Stepping up on cue

[jroyal]

So LuLu has been with me for a couple days now and her personality is really starting to show. I'm starting to see her likes and dislikes and her funny little quirks. LuLu doesn't always step up when I want her to. Sometimes she'll just stand there and stare at my hand. I then have to wait a few seconds/minutes and then she'll eagerly pull my hand closer to step up. How can I get her to step up everytime? I'm asking because I eventually want to enroll her in the local therapy animal program here and it would be a big help if she stepped up when I ask her

 

[nicki]

Give her time, she will! At 6 months, Eko will just step up when you put your finger in front of him. Even when hes moody lol It's almost like a reaction.

 

[maillet]

Eclectus respond to food. If you offer even a small treat every time she steps up it will become habit to step up and get food. Even later if you do not do it, it will be a trained reflex to step up. She will probably even try to do it without the command.

Echo will Step Up, Spin, and Roll Over for fun now. With the hopes I'll randomly give him a treat one of the times. If she is also satiated food wise she will be much better company to sit on your shoulder for hours on end, whispering sweet "Feed Me" into your ear.

 

[mrgoogls]

it just takes more training. cooper learned the "step up" command within a week on being with me. but if he is in his cage, forget it. he will NOT come out of his cage on my hand. he has to climb out on top of the door, then he steps up....lol. but once he is out, he usually steps up, unless he knows im putting him back in his cage

 

[dulphinz]

My boy Coco doesn't step up on cue unless he is out if his cage for the most part. Once in a while he will from inside but very rarely . I have to give Him a little nudge but once out he's pretty good. I think it just takes time and each bird is different.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Human hands are very scary for many parrots. They *watch* us to learn how we work - and they see our hands, particularly our fingers, flail about incessantly as we go about our day. Then we come over and expect them to step up on our hand/finger as if it was a stable/reliable perch. Crazy!

They *should* learn this, but it will take time. Reward Lulu when she does finally step up, but also try other 'perches': other parts of your hand, your forearm, or stick training. Our arms move much less than our fingers - so for a bird an arm looks much more reliable.