Step up

[Eppie]

I have now had Casey my B&G 12 yearold Macaw for about a month. I love him so much. Casey is affectionate to me. He lets me massage under his wings and top of his head. Rub his feet and beak but WILL NOT STEP UP onto my arm unless he is already away from his cage and wants to go back. He loves my 11 year old grandson and will usually step up on his arm but gives everyone else a hard time. He actually runs from me when I try to get him on my arm. He's starting to hurt my feelings here. Any alternate methods? He will not step up onto a stick or perch. I love him so very much I want to carry him outside to the sun every day, weather permitting.Do you ever put your hands over both wings and just pick up? Please help.
Eppie

 

[Earl N Peanuts Mom]

Give it time. Our B&G Macaw refuses to step up on anything unless he's 'made' to. We have a dowel rod that we put under him and have him step up that way. We've had him since January. He's come a long way from where he was in just 9 months. He's also 11 years old. He spent most of his life before us on his cage. It will take time.

The only time we put our hands over both wings to pick up is to get him out of the tub. I would say to work slowly with him daily and reward him when he comes to you. Eventually he will get the idea.

Our macaw prefers my boyfriend to me. So far (We've only had peanut for 2 days) but he prefers me. *YAY!* lol!

Good luck!! ENPM

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Casey knows how to step up and is perfectly comfortable doing so he just doesn't have any motivation to unless you are bringing him back to his cage. His cage must be a place he likes to be so why should he step up when he is essentially punished every time he does (he is taken away from where he wants to be.)

This is what training is for - to teach him that when he obeys a command he gets good things and doesn't loose anything. Find some treat or reward he really loves and lure him onto your arm with the treat (hold the treat just out of reach so he has to step up to get it). Then give him then treat AND let him step back down onto the cage. This way he will learn that stepping up when asked gets him good things and that he isn't always taken away from his cage when he does it.