HOW TO TEACH YOUR BIRD TO "STEP UP"

Before you can educate your bird to step up, it must be calm and unafraid of you. You should be able to approach your bird in its cage and place a treat in its bowl without it fleeing or displaying indications of fear (if this is still happening, consult my earlier blog entry on "taming a terrified bird"). If you repeat this method many times, your bird should begin to come towards you when you approach the cage, anticipating a tasty gift! The next stage is to train your bird to accept a reward from your hand.

[Note: If your bird is violent and bites, try an alternative Bird Training method, such as "targeting" or using a perch to teach the step-up. In the next blog, I will discuss the Indian ringneck Bird Training method.]

STEP 1

Walk up to your bird's cage and reach between the bars with a treat. Give it a tasty treat that the bird doesn't ordinarily get to consume (ie. a piece of cashew or almond). It is critical that you do not move when holding the treat through the bars - you do not want to startle the bird, but you do want it to come to the treat and accept it in its own time. If your bird does not approach the treat in a fair period of time, try again at a time when your bird is more hungry, such as first thing in the morning before you have refilled its food bowls.

STEP 2

After the bird is happy approaching you and accepting food from your hand through the bars, you may begin to open the cage door and place your hand inside. Continue to press your hand forward within the cage (with the reward plainly visible in your fingers) until the bird displays indications of pain. Pause and hold your hand there until the bird calms down, then remove your hand. Remember, it is critical to come to a complete stop BEFORE your bird moves away from you. If you try again later, you'll see that you may bring your hand closer to the perch, wait for your bird to settle down, and then pull your hand out. Within the cage, the bird will eventually approach you and receive the reward from your hand.

STEP 3

If your bird is happy approaching your hand within the cage and accepting the reward, the next step is for your bird to walk onto your hand. Place the reward higher up on your palm so that the bird needs to stoop over your fingers to get it. You will eventually move the reward near your wrist so that the bird must place a foot on your hand to get it. It is critical that you DO NOT MOVE your hand. This is a significant trust point for your bird, and if your hand is shaky, you will be very hesitant to go upon it again. At first, your bird will most likely step on and off your hand quite rapidly. Yet it will ultimately remain in your hand for a bit longer each time.

STEP 4

You will eventually position the reward far enough up your arm that the bird will step both legs onto your hand to obtain it. Let your bird walk onto your hand and then off before moving your hand. Eventually, your bird will comfortably sit on your palm without wanting to fly away. You might wish to use your other hand at this time to give them extra treats as a reward for staying on your hand. They will stay on your hand when you move it out of the cage until they know it equals more rewards. Begin by bringing it closer to the cage entrance, then returning to the perch and allowing the bird to walk off. They progressively increase the distance between you and your bird until it is in your palm and out of the cage. And award, award, award! So don't start playing with your bird right now. Return your bird to its cage - it has conquered some major concerns today, so give it some time to reflect on what it has just learned - that hands aren't that terrifying after all... They are, in fact, a positive thing!