Teaching Parrots to Step Up and Down - as part of the expert series by GeoBeats.
When
teaching your bird to step up the most important thing to do is to make
sure they have a firm perch to step upon to. So that would mean your
thumb tucked, your hand very very firm because the bird is going to test
and they are going to when they are not eating. They are going to want
to make sure, turn around, they are going to, some birds will actually
stick their beak out to test or they will stick their foot out to test
to see if it is a firm perch. So, that is the first thing you want.
Offer a firm hand. Then you would walk up to the bird and say would you
like to step up? Then you, you have got to kind of go in one full swoop.
People make the mistake of doing this a lot and they end up getting
bit.
I am not being bit obviously because she is my bird.
Spally, step up. But, always a bird always wants to go higher. Step up.
Good girl. Step up. Good girl. Step up. Good girl. And then you can
bring them back down. Step up. Good girl. Step up. Good girl. Step up.
Good girl. Step up. Good girl. Good girl. Woo woo. Step up. Good girl.
Step up. Good girl. Want to fly? It always helps to have a tired bird
when you are going to work with step ups if you have a problem with
aggression or biting. Want to fly. Wooo. Good girl. Step up. Now I did
not say step down when I put her down because birds always want to go
up. They never really want to go back down. So I still use the same
command, step up, because I did have her step up. Good girl. When I did
it I said step up. She was still stepping upwards. And if I, she may
step down but I doubt it. Step down. See a little more hesitant. That is
why I like to step up. Just keep it very consistent.
If you
have acquired a new rescued bird or even a baby bird. Say it is a big
macaw and you are slightly afraid of it, these ropes, this one is a
little beat up because it is out of the cage. Never throw them away.
They are nice and firm and versus using a stick for step up training, I
prefer to use these ropes because I keep it in a U shape and then you
ask the bird to step up. Good girl. And then she cannot run right up my
arm where if I had a perch she could run right up my arm and bite me.
And then you could do gently into let us fly. Some exercising to tire
them and then bring them in for the step up. Good girl. Onto your hand.
And step up. Good girl. And always making sure you use a lot of praise.
And voice praise is one of the best things you can give them. Plus it
teaches them to talk when you praise them.