But she is just as scared of perches it seems.

 

[bronterose_xo]

well for starters, its breeding season and hormones are just out of wack right now. the best thing to do is to spend more time with her one on one, and to reduce daylight hours.

try putting her cage next to somewhere where you usually hang out. and every now and then, grab her favorite treat on one hand and with the other make a perch for her. you have to make it so that she can only eat the treat when at least one foot is on your hand. it may be frustrating at first, and it WILL take weeks to master, but it WILL eventually happen. try to do so with her favorite treat at least once a day. and then only allow UNDER 10 hours of daylight to reduce screaming and other hormonal behavior. after her daylight hours are done, try to put her in a quiet place so that she may rest. also attempt to put shredding toys in her cage, if she likes to shred the edges of the windows, she will eventually do the same to the parrot toys.

i hope this helps! <3

thank you! i have her in my bedroom pretty much next to my bed where i spend most of my time. but as soon as i introduce another hand she backs up and tries to hide. She has lots of toys in her cage but she doesnt seem to play with any of them except the wooden mirror and perch that she chews on. <3

 

[Scott]

Achieving trust and closer bond may be prerequisite for stepping up. Some great tips here: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html