What does "step up" mean...

[INDI]

Ok so I have heard the term "Step Up" quite alot on here...I am assuming it means step up onto my finger...like a perch??...If it is...
How do you get your bird to do that??..I would love to try & get my IRN to do that...except i cant get near him, he just flies away...
Thanks
Kristy

 

[Printer bird]

You guessed it! I just use "up" with my Charlie (and he sometimes says it as he steps onto my finger!). You need to work your way up to this if you can't even approach your IRN. Try getting him to come to you and take a treat from your hand. Hold a fave food near him and wait until he takes the food. Once he's comfortable doing this, put your finger in front as a barrier so that he has to step onto it to get the food. Alternatively, you can train your bird to step up onto a wooden dowel first (instead of your finger) especially if he is a biter. Then transition to finger. It takes awhile so be really patient. You might have no progress for weeks and then blammo! Good luck! I'm sure other people will have other tricks to try too.