Rick
Hatchling
Posts: 11 
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Post by Rick on Oct 4, 2017 15:51:39 GMT -5
Evening :-) Does anyone have any tips on step up? Kiki refuses to step up. Food doesn't tempt him. I have tried with fingers both in front and like a gentle sweep from behind his legs and no reaction. Sometimes he will start to raise one foot by reaction but twill cling to whatever he is standing on with the other foot. If I put my hand inside his cage he does not like it. Its even harder to do from his cage as he doesn't seem to like me poking around his place. He seems to be a lot tamer outside his cage. I've had him only a week now. There is no rush for him to do these things or speak but I just want to know if I am doing it right. He hasn't picked up or said any words so far either. Sometimes when I talk to him I hear a gentle quake noise/purr but that's about it. Rick  |
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Post by biteybird on Oct 4, 2017 18:17:54 GMT -5
If he doesn't seem conducive to your hand yet, and not open to being tempted by treats, I wouldn't try to force him. In fact I wouldn't put your hand in his cage at all for the moment. One week isn't very long for him to settle into his new environment and get used to you. If it were me I would just leave him alone for now and let him come to you when he's ready. It's good that you are getting a gentle noise back when you talk to him. I suppose the trick with Kiki is to find a 'motivator' (which is hard if he's not tempted by food), then use that for training sessions. The other forum members will surely pipe in with some more advice for you. Try not to get anxious about it - you're doing fine! |
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Post by cnyguy on Oct 4, 2017 21:04:00 GMT -5
It sounds to me like Kiki isn't quite ready for step up training yet. Biteybird has offered good advice-- give Kiki more time and he'll be more willing to work with you on step ups. Starting from outside his cage would probably work best. You might try having him step onto a spare perch or length of wooden dowel at first. That worked well with Ralph when we first started step up training. Though Ralph settled in quickly with me, he wasn't ready to learn to step up until he'd been here for about two weeks. He would only step onto the spare perch at first, and after a few days, was ready to move to my hand. Things go much better when you allow the parrot to decide when he's ready to learn new things and more confident about leaving the security of his cage. It takes time and patience, but it's worth it. |
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Rick
Hatchling
Posts: 11
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Post by Rick on Oct 5, 2017 3:06:30 GMT -5
Oh wow I used a stick type perch and he stepped up first time!! I'm so proud of him. His favorite place seems be be on my shoulder s near my face but I feel uneasy coz he pecks my facial hair. Yeah I get pooped on a lot. I go through 2-3 or so shirts a day.
I am go into back off poking around in his cage
Rick
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Post by biteybird on Oct 5, 2017 3:38:01 GMT -5
Great, well done! And kudos to cnyguy for suggesting a stick perch - I didn't think of that. Maybe your baby just doesn't trust hands yet. Sounds like he's coping very well. Hmm...poop...you could wear a 'bird shirt' (some forum members do), or else just drape an old teatowel across your shoulders. (A good look...not! LOL) |
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Post by cnyguy on Oct 5, 2017 20:01:40 GMT -5
Good job! The spare perch worked well for Ralph and me, and I think it's worth a try with any parrot shy of hands. A good way to encourage a parrot to talk is to talk a lot to the parrot-- and not just saying things you want the parrot to repeat. Talk about what you're doing when you're cleaning the house, cooking or whatever. Read aloud to the parrot. The more speech a parrot hears, the more likely he or she will want to say something. Repeat anything you want Kiki to learn often, and use words and phrases in context (for instance, only say "good night" at bedtime). Don't expect instant results, but keep encouraging Kiki to talk to you. Not all parrots will imitate speech, and there are a few like Ralph who know lots of words but don't say them often-- and a few others who seem to talk non-stop. |
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Post by easttex on Oct 6, 2017 4:32:06 GMT -5
It can be hard to accustom some Quakers to hands inside their cages. As communal nesters in the wild, they defend their micro-territories, so it seems to be more in their nature than with other parrots. I can't remember who first came up with the idea here, but you can also attach a perch just outside the door of the cage. You may not need that if he continues so well with the stick, though.
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Rick
Hatchling
Posts: 11
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Post by Rick on Oct 6, 2017 17:09:43 GMT -5
Yay. He steps up now I put my finger above his feet and he happily steps up. I must have had my finger too high or something?
Also after him being out today when I put him back in his cage he was grinding his beak making this awful screeching noise for like 15 mins.(similar noise to us grinding our teeth together) First time I've heard him do that. Not the most pleasant of noises but he we straight to sleep when lights out.
Thanks for all the all replies and advice on my post people.
R
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Post by julianna on Oct 10, 2017 12:39:56 GMT -5
Don't worry about the grinding noise as that is just a noise of being happy and cozy. Well with Oscar it is. They love to preen the parronts... I don't think I have one fine hair left on my face lol... just a few scars. Also he loves to chew my finger nails and the skin around it. I used to have nice finger nails... oh well... it was worth it.
Keep up the good work.
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