Stepping up on Erin's terms...help

[DelilahDeviance]

So far this Big Mac rescue thing is going pretty well. My husband likes her. I love her and she seems to enjoy it here! Lots of toys and sweetness to go around. Just one tiny problem. She only steps up when she wants. And she refuses to step up on a stick. When she wants to step up though it is HEY ERIN!!!!!STEP UP!!!!! With her foot as high as it will go. And it doesn't happen very often. And when she decides she isn't moving she's just not. I can touch her toes with no problem. She loves for me to 'tickle tickle' them in her cage. I have never dropped her or scared her and I respect her space when she is with me. And she cuddles my arm and tummy when she is with me. I am getting really frustrated and a little sad that she doesn't want to hang out with me. I have been trying to target train her but she seems to be very afraid of my target stick-which we are working on.... Sometimes I feel like she is outsmarting me...

 

[Mare Miller]

I have an umbrella cockatoo that also has a mind of his own. I have to respect that . Just realize that when your bird is feeling very secure about 'his' choice, you will then have a happy relaxed bird .

 

[DelilahDeviance]

Well, I understand that. Unfortunately though she cannot be sitting on top of her cage 24/7.. I need to be able to get her back in-she is getting better on that, she knows when it is bed time. Even when I have had to force her to step up-think moving her home, vet, etc she has seemed super happy to be with me even though it wasn't 100% on her terms. I just mostly want her to want to be with me. She acts like she wants to be with me but just won't step up lol

 

[MikeyTN]

IF you use a stick with your left hand while placing it on left side of her and put your arm on the right side, she will step up, trust me! It's basically either the stick or the arm. Try it and you'll see the improvement!

 

[Mare Miller]

Mi Amigo LOVES to be with me and always WANTS to be with me but can I ask him to step up when 'I' want him to?, no, no, he steps up when HE wants to. It's all good, though. When we are both on the same page, he'll step up .

 

[MikeyTN]

Mare,

Your Amigo is a U2 from another world....lol.....You have that bird trained good and I'm envy of you to have him. At least I give it a try for a year and a half with Java the U2, it just doesn't work out....But you know what, after that I found out I'm better with Macaws then I think I was....Willie have been with us for 10 years and of course Lola the newer addition, she's a hoot!!! We LOVE LOVE her dearly....It took a bit of training but she's coming around real good.

 

[DelilahDeviance]

While I want her to want to be with me I am much more concerned about her safety. I am in oklahoma. We have tons of tornadoes here. If I need to get her to the storm shelter or if we hit the road she needs to be reliable in her stepping up. Thank you again, mikey! Seems like u are always the one answering me lol. Ill give that a try. I tried for awhile not letting her out until she stepped up... Didn't work... Especially since she is best at stepping up from the perch on her door or her door. It's not like she will step up once or twice a day. She has only stepped up for me three times and my husband once in over a month.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Hi Delilah,I know how you feel about the stepping up thing to go back in their cages. I would be worried about their safety and tornadoes too !! Mikey 's right .Here in New York Im just worried about getting to work on time and there is no way Im leaving them out [LoL]. Think of birds always wanting to be on the highest point. You can face her put your left arm [kind of under her bum ] while your right arm is in front of her at about [her ankle level] gently nudge her underside while saying step up . Or with 2 of my rehomes I use a stick [offer it to them first at ankle level ,saying step up] If this doesn't work gently nudge her ankles with stick .Then position stick for her to step up. I have even used it behind their ankles nudging them and they step back.Dont give her a choice let her know that's what you want her to do [its for her safety] .This can be done I took in a problem Goffin . The owners used a sheet thrown over him[I didn't want to do that] I tried a stick.He was reluctant but did step up [and this guy was impossible at first ] so I know it can be done. Good luck !! Im glad you enclosed a picture ,shes great !!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Delilah,

I have no life...lol....j/k....birds are my passion and after raising them and owning them for so many years you kinda get the hang of it. I'm glad I can be of assistance!

 

[DelilahDeviance]

Thank both of you! I will work with her some more but she won't let me get an arm in front and behind her. And she literally reached up and hung from the top of the cage to avoid the stick and my arm! Good lord, I got my work cut out for me..... Sweet, beautiful, love able and a stubborn brat! Perfect....

 

[DelilahDeviance]

I will just KEEP TRYING

 

[JJones1719]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that there are a few issues here that are not addressed.

It does not seem to me that your macaw fully trust you yet. Your macaw must see you as the alfa in the relationship and never give in or back down or they win and you lose. All efferts are then lost. The fastest way to gain their trust is just do everyting with them, include them in your everyday routine.

First, I would never place any Parrot on the top of the cage. It's better to remove them from their cage to an eye level or lower play gym or Java tree. Trying to get any Parrot to step up while on the top of the cage, they have the upped hand and know it. This also leads to cage aggression.
You can always handle a Macaw or any parrot while you are the alfa and stand higher then the Macaw.
If you do not know how to get them to step up everytime with no issues, here are some tips you can try.

First approach your Macaw while in the cage or play stand, Tell them to step up while pressing your hand or forearm into the lower belly of the Macaw, this does two things, it kind of knocks them off balance and their natural instinct is to move forward and say the command step up. When they do step up, reward, reward, reward. Give them an almond, favorite snack or favorite toy. Make a game of it and the more animated you are, the better.

If this does not work, place your left forarm into the lower belly, with your right hand hold their favorite snack, toy, or almond,
if they want the item, they must move forward onto your arm in order to reach it, again, if they step up make a big deal of it. your macaw may even do what mine does and gets very excited.


Stick training does work for some Parrots but not all. Some Parrots are scared to death of sticks and this only stresses them out and they will never do what you want them to.

You stated that you live in a tornado area, I know this is not popular but if all else fails this is the only way to get control, Gentle get them on the ground by knocking them off of whatever they are standing on, with a towel, toss it over their head and just grab and run for cover but this is only in emergencies.

Please keep us posted. Best of luck Joe

 

[DelilahDeviance]

Ok, so first of all, I do not believe in forcing a bird to step up by knocking her off balance. They definitely know you are the one who did it and it can damage the trusting relationship you have with a bird. And luring does not work for her. That is why I am target training her-not stick training. The difference is stick training is training a bird to step up on a perch. Target training is teaching them to touch something with their beak. It is noninvasive, easy to catch onto. It also assures the bird never has a bad experience with the target. I have never had a parrot instantly become aggressive just because she was over my eye level. I work with her from all over her cage because I need her to work with me from all over her cage. Obviously the towel thing is an absolute last ditch effort. But I need her to understand for both of us that she can't step up when and where she wants. Her first successful step up was from on top of her cage. Second was the door. Multiple from the floor, because she is insecure there. If anything the top of a cage provides a sense of security. She does trust me, but this is a bird that was babied for ten years then 100% cage bound for three. She is not used to people forcing her to do anything. And as far as having the upper hand-relationships using positive reinforcement are partnerships, not slavery. I am a strong advocate for using positive reinforcement not create unpredictable behavior by trying to force instincts out. Both ways work. One is better. I have learned the slow way is the fast way. She may not fully trust me yet, and that's fine. But training should increase trust, not violate what is already there. Seeing as how she is not used to anything involving her in my daily routine directly will create fear, not foster a relationship. Those methods may work well in a younger adolescent bird who is used to being handled daily, but would be detrimental to my relationship with my 14 year old rescued greenwing... I appreciate your help, and I guess we will all agree to disagree. But for me capitalizing on animals' instincts and using positive reinforcement is guaranteed to be slow and to work.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I fully agree that PATIENCE and positive reinforcement is the key here.

Those lovable giants can be quite thick headed - including mine - and I personally have NEVER forced him to do anything that made him feel uncomfortable, let alone scared or angry at me.

You WILL prevail, Delilah, NO doubt in my mind.

Believe me, you are not the only one with a GW with a mind of her own.

 

[DelilahDeviance]

She is my spunky monkey! At least she's not a mean little instigator like my little parrotlet Molly. I do love her. I want to be patient, but I want to keep challenging her to keep those feathers in!!! As much as she sometimes wishes I'd always let her do her thing, she is a much more stable bird in the month I've had her.

 

[Chesphoto]

Sounds like your bird and mine are sisters.

I am finding that giving Skittles her favorite treat when she steps up without nipping or hesitation is working. If she steps up, I give her a treat, set her down and try it again. If she nips, I turn my back for a minute and try again. After a few good step ups,she gets a big treat and a break. It really seems to be helping.

 

[JJones1719]

Well when that tornado hits your area let me know how that positive reinforcement works for you. I have worked with young and old Macaws alike. Please do your homework on google to see first hand on how allowing any parrot on their cage does cause cage aggression and how keeping a parrot lower then eye level is the best way to train, coach, and have complete control making it safe for your Macaw. I do wish you the best of luck but you are on a very long road and only may end up with not being completely able to handle this Macaw. Joe

 

[DelilahDeviance]

I am so happy for your concern joe, but I have been training birds for years and have had great success! Oh and cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, mice, rats, ferrets.... you get this isn't my first rodeo right? did I mention? Positive reinforcement has been proven over and over by science to work better than scaring an animal. I did state in my previous post in an extreme circumstance I would not hesitate to towel her. I'm just not going to do it just for kicks and giggles! Birds are prey animals...much like horses. Dogs, cats, etc are predators. They require different types of training. Can't help but notice your GW is only five- is she a rescue or a pet store bird or a breeder bird? Regardless, different situation. So, instead of condemning the way I train please do some google searching yourself. Birds feel secure in high places if they don't trust you then no they won't want to come down. But if they do they will feel safer with you, their flock. I was not asking about cage aggression. I was asking about a green wing who wants me to pet and cuddle and love her but only wants to step up sometimes. This happens regardless of where she is. Thanks for all your amazing advice! The funny thing is you don't seem to give out bad advice on other threads so why start picking on my thread, completely off topic? Regardless, have a good day. And I really did appreciate your advice until you started telling me I will not be able to handle my bird. More than one way to skin a cat you know.

 

[DelilahDeviance]

Sounds like your bird and mine are sisters.

I am finding that giving Skittles her favorite treat when she steps up without nipping or hesitation is working. If she steps up, I give her a treat, set her down and try it again. If she nips, I turn my back for a minute and try again. After a few good step ups,she gets a big treat and a break. It really seems to be helping.

Ha! Maybe they are. She's my little stinker. She just sends some very mixed messages! I figured out what motivates her to target since my first post, so that will make my life easier! She is catching on pretty fast now. She actually moved across her cage today for her treat! proud momma!

 

[Chesphoto]

Sounds like your bird and mine are sisters.

I am finding that giving Skittles her favorite treat when she steps up without nipping or hesitation is working. If she steps up, I give her a treat, set her down and try it again. If she nips, I turn my back for a minute and try again. After a few good step ups,she gets a big treat and a break. It really seems to be helping.

Ha! Maybe they are. She's my little stinker. She just sends some very mixed messages! I figured out what motivates her to target since my first post, so that will make my life easier! She is catching on pretty fast now. She actually moved across her cage today for her treat! proud momma!

If we both keep up with the training, they will soon be doing somersaults like Fargo.