Step Up Whinning

threio · Post by **threio** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:50 pm

I know I am whinning here, but, no one else is listening, (I can't believe he called me about that bird of his), at least we have the same problems...LOL

2 days ago, I started training Threio to sit on my shoulder in the bathroom. Not too bad, I used an old cage top to place him on a small towel on my shoulder.

Things went good no screaming. He would stay on my shoulder until he got back close to his cage. The 2nd session on day 2, he flew from my shoulder to the window (12ft) when we exited the bathroom. Wait a minute!

OMG his wings are growing, all day flying here and there. Short and Long!

I decided today, our 14th day together we need to start the Step Up training, if I wait another week I am going to have an airport here in my apartment, If I try Step Up training then.

Back to the bathroom, the cage top, a towel and Threio. After trial and error we can produce 5 successful step ups and a return to the shoulder per seession. Two 10 minute sessions today. I figure that is not over taxing!

My problem is I can't get him to square up forward for the step ups. The best I can do at this point is get Threio to step up when he/she is "cata-cornered" on the floor next to the door. I tried using the cage top--on top of the sink, but he just runs up my belly and back to my shoulder.
Against the door is a little better.

Threio seems to be easy to train, just two days on the shoulder thing and he is comfortable there.I figure I got a week before she/he turns into a 747, any suggestions on getting Threio to face me during the training.

Training tools (LOL):

Cage top: http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/m ... IRN024.jpg

Training Area: http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/m ... IRN025.jpg

Three bites, and two screams ---just one Purple Heart awarded to me.

threio · Post by **threio** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:31 pm

Threio is advancing just nicely since my brain went on and decided to put him in the bathtub. Yes, IRN have quite a grip:

http://threio.com/blogphotos/Bite.jpg

This is turning to a wound, the 1st one on Tuesday, I deserved, but, I am getting a few more nip right on the wound--a pretty good test by my new pal---"let's see how he reacts to a weak spot!

threio · Post by **threio** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:14 am

Threio is still a little weary of my up close presence but will Step Up from just about anywhere in the house. I am pretty well pleased with the progress, down to just one trainins session a day.

ryelle · Post by **ryelle** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:03 am

well done

ive got to crack on with step-up training again when i can clip my fids wings again. hell step up on to a perch from anywhere but still doesnt like the close proximity of our hands unless its on his terms not ours (like stepping up). weve got it to the point where we dont have to have the stick at arms length to make him step up but hes still wary

threio · Post by **threio** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:48 am

Yeah, I just got Threio's wings clipped for the 1st time on the 1st of the month. He/she hates the dowels, will run at me picking them up (sneaky way of getting him to the floor).

My luck has been the floor, go ahead and try to get back up to your cage...after a while Threio will come for help.

One manadatory session per day, and I have a rope that hangs to the floor for play that always peaks his curiousity, once to the floor I slyly remove the rope....LOL

Crazyratwoman · Post by **Crazyratwoman** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:32 am

Oh how much does that hurt where the nail joins the finger!!!! Petey got me a beauty last week when clipping his wings.... my whole end of my finger was bruised and i couldn't even touch it!

they just know where it hurts most aye?

threio · Post by **threio** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:02 am

Unbelievable pain staying power. 1st couple of days the accuracy to re-open the wound was mind boggling!

Melika · Post by **Melika** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:26 pm

threio wrote:Yeah, I just got Threio's wings clipped for the 1st time on the 1st of the month. He/she hates the dowels, will run at me picking them up (sneaky way of getting him to the floor).

My luck has been the floor, go ahead and try to get back up to your cage...after a while Threio will come for help.

One manadatory session per day, and I have a rope that hangs to the floor for play that always peaks his curiousity, once to the floor I slyly remove the rope....LOL

This works, lol. Also used it to teach the birds not to run from us when we went to go get them from the floor. With the dogs nudging them they would eventually seek us out to get up onto the playstand. They love the floor, but seek us out now when they end up there so we can put them back on the stand.

Have you tried stepping up from hand to hand, rather than from object to hand as well? Then he has nowhere to go and if he bites you can give him an 'earthquake' and quickly slide your other finger in for a step up. Just a thought. :lol:

threio · Post by **threio** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:22 am

Dowels just don't work. Unfortunately I used them to move Threio from dangerous areas early in the relationship. Nothing positive comes from the dowels in Threio's mind.

No fear of my hands, proximity is more of the problem. However, cage maintenance is easy and I can get as close as I like inside the cage.

No problem with the ladder now. Almost second nature despite Threio's "shyness".
.
I basically require the ladder once a day, slowly starting Step Down, but I think I should work on "Stay" next before going to step down.

I am not satisfied with the time Threio perches on my hand. AND its my fault I should of never let Threio get to my shoulder during the early Step Up training.

I get maybe one voluntary jump from the cage to me a day. Another month and I think we may have some routine physical contact to increase the playing/security with "hands".