Step up advice?

[RinaDoc]

So I've had my lil feathered friend for a couple of days now. I was just wondering when it would be a good idea to try to start step up training, and form a companionship. And also some tips and ideas on how to do step up.

 

[noodles123]

In my opinion, that is way too early. You want a bond/trust first. How old is your bird?

 

[Laurasea]

If wants to be out with you have him out with you. Hand feed treats. Don't leave him in the cage if he wants to be with you. If he runs away from you in cage, then just practice bat the open door, let him come to you, give a seed treat. Those little white saffel seeds are LOVED by my GCC and my Quakers. They will overcome nearly any fear for them. And if he feels more comfortable letting you scutch his head in the cage do that.

 

[RinaDoc]

Oh no, I understand it's too early, I was wondering when you all recommend I should start.

 

[RinaDoc]

He will take food from my hand. He loves nutriberries, and he comes to the door. He doesn't like being touched quiet yet though. But he loves to hop on his dishes when I'm putting them back from getting freash food and water

 

[Laurasea]

If he will hop on something, use that to get out of the cage. Have you had him out if the cage? If not abd you can get him to step on a hand perch or bowl and take him to the couch and let him run around and explore with you sitting and treats. What have you tried?

 

[Laurasea]

If you can sit parallel to the door with your lap lower than the door sit squished up close and move slow and talk sweet, he should jump out or run down an arm then run back in the cage, spend time letting him climb on you and run back and forth to the cage. Don't reach for him just met him use you like a gym if he will. I don't think a babyike him can resist the temptation to explore you for long. The best place to touch at first if he starts cuddling up to you is just the side if the cheek or the back of the neck.

 

[Sunnyclover]

I have 3 Conures and literally waited 0 seconds to start handling and bonding with them. To be fair they were all 3 hand fed and mostly tame. I'm not sure if yours is but if it is I'd start right away if your birdie isn't scared of you. If it is scared then obviously you'll have to take it slow and on their terms.

 

[sweetpeamusic]

Same with Ms. Sunnyclover - Nico was hand-raised and came out of his cage on his own after exploring it for around an hour the first night. I still haven't really "trained" him to step up - I say "come here" and he steps up most of the time expecting me to take him somewhere exciting or give him attention… Works for me most of the time.
Make sure you talk to him/her lots and engage them from outside the cage too!

 

[ChristaNL]

I never even thought about it - if the bird is not afraid of your hands -> go for it.

 

[LordTriggs]

I have 3 Conures and literally waited 0 seconds to start handling and bonding with them. To be fair they were all 3 hand fed and mostly tame. I'm not sure if yours is but if it is I'd start right away if your birdie isn't scared of you. If it is scared then obviously you'll have to take it slow and on their terms.

Heck Rio was parent-raised and I think I waited 2 hours before getting to work on offering foods, he ended up on my arm that night munching a couple seeds (then decided to take off out the cage and bonk his head on the mirror starting the rivalry with the evil mirror Rio)

honestly, go at your bird's pace, if he's eating from your hand and isn't running for the hills when your hand is near then go for it! I always advise training to step up by removing a perch from the cage and using that so they have a more clear idea what to do with the thing in front of them (at least that's my reasoning!)

 

[LaManuka]

What he said. As long as the bird is not terrified of you, just try gently pushing your finger against his belly or his foot. If he is very young he may be still a bit wobbly on his feet so take all care, you want the experience to be positive! See if you can get him to "ladder" once or twice from right finger to left and/or back again, then heaps of praise and love for his accomplishment. This will also come in VERY handy when he reaches puberty and the hormones are raging - I found "laddering" worked a treat for that. Treasure him and he will treasure you....I wish you every success with the new baby:smile015:

 

[LordTriggs]

What he said. As long as the bird is not terrified of you, just try gently pushing your finger against his belly or his foot. If he is very young he may be still a bit wobbly on his feet so take all care, you want the experience to be positive! See if you can get him to "ladder" once or twice from right finger to left and/or back again, then heaps of praise and love for his accomplishment. This will also come in VERY handy when he reaches puberty and the hormones are raging - I found "laddering" worked a treat for that. Treasure him and he will treasure you....I wish you every success with the new baby:smile015:

no don't push against their belly or feet, That is a fast way to get bitten, you're not forcing them to step up, you're training them to WANT to step up. Hold the finger in front of him slightly above his feet and then hold a treat in the other hand on the other side of the finger, so he has to step up to reach the treat. That way there is an instant reward visible at all times.

Imagine this, what would you prefer? Being pushed by someone up a flight of stairs and then being offered cake? Or seeing the cake up the top of the stairs and someone saying "There's some cake up there if you want it" I know which would get on my nerves faster and lead to me shoving back

 

[Laurasea]

You can also use the sweep, palm down hand flat fingers all together, move the hand pinky side towards the the bird just above feet level in one smooth motion sometimes younger birds like this whole hand platform. Once he is on the back if your hand, then start rotating hand sloly sow pinky goes down and pointer finger is now top fingers all together he will naturally climb till he is on your finger. Then you can take your other hand with you pointer finger in the normal step up position and move it so it is the higher finger and put just above his feet he should step to that finger as now it is more desirable higher perch finger, then do the switch back to your dominant hand finger. Bring him up chest high and tell him all about how a good bird he is abd just visit for a bit. . If he feels very confident you can take him to a chair were you can lean back and hold hand right next to chest and let him hop onto chest and back onto finger. Or after the first success put him back into the cage level with a perch he can jump on tell him what a good bird, and try again just offering finger, he might have the idea right away and hop onto the fingers. Repeat off and on every ten minutes or so. Unless he is running away or reluctant. Try to end on positive note each time. Hope this helps getting this cutie on your hands!

 

[RinaDoc]

Today I gave it a nutriberry and it let me stroke it's back with a finger for a couple of seconds. So progress! Today his new permanent cage finally gets here and in so excited!!

 

[LordTriggs]

good to hear there's progress! tiny baby steps

 

[LeslieA]

I have 3 Conures and literally waited 0 seconds to start handling and bonding with them. To be fair they were all 3 hand fed and mostly tame. I'm not sure if yours is but if it is I'd start right away if your birdie isn't scared of you. If it is scared then obviously you'll have to take it slow and on their terms.

Heck Rio was parent-raised and I think I waited 2 hours before getting to work on offering foods, he ended up on my arm that night munching a couple seeds (then decided to take off out the cage and bonk his head on the mirror starting the rivalry with the evil mirror Rio)

honestly, go at your bird's pace, if he's eating from your hand and isn't running for the hills when your hand is near then go for it! I always advise training to step up by removing a perch from the cage and using that so they have a more clear idea what to do with the thing in front of them (at least that's my reasoning!)

I have 3 as well. Out of curiosity, did you quarantine them? What species?

My first 2 conures were related species of pyrrhura. (BTW, I liked your video!) This won't happen overnight. He already loves you and responds to you which is a definite plus! Since he's already used to you, you're ahead of the game.

Find what treat motivates him most. Mine loves broken up Almond Slices in the Baking section of most grocery stores.

Being a GCC, simply offer him that treat by fingers for a couple of days and say, "(name) Step Up" each time. After a couple of days of this, present your finger and hold the treat where he must step up to get it. Say, "(name) Step Up" each time.

When you open his cage, extend your finger and say, "(name) Step Up" without a treat. Then go back to giving him a treat for doing as told.

Every time you deal with him, offer your finger and say, "(name) Step Up." Follow up by practice with treat.

Within about a week, he'll have it.

 

[Sunnyclover]

I have 3 Conures and literally waited 0 seconds to start handling and bonding with them. To be fair they were all 3 hand fed and mostly tame. I'm not sure if yours is but if it is I'd start right away if your birdie isn't scared of you. If it is scared then obviously you'll have to take it slow and on their terms.

Heck Rio was parent-raised and I think I waited 2 hours before getting to work on offering foods, he ended up on my arm that night munching a couple seeds (then decided to take off out the cage and bonk his head on the mirror starting the rivalry with the evil mirror Rio)

honestly, go at your bird's pace, if he's eating from your hand and isn't running for the hills when your hand is near then go for it! I always advise training to step up by removing a perch from the cage and using that so they have a more clear idea what to do with the thing in front of them (at least that's my reasoning!)

I have 3 as well. Out of curiosity, did you quarantine them? What species?

My first 2 conures were related species of pyrrhura. (BTW, I liked your video!) This won't happen overnight. He already loves you and responds to you which is a definite plus! Since he's already used to you, you're ahead of the game.

Find what treat motivates him most. Mine loves broken up Almond Slices in the Baking section of most grocery stores.

Being a GCC, simply offer him that treat by fingers for a couple of days and say, "(name) Step Up" each time. After a couple of days of this, present your finger and hold the treat where he must step up to get it. Say, "(name) Step Up" each time.

When you open his cage, extend your finger and say, "(name) Step Up" without a treat. Then go back to giving him a treat for doing as told.

Every time you deal with him, offer your finger and say, "(name) Step Up." Follow up by practice with treat.

Within about a week, he'll have it.

Are you asking me these questions? I'm confused. It was a quote of a quote and don't want to ask a question not aimed at me. Please clarify! Thank you.

 

[LeslieA]

Sunnyclover, if you wish, answer. If not, don't.
I currently have 3 rehomed conures and am just curious as always.

Sunnyclover, your confusion is understandable. My questions were aimed at you being my last quote. The way this forum is set up, I haven't learned to limit quotes yet. Any lessons and expertise you have regarding quotes will be greatly appreciated.

RinoDoc commented that she wondered about Step Up training and I simply told her how I'd done it.

If there a problem, overcoming it would be in my best interest. To repeat, any lessons and expertise you have regarding quotes will be greatly appreciated!

Sunnyclover, please PM me with your advice and knowledge about quotes on this site. Thanks. Leslie

 

[Sunnyclover]

Well as far as the quarantine goes, I got all 3 at different times and I quarantined them as long as it took for all infectious diseases tests to come back and blood work to come back negative from the vet then I let them meet. I took them a to the vet the next day after I got them and the blood work and tests came back around a week later. I have a Nanday Conure, Sun Conure and a Green Cheek Conure.