Stepping down

[Siobhan]

I have no problem with Rocky stepping up. He holds out his foot and makes it obvious that's what he wants. Then we snuggle. And snuggle. And he talks to me. And eventually my arm gets tired and I'd like for him to step off and get back on his cage and he really isn't into that. LOL With the other birds, I just hold them next to a perch and even if they'd rather not, they step onto the perch. Rocky just grips my arm tighter and says "oooh" (I'm a sucker) and snuggles tighter against me. Any tips, experienced 'too parronts?

 

[Julianna]

I'm not a cockatoo owner, but this is a problem a lot of parrots have. It's an endearing problem to have, since it means your 'too must love being around you, but a problem none the less. When my caique was having issues with stepping off of me, going back into her cage, or getting off my shoulder, I solved the problem by giving huge reinforcers when I got the behavior I wanted. In order to get the behavior in the first place, I usually started out using a lure or a target. If your cockatoo is target trained, targeting him off of you might help. If he's not, I highly recommend it. (If you don't know what target training is or how to do it, just do a quick search for target training parrots and you'll get lots of info.) After my caique would consistently lure to the new place, I would fade the lure out until I didn't have to use it any more. Having practice sessions where you just have him step up and down over and over can help as well, but be careful not to drill it in too much -- that's boring for everyone, and he'll probably lose interest in the exercise. Also, make sure you don't back down. If you ask him to step down, don't give in when he refuses and let him snuggle for another minute or two. This would teach him that he doesn't actually have to listen to your commands. Instead, lure him with a treat, toy, more snuggles once he's stepped off, or any other reward you can think of. Try to make stepping down a fun thing for him. Rather than make him step down and immediately leave the room, try to have him step down in the middle of snuggle time, and then continue to play. This way he won't think that only boring or unpleasant things (like you leaving or him being ignored) happen when he steps down. Hope this helps!

 

[Scott]

In addition to the positive reinforcement previously posted, I keep it very simple: The step-up command is given both when offering my hand or shoulder AND when placing the bird down on a perch or playstand. It's a matter of context all my hand/shoulder tame parrots easily grasped. The difference is that dismounting is an active step of rolling the finger they are perched on toward the target. (generally the rolling action is not needed as they know what is expected as my arm directs them toward the target)

 

[Kiwibird]

Is Rocky target trained? If so, you could always target him down to the cage or perch. If not, luring then giving reward and massive praise would work too. Just hold an irresistible treat right out of his reach, making him have to step down to retrieve it. When you hold up the treat, say the cue "step down" and when he does, let him have the treat, praise him verbally and even give him a kiss or pet if he likes that. Eventually, you will just be able to tell him to step down and verbally praise/kiss/pet him without a food treat. My amazon always likes a kiss when he steps up or down or whenever he can get one:10: and he rarely turns down an opportunity to behave so he gets called a "good boy" (he doesn't like hearing he's been a "bad bird":54. It's all in how you handle the training and being consistent with reinforcing good behavior. ALL birds LOVE rewards and praise, so use that to your advantage to make stepping down a positive thing for him that he WANTS to do it because it makes him feel like a good boy (even if it means the end of human cuddle time).

If I'm remembering correctly, you just rescued Rocky right? It may have been some time since he had human interaction and he may need to be "refreshed" on good bird behavior and basic cues. Cockatoos can learn anything any other bird can so long as they've been taught. This isn't a too-specific problem. My dad's cockatoo has no problem going home when it's time, though my dad rarely steps him up or down. That bird likes to be picked up around the body and carried around by my dad He'll also fly home when he's told (settled birds who know the routine tend to pick stuff like that up over time).

 

[Siobhan]

He's not food motivated. And so far (we've only been together since Sunday) I haven't found anything else that motivates him except music. He REALLY likes music. When he's doing his 'too squawking, we play guitars and sing and he settles right down.

 

[Julianna]

Hmmm. That's tough to do without food, but I bet you can manage. Maybe you could turn music on every time he steps down as a reward for a while until you find something else? Isn't he also snuggle or petting-motivated? You said he likes snuggle time, so you might be able to use that.

 

[Siobhan]

This morning, he stepped down just fine. I gave him his snuggle and preened his head a bit and when I put him up to his cage, he stepped off. Maybe he's beginning to figure out that he's safe and secure here and we aren't going to go away, or send him away, and he doesn't have to be quite as clingy.

 

[Siobhan]

He is consistently stepping off when I ask now, albeit somewhat reluctantly. "Awww, Mom!" LOL But he's learning that he gets lots of attention and snuggles and I'll come back soon for more.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Interesting. My Jonesy doesn't/wont "step up" when he is on his cage. As a matter of fact,he runs around it hissing at me. But once he is on top of the cage,and I "corner" him,by wrapping my arms around him < he doesn't really fuss about that> I have to lift him up by putting my hand/fingers around his little body and lift up. He then will walk up my arm to my shoulder. When we go into an unfamiliar room,like the kitchen he has no problem stepping up.

But he has no problems with "stepping down". I can be at the kitchen table with him on my fingers or hand,and just say "down" and he hops right off...If I say "up" he'll come right on my hand. And I have not found his favorite food yet. If I offer him something while he is on his cage,he'll twirl it in his beak then drop it. If I then put it in his bowl,he'll climb down his cage,and go inside,and start to munch on his nummy.
Tonight it was a small piece of bread with a little butter and peanut butter. He chowed right down on it.

Jim

 

[Siobhan]

I usually don't even have to ask now. I just hold him up to his cage and he steps off.