upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

My new Cockatoo does not know the command stepup and even if I try the normal put my hand uder his belly give a litle push and say step up he just hold on to the perch he's standing on and holds on very tight so he won't get off balance I don't know what to do somtimes I can get him to step up with 1 foot and the I have to pry his other foot off the perch he's on how do I teach him the command when the normal way of teaching him doesn't work. Pat

Pat, you need to give him a reason to want to step up. Pushing your finger into his chest just knocks him off balance and he has no choice. The more choice you can give your birds, the better the relationship between you. If you want a good relationship with this bird, do not force him to do anything. Work to gain his trust. Have you ever heard of Good Bird Magazine? It is an excellent magazine that is all about positive reinforcement. www.goodbirdinc.com

What is his favourite treat? The first thing he takes out of his bowl will be his favourite and you should save that for training sessions. It's best to have several primary reinforcers and food is a primary reinforcer. Praise or a scratch is a secondary reinforcer.

I know when one of my birds want to step up because their foot is raised as I approach them, they step up and I give them a pine nut. They do not get pine nuts any other time.

I don't know why we think animals should do something just because we believe they should. Would you go to work if you didn't get paid? I wouldn't. What is reinforcing to me is my pay cheque because money pays my rent, buys food, etc. The same is true for animals. If you want them to do something, give them a reason to want to do it rather than make them do it.

Bev

His favorite food is hot peppers its the first thing he takes every time as a matter of fact the other day I went to the veggie market to pick up the birds their fruits and veggies when I got home I thought I'd give them some before I put it away. So Mr. Magoo (Cockatoo) was sitting on a small playstand on the counter whatching me. When I got to the hot peppers he came over and snached it right out of my hand and ate every bit of it. Mabie I'll try the Treat thing but I better remember not to kiss him after I give it to him or that will be one hot kiss. LOL Pat

Have you tried putting your hand behind his legs and lifting his toes?

Treats are a great thing! As is praise, and scritches.

Also, it may help to do step ups on two wooden dowels if he'd be more comfortable with those rather than hands at first.

I don't really like the Idea of giveing any animal or child a treat to make them do something what happens when one day your out of his favorite treat and he won't do what you want him to do without it. Praise and lots of it I find works just as well Birds crave attention and love praise when they have done something good possitive affirmation love and patiants are the key not treats I'm not saying that they should never get treats. But it should be something they just get because I love them and not something they have to work for but thats just my opinion.Pat

Pat, would you go to work if you didn't get paid? We all behave in certain ways to get things we want. It's the same principle and there is nothing wrong with giving a bird a treat for good behaviour. A while ago I had a problem with my African grey. She did not want to go to bed and when I asked her to step up, she would bite me. So I did 2 things. The first thing I did was spend more time with her and it wasn't a lot of time but it was her time and then when I requested she step up and she did, I gave her a pine nut. Very simple solution using positive reinforcement. And when it comes to treats, it's best to have several different kinds so you don't run out.

Behaviour has function. It simply means all living creatures do things for a reason. If something works for you, you do it again. If it doesn't work, you modify it and try something a little different, if that doesn't work, the behaviour will probably disappear but that depends on how reinforcing doing the behaviour was to you in the first place.


Bev

I don't think there is anything wrong with using treats to teach a bird something or to reinforce positive behavior. Have you ever seen Einstein, the African Grey from the Knoxville Tennessee Zoo? The bird club I belong to sponsored Einstein to come to their event and do a few shows for the public. The night before the event, the club got to meet Einstein and the trainers. Einstein's trainers use treats during training and during the show. Also, both of my dogs (and myself) went through obedience training from professional dog trainers. The two trainers used cheese as a treat during training sessions.

I recently got a 2 that is 25 years old. I was told she doesnt step up they had to towel her to get her off her cage (doesnt bite) but just was always another birds companion bird. She has no FAVE treats that I have found yet but she LOVEs TO BE SCRATCHED I mean loves it. So all her praise is scritches. and when ever she "steps up" we go somewhere fun if it is her play perch or we run through the house and she pretends she is flying (yeah I look like the idiot on that one) but she enjoys it. So with in a week of having her she steped up EVerYTIME on command no hesitation but she knows she is going to do something silly and fun. even if it is from her cage to her window perch. SO lotsa love motivates my sugarbabe. Like no other. i think everything is motivated by something different.

Good luck

Chris